cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature, but not productivity or geometry, predicts elevational diversity gradients in ants across spatial grains

Aim This research aims to understand the factors that shape elevational diversity gradients and how those factors vary with spatial grain. Specifically, we test the predictions of the species‐productivity hypothesis, species‐temperature hypothesis, the metabolic theory of ecology and the mid-domain effects null model. We also examine how the effects of productivity and temperature on richness depend on spatial grain. Location Deciduous forests along an elevational gradient in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Methods We sampled 22 leaf litter ant assemblages at three spatial grains, from 1-m 2 quadrats to 50 × 50 m plots using Winkler samplers. Results Across spatial grains, warmer sites had more species than did cooler sites, and primary productivity did not predict ant species richness. We found some support for the predictions of the metabolic theory of ecology, but no support for the mid-domain effects null model. Thus, our data are best explained by some version of a species‐temperature hypothesis. Main conclusions Our results suggest that temperature indirectly affects ant species diversity across spatial grains, perhaps by limiting access to resources. Warmer sites support more species because they support more individuals, thereby reducing the probability of local extinction. Many of our results from this elevational gradient agree with studies at more global scales, suggesting that some mechanisms shaping ant diversity gradients are common across scales.
A discussion on ‘Detection of intrusions in information systems by sequential change-point methods’ by Tartakovsky, Rozovskii, Blažek, and Kim

Abstract The authors have extended the CUSUM detection procedure to multichannels under very general conditions. Their work is discussed with a specific comment on the likelihood ratio (LR) based CUSUM for Bernoulli sequences, and a nonparametric version based on a suitable random walk is suggested to complement the LR-based CUSUM.
Elementary purinergic Ca2+ transients evoked by nerve stimulation in rat urinary bladder smooth muscle

The translation of nerve transmission to Ca2+ signals in urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) is incompletely understood. Thus, we sought to characterize Ca2+ signals in strips of UBSM loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fluo-4, using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Two types of Ca2+ signals occurred spontaneously and could be evoked with field stimulation: large, rapid, global Ca2+ transients termed ‘global Ca2+ flashes’, and much smaller, localized Ca2+ transients. Global Ca2+ flashes were inhibited by the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) inhibitor, diltiazem and with P2X receptor blockade. Simultaneous intracellular recordings and Ca2+ measurements indicated that these events are caused by Ca2+ influx through VDCCs during action potentials. Small, local Ca2+ transients occurred spontaneously, and their frequency could be elevated with field stimulation. Atropine, an inhibitor of muscarinic receptors, did not affect these local Ca2+ transients. However, the desensitizing P2X receptor agonist α,β-methylene ATP, and the purinergic antagonist, suramin, effectively inhibited the local Ca2+ transients. The frequency of these ‘purinergic Ca2+ transients’ was increased about 7-fold by a 10 s stimulus train (1 Hz). The amplitude, duration at one-half amplitude and the spatial spread of the evoked purinergic Ca2+ transients were F/Fo= 2.4 ± 0.13, 111.7 ± 9.3 ms and 14.0 ± 1.0 μm2, respectively. Tetrodotoxin inhibited evoked purinergic Ca2+ transients, indicating that they were dependent on nerve fibre activation. Purinergic Ca2+ transients were not dependent on VDCC activity. Neither 2-APB, an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) (IP3)-induced Ca2+ release, nor ryanodine inhibited the purinergic Ca2+ transients. We have identified two novel Ca2+ signals in rat UBSM. Large, rapid, global Ca2+ flashes that represent Ca2+ influx through VDCCs during action potentials, and local, purinergic Ca2+ transients that represent Ca2+ entry through P2X receptors. Our results indicate that purinergic Ca2+ transients evoked by release of ATP from nerve varicosities are elementary signals in the process of nerve-smooth muscle communication.
The Language of Caring: Quantitating Medical Practice Patterns using Symbolic Dynamics.

Real-world medical decisions rarely involve binary sole condition present or absent- patterns of patient pathophysiology. Similarly, provider interventions are rarely unitary in nature: the clinician often undertakes multiple interventions simultaneously. Conventional approaches towards complex physiologic derangements and their associated management focus on the fre- quencies of joint appearances, treating the individual derangements of physiology or elements of intervention as conceptually isolated. This framework is ill suited to capture either the integrated patterns of derangement displayed by a particular patient or the integrated patterns of provider in- tervention. Here we illustrate the application of a different approach-that of symbolic dynamics-in which the integrated pattern of each patients derangement, and the associated provider response, are captured by defining words based on the elements of the pattern of failure. We will use as an example provider practices in the context of mechanical ventilation- a common, potentially harm- ful, and complex life support technology. We also delineate other domains in which symbolic dynamics approaches might aid in quantitating practice patterns, assessing quality of care, and identifying best practices.
Characteristics of Spirituality in the Lives of Women in a Rural Appalachian Community

