cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Technique for Avoiding Patient–Prosthesis Mismatch in the Small Aortic Root

In the small aortic root, extremely weakened tissue and extensive calcification predispose toward the implantation of small prostheses, anastomotic bleeding, and paravalvular leaks. We describe a procedure in which a "homemade" composite mechanical prosthesis-conduit is implanted in a supra-annular position in two patients with a small aortic root. This technique facilitates the placement of a larger prosthesis, thus avoiding patient-prosthesis mismatch. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12741 (J Card Surg 2016;31:309-310).
Identification of the electronic structure differences between polar isostructural FeO and CoO films by core-level soft x-ray spectroscopy

The electronic properties of the FeO and CoO single layer thin films on Pt(111) were examined by core-level soft x-ray spectroscopy. These oxygen terminated films are bilayer-thick and isostructural Pt, Fe-Co, and O atoms stacked with small lateral shifts due an incommensurate relation with Pt(111). Probing occupied and unoccupied states projected on the oxygen atoms revealed states at the Fermi level, suggesting orbital mixing with the metal substrate, and also indicated an anisotropy in transition metal-oxygen bonding geometry. The differences in the core-level spectral features were attributed to the substrate induced modification of the charge transfer energy and with an additional valence electron on Co.
Communication Breakdowns in the Academic Intensive Care Unit

The current work flow within a large urban intensive care unit is prone to communication errors that can result in less than optimal patient care. This article discusses several cases that highligh...
New Boraginales from Tropical America 8. Two new species of Tournefortia (Heliotropiaceae) from Costa Rica

Abstract. Tournefortia albifolia J. S. Mill. and T. longipedicellata J. S. Mill. are described as new from Costa Rica, bringing the total number of Tournefortia L. species known from Costa Rica to 16. They are described, their affinities are discussed, information is provided to allow them to be separated from the other species with which they may be confused, and their conservation status is determined.
Current companion diagnostics in advanced colorectal cancer; getting a bigger and better piece of the pie.

While the treatment of colorectal cancer continues to rely heavily on conventional cytotoxic therapy, an increasing number of targeted agents are under development. Many of these treatments require companion diagnostic tests in order to define an appropriate population that will derive benefit. In addition, a growing number of biomarkers provide prognostic information about a patient’s malignancy. As we learn more about these biomarkers and their assays, selecting the appropriate companion diagnostic becomes increasingly important. In the case of many biomarkers, there are numerous assays which could provide the same information to a treating physician, however each assay has strengths and weaknesses. Institutions must balance cost, assay sensitivity, turn-around time, and labor resources when selecting which assay to offer. In this review we will discuss the current state of companion diagnostics available in metastatic colorectal cancer and explore emerging biomarkers and their assays. We will focus on KRAS, BRAF, HER2, and PIK3CA testing, as well as microsatellite stability assessment and multigene panels.
Trends in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Cancer Patients After the Introduction of 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: A 20-year Longitudinal Study at a Major Urban Cancer Center.

Background Rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) declined since routine childhood immunization with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in 2000. We studied the impact of PCV7 on the incidence of IPD in cancer patients. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of adult and pediatric patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 1992 to 2012. Recovery of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a sterile site defined IPD. IPD incidence was calculated as cases per 1,000 unique patient-visits per year (UPV). IPD incidence was calculated for the periods: "before PCV7" (1992-2000), "after PCV7" (2001-2010) and "after PCV13" (2011-2012). Results Of 343 IPD cases, 165, 155, and 23 cases occurred "before PCV7," "after PCV7" and "after PCV13" respectively. The IPD incidence declined from 0.43 "before PCV7" to 0.17 "after PCV7" (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33-0.46, P < .001) and 0.11 "after PCV13" (95% CI: 0.42-0.96, P = .004). Adults with hematologic malignancies and children had the highest incidence. In patients 1-4 years old, the incidence declined from 11.2 "before PCV7" to 2.38 "after PCV7" (79% decrease, 95% CI: 0.1-0.4, P < .001). In patients with hematologic malignancies, the incidence declined from 2.55 "before PCV7" to 0.92 "after PCV7" (64% decrease, 95% CI: 0.27-0.47, P < .001). Conclusions The incidence of IPD among cancer patients sharply declined after introduction of PCV7; especially in high risk groups. The decline in adults suggests an indirect effect from PCV7 childhood vaccination.
Collaborations across disciplines: MU thyroid nodule electronic database (MU-TNED), a multidisciplinary informatics approach