The aim of this study was to add to nursing's knowledge base relative to spirituality by exploring how women in rural Appalachia experience and describe spirituality in their daily lives. Data was gathered through participant observation in a small rural community in West Virginia, including in-depth interviews of five women from the community. Characteristics of spirituality included belief in God or Greater Source, prayer/meditation, and a sense of relationship or connectedness with others, nature and oneself. The dominant theme which emerged relative to these relationships was that of self-reliance or inner strength. Spirituality for these women relates to the whole of life and is relational.
Linkage between water stress tolerance and life history type in seedlings of nine chaparral species (Rhamnaceae)

Summary 1. Chaparral shrub species along the southwest coast of North America survive wildfire by three different life history types: non-sprouters ( NS ) are killed by fire and only re-establish through germination of fire-stimulated seeds; facultative sprouters ( FS ) re-establish by a combination of vegetative sprouting and seed germination; and obligate sprouters ( OS ) only re-establish by vegetative sprouting because their seeds do not survive fire. 2. Post-fire seedlings of NS and FS re-establish in open canopy gaps, whereas OS seedlings primarily recruit in deep shade during fire-free intervals. 3. It was hypothesized that these life history differences, compared within the same family, Rhamnaceae, would result in differential seedling resistance to water stress such that NS > FS > OS . 4. Seedlings were grown in large pots in a common garden under treatments of sun, shade, irrigation and water stress. Mortality and physiology of seedlings were monitored for about 1 year. 5. In response to the water stress treatment in full sun, life history types were not different in their dry season predawn water potentials, which were extremely negative (< ‐9 MPa). Water potential of water-stressed shade grown plants were also not different, but were less negative than the sun treatment during the dry season (about ‐6 MPa). 6. For plants grown in full sun under water stress, NS exhibited 23% mortality, FS 60% and OS 35% mortality, while irrigated controls had greatly reduced mortality across all life histories. Among shade grown plants under water stress, NS exhibited 30% mortality, FS 20% and OS 1% mortality. This pattern of differential mortality was the same for irrigated plants indicating that water stress was not the cause of mortality in the shade. 7. Greater stem and root resistance to water stress induced cavitation were strongly correlated with lower percent mortality during the summer dry season suggesting a link between these traits and fitness. 8. Synthesis . This study finds a link between life history type and water stress tolerance. Consistent with open canopy specialization, NS survived best in full sun. The FS and OS life history type had better survival in the shade. The OS was unexpectedly versatile, surviving well in the sun and shade. The evolutionary history of the life history types is discussed as an important factor in linking water stress tolerance and life history.
Role of complete lymphadenectomy in endometrioid uterine cancer

Although surgical pathological staging is the standard of care for uterine carcinoma, the benefits of a complete lymphadenectomy remain controversial. Evidence suggests that this procedure provides prognostic information and directs the use of appropriate adjuvant treatment in patients who are node-positive. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for adjuvant treatment in low-risk patients with negative nodes and no extrauterine spread of disease. Although the complications associated with this procedure raise the question as to whether all low-risk patients need a complete lymphadenectomy, the limitations of preoperative and intraoperative pathological analyses mean that lymphadenectomy in low-risk patients might still have merit. Future advances are warranted to enhance preoperative radiological and intraoperative pathological assessment to establish the risk of nodal disease. In this review, we assess the evidence on the prognostic and therapeutic benefits of a complete versus selective lymphadenectomy. Moreover, we discuss the complications associated with lymphadenectomy and identify subsets of low-risk patients who might not need to undergo this procedure.
Gene Therapy Using Stem Cells

Viral-mediated gene augmentation therapy has recently shown success in restoring vision to patients with retinal degenerative disorders. Key to this success was the availability of animal models that accurately presented the human phenotype to test preclinical efficacy and safety. These exciting studies support the use of gene therapy in the treatment of devastating retinal degenerative diseases. In some cases, however, in vivo gene therapy for retinal degeneration would not be effective because the cell types targeted are no longer present. The development of somatic cell reprogramming methods provides an attractive source of autologous cells for transplantation and treatment of retinal degenerative disease. This article explores the development of gene therapy and patient-derived stem cells for the purpose of restoring vision to individuals suffering from inherited retinal degenerations.
Hemicellulases and auxiliary enzymes for improved conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides.

Background High enzyme loading is a major economic bottleneck for the commercial processing of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass to produce fermentable sugars. Optimizing the enzyme cocktail for specific types of pretreated biomass allows for a significant reduction in enzyme loading without sacrificing hydrolysis yield. This is especially important for alkaline pretreatments such as Ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pretreated corn stover. Hence, a diverse set of hemicellulases supplemented along with cellulases is necessary for high recovery of monosaccharides.
Small Molecule Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors of ErbB2/HER2/Neu in the Treatment of Aggressive Breast Cancer

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a member of the erbB class of tyrosine kinase receptors. These proteins are normally expressed at the surface of healthy cells and play critical roles in the signal transduction cascade in a myriad of biochemical pathways responsible for cell growth and differentiation. However, it is widely known that amplification and subsequent overexpression of the HER2 encoding oncogene results in unregulated cell proliferation in an aggressive form of breast cancer known as HER2-positive breast cancer. Existing therapies such as trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and lapatinib (Tyverb/Tykerb®), a monoclonal antibody inhibitor and a dual EGFR/HER2 kinase inhibitor, respectively, are currently used in the treatment of HER2-positive cancers, although issues with high recurrence and acquired resistance still remain. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors provide attractive therapeutic targets, as they are able to block cell signaling associated with many of the proposed mechanisms for HER2 resistance. In this regard we aim to present a review on the available HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as well as those currently in development. The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as sequential or combinatorial therapeutic strategies with other HER family inhibitors is also discussed.
Assignment strategies for large proteins by magic-angle spinning NMR: the 21-kDa disulfide bond forming enzyme DsbA

We present strategies for chemical shift assignments of large proteins by magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR, using the 21-kDa disulfide-bond-forming enzyme DsbA as prototype. Previous studies have demonstrated that complete de novo assignments are possible for proteins up to approximately 17 kDa, and partial assignments have been performed for several larger proteins. Here we show that combinations of isotopic labeling strategies, high field correlation spectroscopy, and three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) backbone correlation experiments yield highly confident assignments for more than 90% of backbone resonances in DsbA. Samples were prepared as nanocrystalline precipitates by a dialysis procedure, resulting in heterogeneous linewidths below 0.2 ppm. Thus, high magnetic fields, selective decoupling pulse sequences, and sparse isotopic labeling all improved spectral resolution. Assignments by amino acid type were facilitated by particular combinations of pulse sequences and isotopic labeling; for example, transferred echo double resonance experiments enhanced sensitivity for Pro and Gly residues; [2-(13)C]glycerol labeling clarified Val, Ile, and Leu assignments; in-phase anti-phase correlation spectra enabled interpretation of otherwise crowded Glx/Asx side-chain regions; and 3D NCACX experiments on [2-(13)C]glycerol samples provided unique sets of aromatic (Phe, Tyr, and Trp) correlations. Together with high-sensitivity CANCOCA 4D experiments and CANCOCX 3D experiments, unambiguous backbone walks could be performed throughout the majority of the sequence. At 189 residues, DsbA represents the largest monomeric unit for which essentially complete solid-state NMR assignments have so far been achieved. These results will facilitate studies of nanocrystalline DsbA structure and dynamics and will enable analysis of its 41-kDa covalent complex with the membrane protein DsbB, for which we demonstrate a high-resolution two-dimensional (13)C-(13)C spectrum.
Perspective-taking and depth of theory-of-mind reasoning in sequential-move games.

Theory-of-mind (ToM) involves modeling an individual’s mental states to plan one’s action and to anticipate others’ actions through recursive reasoning that may be myopic (with limited recursion) or predictive (with full recursion). ToM recursion was examined using a series of two-player, sequential-move matrix games with a maximum of three steps. Participants were assigned the role of Player I, controlling the initial and the last step, or of Player II, controlling the second step. Appropriate for the assigned role, participants either anticipated or planned Player II’s strategy at the second step, and then determined Player I’s optimal strategy at the first step. Participants more readily used predictive reasoning as Player II (i.e., planning one’s own move) than as Player I (i.e., anticipating an opponent’s move), although they did not differ when translating reasoning outcome about the second step to optimal action in the first step. Perspective-taking influenced likelihood of predictive reasoning, but it did not affect the rate at which participants acquired it during the experimental block. We conclude that the depth of ToM recursion (related to perspective-taking mechanisms) and rational application of belief–desire to action (instrumental rationality) constitute separate cognitive processes in ToM reasoning.
Robotic colonic resection.

Abstract Innovative robotic technologies are aiming to help surgeons overcome the limits of conventional laparoscopic surgery. Recent studies have shown that robotic colorectal surgery is safe and provides favorable results in comparison to conventional laparoscopic techniques. Further studies and long-term follow-up are required to assess the outcomes and potential benefits of robotic colon surgery over laparoscopic surgery.
Carbonization of candidate high‐temperature matrix materials for carbon/carbon composites