Thyroid nodules are common findings and thyroid cancer is projected to be one of the leading causes of cancer in women. The EHR includes the necessary data needed to connect clinical research with patient outcomes. The objective for this project was to develop and validate a usable informatics tool for clinicians and researchers to record, analyze, and be able to manipulate the clinical and research data to benefit all collaborators. The tool was specifically designed to enable follow-up in a longitudinal manner to support multiple aspects of research. The informatics tool MU-TNED was designed with a multidisciplinary team including the departments of pathology and anatomical sciences, endocrinology and health informatics to be able to transfer identified and validated clinical information directly from the EHR into a research database based on clinicians and research needs. The research database created has resulted in numerous quality improvement and clinical research studies enabling clinicians as well as researchers to be able to answer important questions on topics such as diagnostic modalities, quality of care and patient outcomes.
Analysis of the harmonics influence of urban rail transport load on nanning power grid based on ETAP

In order to analyze the harmonics influence of Nanning urban rail transit load on the region public distribution power network, a simulation model of Nanning Line 1 urban rail transit power supply system based on ETAP software was established. In this paper, the research had been carried out from three periods of the night maintenance, the normal operation and the rush hour. At the same time the model had taken into account the location and the distance of each substation, and the influence of the background harmonics. The results showed that the total harmonic distortion of the normal operation period was higher than that of the night maintenance period, and the perk value was the rush hour, regardless of whether or not the background harmonics. With the mutual coupling of the background harmonics, the influence of the rail transit loads at each period on the harmonics of the Nanning region public distribution power network was futher enhanced, at present didn't exceed the national standard limits. The dominant harmonics and the characteristic ones are analyzed. Taking into account the increase of vehicle density and passenger flow in the future, the influenc of the harmonics on the region public distribution power network will be further enhanced.
Additive Models for Quantile Regression: An Analysis of Risk Factors for Malnutrition in India

This brief report describes some recent developments of the R quantreg package to incorporate methods for additive models. The methods are illustrated with an application to modeling childhood malnutrition in India.
ANISOTROPIC NEUTRON SLOWING DOWN IN ALUMINUM--WATER MIXTURES. I. EXPERIMENTS.

Measurements have been made of the anisotropy of neutron slowing down in Al-H2O plate lattices. The moments of the slowing down distribution from fission to 1.46 eV were determined in the two chara...
Interprofessional Approach in Gero-Oncology

This supplement provides case studies to highlight the importance of using an interprofessional approach to care for older adults. The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has been instrumental in disseminating important work and findings in the care of older adults with cancer.
The recruitment of extra-intestinal cells to the injured mucosa promotes healing in radiation enteritis and chemical colitis in a mouse parabiosis model

Mucosal healing occurs through migration and proliferation of cells within injured epithelium, yet these processes may be inadequate for mucosal healing after significant injury where the mucosa is denuded. We hypothesize that extra-intestinal cells can contribute to mucosal healing after injury to the small and large intestine. We generated parabiotic pairs between wild-type and tdTomato mice, which were then subjected to radiation-induced enteritis and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. We now show that as compared with singleton mice, mice with a parabiotic partner were protected against intestinal damage as revealed by significantly reduced weight loss, reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced enterocyte apoptosis, and improved crypt proliferation. Donor cells expressed CD45-, Sca-1+, c-kit+, and CXCR4+ and accumulated around the injured crypts but did not transdifferentiate into epithelia, suggesting that extra-intestinal cells play a paracrine role in the healing response, while parabiotic pairings with Rag1-/- mice showed improved healing, indicating that adaptive immune cells were dispensable for mucosal healing. Strikingly, ablation of the bone marrow of the donor parabionts removed the protective effects. These findings reveal that the recruitment of extra-intestinal, bone marrow-derived cells into the injured intestinal mucosa can promote mucosal healing, suggesting novel therapeutic approaches for severe intestinal disease.
NCF1 (p47phox)–deficient chronic granulomatous disease: comprehensive genetic and flow cytometric analysis