Carbon precursors used for preparing carbon/carbon composite (CCC) matrix binders undergo component elimination and carbonization during heating, which affects the ultimate carbon product. We analyzed the structural and compositional changes of two polymeric precursors N,N′-(1,3-phenylenedimethylidene)bis(3-ethynylaniline) and 4,4′-bis(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)biphenyl during high-temperature annealing under inert atmosphere. The samples were analyzed using x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and microRaman scattering. The precursor molecules cross-link during curing and annealing, to form glassy carbons. The carbon structure after the annealing was reflected by the high oxidizability of the carbon in air. Deconvolution of the C 1s and O 1s XPS spectra showed that the surface oxygen was present primarily as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, and that the amounts of surface oxygen correlated with the extent of graphitization. Addition of iron in the form of ferrocene in the precursor accelerated graphitization at all temperatures. The results are compared to those for other polymer precursors and graphite.
MPFD: a lookahead based buffer management scheme for MPEG-2 video traffic

In this work, we propose a priority buffer management scheme for MPEG-2 video traffic called MPFD. The MPFD algorithm is based on constructing a virtual buffer that represents the future buffer occupancy using information about video frames within a future lookahead period. The virtual buffer is then used to determine whether incoming low priority frames need to be dropped in order to protect future high priority frames. MPFD is compared to existing buffer management schemes that has been used for video traffic. MPFD shows a significant frame loss reduction as compared to other buffer management schemes.
Volatility Spread and the Stock Market Response to Earnings Announcements

Using a broad sample of earnings announcements, we find that option call and put implied volatilities become increasingly misaligned as the earnings announcement dates (EAD) get closer. The percentage deviation between call and put implied volatilities increases monotonically in the one-month period leading up to the EAD. In addition, the direction of these deviations is consistent with the announcement returns of such earnings releases. More importantly, by adapting the earnings response coefficient (ERC) framework, we find that pre-earnings option trading actually increases rather than decreases the stock market response to the earnings announcements. In a cross section of earnings announcements, we find stronger stock market reaction from earnings announcements with greater abnormal implied volatility spread immediately before the EAD. By relating option volume to investor attention, we find higher pre-announcement option volume is associated with increased stock market response. Overall, our findings suggest that pre-earnings option trading helps alleviate the stock market under-reaction to earnings announcements and make the stock market response more complete.
High order FEM modeling of interior acoustics problems involving shell geometries

This paper presents a flexible numerical scheme for solving a wide range of problems involving vibratory response of fluid-filled structures. This method combines a topology-based framework for the prescription and construction of variable-degree, pq flnite element approximations with accurate geometric mapping based on CAD models to deliver high accuracy and error convergence rates. Use of unstructured meshes enable the solution of problems with complex geometric domains. Numerical examples are presented to validate the accuracy and applicability of this method.
Survival of CR51 Labeled Erythrocytes in Swine.

SummaryThe 50% survival time of Cr51 labeled porcine erythrocytes was found to be 28.0 ± 4.0 days when autologous injections of cells were used and 13.8 ± 5.7 days when homologous injections of cells were used. Based on these data, swine erythrocyte survival times may actually be longer than the values previously reported.
Numerical analysis of environment of soil pressures against frozen pit-support structure

Since the introduction of the AGF(artificial ground freezing) into engineering,researchers together with the engineers have made great efforts to seek economically reasonable approach to the frozen support structure design.Due to the accompanying freezing heave behavior with the frozen support structure formation while applying the AGF,the soil pressure against the structure has new features,so the traditional methods of soil pressure computation are no longer suitable.In order to measure the soil pressure against the frozen structure,the application process of AGF to form the pit excavation support structure was abstracted as a nonlinear stress—strain problem coupled with heat and stress.In virtue of the FEM(finite element method),solutions to the soil pressure against the side of structure were obtained,which provides reliable basis for security improvement of structure design.
Mapping spatial distribution and biomass of coastal wetland vegetation in Indonesian Papua by combining active and passive remotely sensed data

Abstract There is ongoing interest to develop remote sensing methods for mapping and monitoring the spatial distribution and biomass of mangroves. In this study, we develop a suite of methods to evaluate the combination of Landsat-8, ALOS PALSAR, and SRTM data for mapping spatial distribution of mangrove composition, canopy height, and aboveground biomass in the wide intertidal zones and coastal plains of Mimika district, Papua, Indonesia. Image segmentation followed by visual interpretation of composite PALSAR images was used to delineate mangrove areas, whereas a flexible statistical rule based classification of spectral signatures from Landsat-8 images was used to classify mangrove associations. The overall accuracy of land cover classification was 94.38% with a kappa coefficient of 0.94 when validated with field inventory data and Google Earth images. Mangrove height and aboveground biomass were mapped using the SRTM DEM, which were calibrated with field-measured data via quantile regression models. There was a strong correlation between the SRTM DEM and the 0.98 quantile of field canopy heights (H .98 ), which was used to represent the tallest trees in each of 196 10 m radius subplots (r = 0.84 and R 2 = 0.804). Model performance was evaluated through 10,000 bootstrapped simulations, producing a mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.0 m for canopy height estimation over 30 m pixels of SRTM data. Quantile regression revealed a relatively strong non-linear relationship between the SRTM derived canopy height model and aboveground biomass measured in 0.5 ha mangrove inventory plots (n = 33, R 2 = 0.46). The model results produced estimates of mean standing biomass of 237.52 ± 98.2 Mg/ha in short canopy ( Avicennia / Sonneratia ) stands to 353.52 ± 98.43 Mg/ha in mature tall canopy ( Rhizophora ) dominated forest. The model estimates of mangrove biomass were within 90% confidence intervals of area-weighted biomass derived from field measurements. When validated at the landscape scale, the difference between modeled and measured aboveground mangrove biomass was 3.48% with MAE of 105.75 Mg/ha. These results indicate that the approaches developed here are reliable for mapping and monitoring mangrove composition, height, and biomass over large areas of Indonesia.
Severe Polyethylene Wear Requiring Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty in Three Dogs

Objective To describe the occurrence of severe polyethylene wear of the acetabular component in 3 dogs that ultimately led to implant failure, and to report the outcome of revision of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in these cases. Study Design Case report Animals Dogs (n=3). Results Three dogs with hip dysplasia underwent routine THA before 2 years of age. All dogs became acutely lame 4–5 years after THA. Radiographs revealed acetabular cup wear in all cases, shell fragmentation in 2 cases, and additional stem failure in 1 case. All dogs underwent successful revision surgery, during which severe polyethylene wear and metallosis was observed. Revision surgery provided an excellent clinical outcome in all dogs from 10 months to 4 years post revision. Conclusion Polyethylene wear and implant failure may be a significant long-term complication of THA not previously recognized, which may be especially true when placed at an early age in a large breed, active dog, or in a dog with significant morbidity associated with other limbs. A successful revision was achieved in all 3 dogs. Additional investigation is warranted to document the risk factors associated with severe polyethylene wear in canine THA.
Porting the PLASMA Numerical Library to the OpenMP Standard

PLASMA is a numerical library intended as a successor to LAPACK for solving problems in dense linear algebra on multicore processors. PLASMA relies on the QUARK scheduler for efficient multithreading of algorithms expressed in a serial fashion. QUARK is a superscalar scheduler and implements automatic parallelization by tracking data dependencies and resolving data hazards at runtime. Recently, this type of scheduling has been incorporated in the OpenMP standard, which allows to transition PLASMA from the proprietary solution offered by QUARK to the standard solution offered by OpenMP. This article studies the feasibility of such transition.
Parent-youth differences in familism values from adolescence into young adulthood: developmental course and links with parent-youth conflict

A critical step in capturing family processes is to incorporate the perspectives and experiences of multiple family members toward characterizing how families operate as systems. Although some research has examined differences between parents’ and youth’s family experiences, most studies have focused on European American families, and we know little about the nature and implications of divergent parent–youth experiences in other ethnic groups. Accordingly, we focused on Mexican-origin families and assessed the links between mother–youth and father–youth differences in familism values and parent–youth conflict from early adolescence into young adulthood. Participants were mothers, fathers, and two siblings (248 female and 244 male, 51 % female; M age = 14.02 years) from 246 families who were interviewed in their homes on three occasions over 8 years. We operationalized parent–youth differences in familism values using difference scores, controlling for mean levels of familism. Multilevel models revealed that mothers’ and fathers’ familism values remained relatively stable over time, but youth’s familism values declined until age 17, stabilized, and then increased slightly in young adulthood. Lagged models tested directions of effect by examining whether parent–youth differences in familism values predicted parent–youth conflict or vice versa. The findings revealed that parent–youth conflict predicted greater differences in parent–youth familism values, but differences in familism values did not predict conflict. Our findings align with a family systems perspective in documenting the significance of differences between family members’ perspectives and highlighting that such processes are dynamic. Further, by testing bi-directional associations in longitudinal models, we were able to disentangle the temporal ordering of differences in familism values and parent–youth conflict thereby advancing understanding of parent–youth discrepancies in cultural values.
The home front: citizens behind the camera

ABSTRACTIn the context of intense debate over immigration into the United States, the television show Border Wars offers a distinctive way for anxious citizens to participate in reinforcing the border. In the program, viewers are invited to share the lines of site of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents as they conduct surveillance of unauthorized border crossers. Because Latino bodies are repeatedly displayed as the subjects of surveillance, the positions of viewer/citizen and viewed-non-citizen encourage racial alignments with the border. In the face of these alignments, the Latino CBP agents are made readable as bodies in transition toward citizenship due to their performance of surveillance practices against other Latinos. The article comments on the soldier citizen as positioned at the panoptic center of watching without being watched, which is less available to Latinos because their bodies circulate as signs of suspicion, which casts them disproportionately onto the surveillance screen. Practices ...
When Should Patients with Bleeding Esophageal Varices Undergo TIPS Versus Endoscopic Therapy