Mutations in NCF1 (p47phox) cause autosomal recessive chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) with abnormal dihydrorhodamine (DHR) assay and absent p47phox protein. Genetic identification of NCF1 mutations is complicated by adjacent highly conserved (>98%) pseudogenes (NCF1B and NCF1C). NCF1 has GTGT at the start of exon 2, whereas the pseudogenes each delete 1 GT (ΔGT). In p47phox CGD, the most common mutation is ΔGT in NCF1 (c.75_76delGT; p.Tyr26fsX26). Sequence homology between NCF1 and its pseudogenes precludes reliable use of standard Sanger sequencing for NCF1 mutations and for confirming carrier status. We first established by flow cytometry that neutrophils from p47phox CGD patients had negligible p47phox expression, whereas those from p47phox CGD carriers had ∼60% of normal p47phox expression, independent of the specific mutation in NCF1 We developed a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) with 2 distinct probes, recognizing either the wild-type GTGT sequence or the ΔGT sequence. A second ddPCR established copy number by comparison with the single-copy telomerase reverse transcriptase gene, TERT We showed that 84% of p47phox CGD patients were homozygous for ΔGT NCF1 The ddPCR assay also enabled determination of carrier status of relatives. Furthermore, only 79.2% of normal volunteers had 2 copies of GTGT per 6 total (NCF1/NCF1B/NCF1C) copies, designated 2/6; 14.7% had 3/6, and 1.6% had 4/6 GTGT copies. In summary, flow cytometry for p47phox expression quickly identifies patients and carriers of p47phox CGD, and genomic ddPCR identifies patients and carriers of ΔGT NCF1, the most common mutation in p47phox CGD.
Novel vocalizations, including song, from 2 female Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga cerulea)

Female song is more widespread than previously assumed, and is adaptive in many species; however, it may also be an aberrant, nonfunctional, behavior in others. We document novel vocalizations, including female song, from 2 paired female Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga cerulea) recorded in southern Indiana, USA, in June 2017. This is the first documentation of female song in this species. When assessed spectrographically, one female's vocalizations were similar to the typical zeet call of this species, but with appreciable differences in duration, composition, and frequency bandwidth. The other female's vocalizations, which we define as a song, had large frequency modulations as well as harmonics. The females' vocalizations resembled neither each other's nor the typical song of an adult male Cerulean Warbler. Unlike most other instances of infrequent female song in temperate-breeding passerines, these vocalizations only occurred during the incubation and nestling stages, rather than during mate acquisition. Based on their context, they appeared to function in intersexual communication with the male mate. We discuss potential explanations, both adaptive and nonfunctional, and urge researchers of this species to pay particular attention to the vocalizations of females in their study populations.
Thermodynamics of Manufacturing Processes—The Workpiece and the Machinery

Considered the world’s largest industry, manufacturing transforms billions of raw materials into useful products. Like all real processes and systems, manufacturing processes and equipment are subject to the first and second laws of thermodynamics and can be modeled via thermodynamic formulations. This article presents a simple thermodynamic model of a manufacturing sub-process or task, assuming multiple tasks make up the entire process. For example, to manufacture a machined component such as an aluminum gear, tasks include cutting the original shaft into gear blanks of desired dimensions, machining the gear teeth, surfacing, etc. The formulations presented here, assessing the workpiece and the machinery via entropy generation, apply to hand-crafting. However, consistent isolation and measurement of human energy changes due to food intake and work output alone pose a significant challenge; hence, this discussion focuses on standardized product-forming processes typically via machine fabrication.
Principles of Epigenetic Treatment

Much research has been done in the field of epigenetics to evaluate potential roles as both biomarkers for different diseases and as therapeutic agents. Epigenetic transformation is described as changes that are both reversible and hereditable. These modifications include DNA methylation and histone modifications through acetylation, deacetylation, and histone deacetylation enzyme inhibitors. MicroRNAs have also been suspected of playing a role in affecting gene expression, yet whether or not these oligonucleotides truly represent an epigenetic phenomenon is still a topic of much debate. While these alterations have long been used as targets in cancer therapies for decades, they have shown recent promise in tracking and possibly treating other diseases such as autoimmune diseases, neurologic diseases, dermatologic processes, asthma, and allergies through alterations in gene expression. While epigenetics is being increasingly thought of as the most exciting, cutting edge frontier in medicine, one should proceed with caution and humility. All treatments or drugs have side effects, and epigenetic therapy is no different. The danger is when the side effects are not immediately discernable, and the nature of epigenetics is such that we may not appreciate the side effects of manipulating the genetic machinery for generations to come.
Einfluss der Temperatur auf die Schaltbarkeit von Getrieben