Acute variceal bleeding is a serious sequela of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, which carries significant morbidity and mortality. Advances in therapeutic techniques as well as accessibility and overall safety of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) allowed for endoscopic management to emerge as first line therapy two decades ago, and remain first-line therapy today. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a critical rescue therapy for those that fail endoscopic management, while rescue TIPS carries significant morbidity and mortality, efforts to identify patients that are likely to fail endoscopy and benefit from early TIPS are ongoing. Surgical portosystemic shunts, particularly distal splenorenal shunt, can be considered for refractory bleeding in ideal patients with minimal comorbidities, where surgeon experience is adequate and TIPS cannot be performed.
Acute Ischemic Stroke: Discussion

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults in North America [1]. In the last 20 years, interest has soared in search of a reperfusion therapy for ischemic stroke caused by vessel occlusion. The revolutionary trial by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) showed that intravenous thrombolysis could be achieved with an intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The effectiveness of tPA is time-dependent, and benefit has been shown up to 4.5 h after the onset of stroke. Although tPA can be initiated quickly after a new ischemic stroke is suspected, the short treatment window excludes many patients from therapy. There are also other risks such as development of asymptomatic and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) as well as failure of therapy [2, 3]. These limitations in IV tPA therapy have led to the development of procedural-based interventions such as intra-arterial thrombolytics and mechanical thrombectomy. In 2013, utilization of endovascular therapy was called into question by three randomized controlled trials, showing no benefit of endovascular treatment of stroke compared to standard care or IV tPA [4–6]. These trials used first-generation devices and intra-arterial chemical thrombolysis as the mainstay of treatment. Recruitment was also not limited to patients with a radiographic documentation of proximal large vessel occlusion. Despite different trial methods and designs, none showed benefit of endovascular therapy compared to less invasive measures (although no harm was shown). As these trial results were published, three other multicenter RCTs were enrolling patients to compare endovascular treatment to standard care in managing acute ischemic stroke. The trials ESCAPE, MR CLEAN, and EXTEND-IA all concluded that endovascular treatment of acute vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation was superior to medical management with IV tPA alone [7–9]. These new trials utilized the recent technology of stent retrievers. They also required radiographic evidence of proximal vessel occlusion and noninvasive imaging to assess tissue viability. Despite their differences in trial design, these recent trials all showed a benefit to patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by proximal vessel occlusion from endovascular therapy. In this chapter, we will give a brief history of endovascular therapy for stroke, including the changes in technology, and discuss the three primary equivocal studies for stroke intervention as compared to the three recent studies, which favor endovascular therapy for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
A simultaneous equation model for uneven data: theory and application

We introduce a new modified nonlinear simultaneous equation model to handle uneven data and proves the large-sample properties (the consistency and the asymptotic normality) of the maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) in this modified model. These results make it possible to simulate the market interactions and equilibrium outcomes based on uneven data. The large-sample properties ensure the reasonable of the results of simulation theoretically. When the framework is applied to the U.S. automobile market in which most data are uneven data, the demand and price parameters for models are obtained. Then the model can simulate the market share distribution and evolution of price when a decision is applied and help the manufacturers find the best decision.
Plasmacytoid Precursor Dendritic Cells Contribute to the Ability of CD8 + TCR − Facilitating Cells Population of Enhance Hematopoetic Stem Cell Engraftment and HSC Clonogenicity.

The discovery of cells with facilitative property offers great therapeutic potential in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. CD8 + /TCR − facilitating cells (FC) enhance engraftment of HSC in allogeneic recipients without causing GVHD and also significantly enhance the engraftment of limiting numbers of HSC in syngeneic recipients. We recently identified that plasmacytoid precursor dendritic cells (p-preDC), the main component of the heterogeneous FC population, contribute to facilitation, but with less efficiency than the total FC population. In the present study we determined the role p-preDC play in the ability of FC to 1) enhance syngeneic suboptimal HSC engraftment and 2) maintain HSC clonogenicity in vitro . 500 syngeneic HSC +/− 30,000 FC, or p-preDC from the FC (DC-FC) were transplanted into ablated (950 cGy) B6 mice. As expected, FC significantly increased HSC engraftment, with 87.5 % of recipients (n=19) surviving at 250 days after transplantation, while recipients of HSC alone exhibited significantly impaired survival (37.5%, P=0.0026, n=16) (Figure 1). However, DC-FC, which allowed a slight improvement of HSC engraftment (52.6% recipient survival, n=16, P =0.15), were significantly (P=0.034) less effective than total FC. These data show that DC-FC are less effective than FC total. We then evaluated the influence of p-preDC and DC-FC on HSC in vitro using the colony forming cell (CFC) assay that enumerates progenitors in the HSC population. HSC were cultured in the presence or absence of FC, p-preDC or DC-FC (at 1:3 ratio) in methylcellulose containing growth factors for 14 days. The number of CFC was significantly increased when HSC were cultured in the presence of FC ( P
Multi-Terminal Two-Hop Untrusted-Relay Networks With Hierarchical Security Guarantees

We consider a two-source two-destination two-hop relay network, where all data communication must be kept secret from the relay node. The model considered is the simplest primitive that embodies a multi-transmitter multi-receiver network that needs to communicate sharing an untrusted relay node. We focus on two scenarios. In the first scenario, each source aims to send two messages to be kept secret from the relay: a common message that should be decoded by both destinations, and a private message that should be decoded by the first destination while kept secret from the second one. We define an achievable rate region by utilizing stochastic encoding at the sources, the Gaussian noise cooperative jamming from the destinations, and compress-and-forward at the relay. In the second scenario, each source aims to send a confidential message to its intended destination, which should be kept secret from the other one as well as the relay. We define an achievable rate region using a combination of nested lattice codes and random binning at the sources, structured cooperative jamming from destinations, and scaled compute-and-forward at the relay. We also derive genie-aided outer bounds on the secrecy rate regions. We present numerical results that demonstrate the performance of the proposed achievable schemes. Overall, this paper provides insights into how to utilize an untrusted relay to communicate to destinations with different levels of security clearance, and how intentional interference is an enabler of communication.
Insulin Resistance and Alzheimer's Disease: Bioenergetic Linkages

Metabolic dysfunction is a well-established feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), evidenced by brain glucose hypometabolism that can be observed potentially decades prior to the development of AD symptoms. Furthermore, there is mounting support for an association between metabolic disease and the development of AD and related dementias. Individuals with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), hyperlipidemia, obesity, or other metabolic disease may have increased risk for the development of AD and similar conditions, such as vascular dementia. This association may in part be due to the systemic mitochondrial dysfunction that is common to these pathologies. Accumulating evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction is a significant feature of AD and may play a fundamental role in its pathogenesis. In fact, aging itself presents a unique challenge due to inherent mitochondrial dysfunction and prevalence of chronic metabolic disease. Despite the progress made in understanding the pathogenesis of AD and in the development of potential therapies, at present we remain without a disease-modifying treatment. In this review, we will discuss insulin resistance as a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of AD, as well as the metabolic and bioenergetic disruptions linking insulin resistance and AD. We will also focus on potential neuroimaging tools for the study of the metabolic dysfunction commonly seen in AD with hopes of developing therapeutic and preventative targets.
Pitch and aspect ratio effects on single-phase heat transfer through microscale pin fin heat sinks

Abstract Heat transfer and pressure drop of single-phase liquid flow is characterized in eight micro pin fin heat sinks with varied pitch and aspect ratios. The pins are diamond shaped with respect to the flow and have transverse pitch-to-diameter ( S T / D h ) and aspect ( H pin / D h ) ratio variations in the range of 1.7–3.0 and 0.7–3.2, respectively. The fluid used is PF-5060 over a Reynolds numbers (based on pin fin hydraulic diameter) range of 8–1189. Flow visualization is performed on all the heat sinks and flow transition into unsteady vortex shedding is observed only in those with specific pitch and aspect ratios. Flow visualization reveals upstream propagation of the onset of vortex shedding along the length of heat sink with an increase in Reynolds number. The existence of vortex shedding in micro pin fin heat sinks affects the prediction error of heat transfer correlations in literature. To address this gap, together with data from a prior study using liquid nitrogen [1], separate correlations are developed to predict Nu in the steady and unsteady regimes. The resulting correlation for the unsteady regime shows significantly decreased dependency of Nusselt on the Prandtl number compared to the non-vortex-shedding condition.
Evaluating Mobile Music Experiences: Radio On-the-Go

Music has become an accompaniment to everyday activities, such as shopping and navigating. Although people listen to music in a context-driven manner, music recommendation services typically ignore where a user is listening to the music. They also typically select music based on a single seed song, rather than ordering a user’s created playlists for the best user experience. The contributions of this paper are three-fold: (1) We present a survey of 15 DJs of college radio stations to identify their heuristics in creating playlists for radio shows. (2) We present an experimental study design to evaluate various scheduling (track ordering) strategies for mobile music consumption in situ, which is used to (3) conduct a field experiment that compares the user experience of three scheduling strategies (tempo, genre and location) against the gold standard of a playlist created by an experienced DJ (This work was completed when Anupriya Ankolekar and Thomas Sandholm were both researchers, and Louis Lei Yu was a postdoctoral research fellow at Hewlett Packard Labs. The majority of the experiments were conducted during the summer of 2011. The authors are listed here in alphabetical order).
Comparison of H$alpha$ and Ca II H and K spectroheliograms as a diagnostic probe

The line formations of Hα and Caii H and K are compared in order to differentiate the various mechanisms giving rise to observable contrasts in the emergent intensities. Table II summarizes the criteria for distinguishing between horizontal spatial variations in temperature, density, and turbulent velocity.
Bis[2,2'-(2-amino-ethyl-imino)-di(ethyl-ammonium)] di-μ-sulfido-bis[disulfido-stannate(IV)].

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, (C6H20N4)2[Sn2S6], comprises half of a [Sn2S6]4− anion and a diprotonated tris­(2-amino­eth­yl)amine cation. The anion lies on an inversion center, while the atoms of the cation occupy general positions. An intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond is observed in the cation. In the crystal, strong N—H⋯S hydrogen bonding between the terminal sulfur atoms of the anion and the protonated amine N atoms of the cations result in a three-dimensional network.
Warfare, Genocide, and Ethnic Conflict: A Darwinian Approach

As the 21st century dawns, I reflect on the history of humankind with growing concern about the need to understand the underlying biological and cultural roots of ethnic conflict and warfare. In the many studies of human conflict, innate biological predispositions have been neglected. This article is the third part of a series of seminars for medical residents at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas (see http://adarwinstudygroup.org/). The series starts with in-depth coverage of Darwinian natural and sexual selection, with examples from the domestication of animals and plants and the crisis of antibiotic resistance. The series strives to show how biology has been neglected in the study of the we-they orientation of human behavior, with its devastating consequences. The subject material is profoundly disturbing, as it looks at “human nature” and contrasts the “dark side” of human behavior with the opposite, profoundly caring and loving side.
Site Specific Urban Propagation Using the Variable Terrain Radiowave Parabolic Equation Model

This paper evaluates the performance of the Variable Terrain Radiowave Parabolic Equation (VTRPE) algorithm for calculating the forward electromagnetic propagation loss for a site specific dense urban environment. While the VTRPE code has proven capable of handling terrain profiles with high variability, this is the first test of the model against an urban profile, where the landscape consists of closely spaced structures with vertical walls and flat roofs. For this investigation, the geometry of the problem is limited to building profiles superimposed on a flat terrain, all with uniform (i.e. range independent) dielectric properties. The simulations consist of a transmitter fixed atop a tall building, with field loss calculations occurring at ranges greater than 2 kilometers, which includes dozens of diffraction regions. The urban city buildings are represented in the model via vertical plane terrain profiles, which are generated using a Matlab script to convert ESRI polygon data into digital elevation models (DEM). The numerical results for the VTRPE model are shown and compared to those generated by the Remcom Vertical Plane Urban Propagation (VPUP) model, both executing on the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Interactive Scenario Builder simulation platform.
Abstract MP55: Racial Differences in Metabolomic Profiles Between African Americans and Whites in the Women’s Health Initiative

Introduction: In the US, African Americans (AA) have higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality than whites. Recent evidence suggests that the CVD development may be related to cir...
Mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction in the elderly: Trends and outcomes.

Abstract Background Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy may confer more complication rates in the elderly. Therefore, granular analysis of postmastectomy complications in women aged ≥65 years may help formulate clinical guidelines to improve patient selection and outcomes. Methods We identified patients undergoing mastectomy with or without immediate reconstruction from our breast surgery database (2014–2018). Complications requiring treatment were compared between patients aged ≥65 and Results A total of 1,721 mastectomies were performed in 1,698 patients; 85.8% had a 30-day follow-up. Of these patients, 968 (65.6%) had immediate breast reconstruction, of whom 95 (9.8%) were aged ≥65 years. Among patients aged ≥65 years, 27.6% underwent mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction compared with 77.1% of women aged Conclusion Despite low overall postoperative complication rates, we found some clinically relevant differences between older and younger patients after mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. Additional investigation of contributing factors may help further refine patient selection. In the interim, elderly patients should be counseled on their somewhat greater risk of postoperative complications to facilitate shared decision making.
Estimation of Rotation Gain Thresholds Considering FOV, Gender, and Distractors

Redirected walking techniques enable users to naturally locomote in virtual environments (VEs) that are larger than the tracked space. Redirected walking imperceptibly transforms the VE around the user with predefined estimated threshold gains. Previously estimated gains were evaluated with a 40° field of view (FOV), and have not been evaluated in the presence of a distractor—a moving object in the VE that may capture the user's attention. We conducted a 2 (FOV: 40°, 110°) × 2 (Gender: female, male) × 2 (Distractor: without, with) user study to estimate and compare thresholds for rotation gains. Significant differences in detection thresholds were found between FOVs, and significant differences were found between female and male gains with a 110° FOV. Males had significantly wider gains using a 110° FOV compared to a 40° FOV, and distractors affected females differently than males. Finally, strong correlations were found between simulator sickness scores and threshold gains.