In Europa hat das klassische Handschaltgetriebe seine dominierende Stellung bis heute behaupten konnen, wahrend in den USA und in Japan Automatikgetriebe seit langem weit verbreitet sind. Jedoch erwartet der Kunde auch beim Handschaltgetriebe eine standige Verbesserung des Bedienkomforts. Eine bedeutende Storgrose ist hierbei die Umgebungstemperatur, die bei niedrigen Werten betrachtliche Abweichungen vom gewunschten Schaltkraft-Zeit-Verlauf hervorrufen kann. Eine Betrachtung der hierfur ursachlichen Phanomene soll im Rahmen des vorliegenden Beitrags von Ford und Getrag Ford Transmissions erfolgen.
Differences in linguistic cohesion within the first year following right and left hemisphere lesions.

Background Characterizing productive language deficits following lesions to the right (RH) or left hemispheres (LH) is valuable in identifying appropriate therapeutic goals. While damage to the LH classically is associated with deficits in language, RH lesions also result in changed communication beyond prosody due to cognitive-linguistic effects. Cohesion, reference to introduced content across sentences within discourse, relies on a listener's clear and unambiguous understanding that a reference has occurred. To date, we are not aware of any prior work that has compared patterns of cohesive strategy between RH and LH lesioned individuals with cohesion deficits. Aims The purpose of the present study is to determine whether individuals with communication deficits following RH and LH lesions differ in the inclusion and clarity of cohesive markers. Methods & procedures Seventy-six RH samples and 145 LH samples were used for comparison of cohesion performance in a Cookie Theft picture description task. Cohesive ties were assessed following the protocol outlined in Liles and Coelho (1998). It was hypothesized that individuals with LH lesions would present a different pattern of cohesion behaviour than RH lesioned individuals when considered both acutely and chronically. Outcomes & results Overall, samples from LH and RH groups did not differ in word counts or cohesive marker usage. However, the patterns of markers they chose to employ were different. LH samples used conjunctions and personal pronouns more frequently and used lexical cohesive markers less frequently than RH samples. Acutely, patterns of cohesive marker use between LH and RH samples were more similar. Chronically, LH samples contained more personal pronouns and the differences in lexical cohesive markers remained unchanged. When cohesion was unsuccessful, LH and RH damage were associated with different patterns of error. LH samples tended to omit information needed to clarify the intended referent, resulting in incomplete cohesion errors. RH samples tended to sustain breakdowns in cohesion from sentence to sentence, not resolving incorrectly chosen pronouns or ambiguities left in their samples. Conclusions LH and RH lesions resulted in differing patterns of chosen cohesive markers and errors when cohesion was unsuccessful. This was particularly true in lexical cohesion, which has been far less studied than closed-class cohesive markers like referential pronouns. It was also noted that cohesive behavior did not appear to "recover" for either group, suggesting spontaneous recovery is minimal and present strategies for language therapy may not effectively address this linguistic function.
Disease activity outcomes with different washout periods after switching from natalizumab to an alternative disease-modifying therapy.

Washout periods (WPs) are increasingly shortened due to concerns of disease rebound when patients on natalizumab are switched to alternative disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). To characterize disease activity outcomes with different WPs when switching from natalizumab. We conducted a retrospective review of patients switching from natalizumab in our MS clinics. Disease activity (relapse, new T2 lesions and/or gadolinium enhancing lesions) between different WPs (days): 0–30, 31–60, and 61–180 were compared, during the first year after switching from natalizumab. To determine predictors of disease activity when switching to any DMT, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Post hoc analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of individual DMTs on disease activity. 335 patients discontinued natalizumab with WP: 0–30 (n = 104), 31–60 (n = 113), and 61–180 (n = 136). Disease activity occurred in 44.2% of patients in the 0–30 WP group, 18.6% in the 31–60 WP group, and 27.2% in the 61–180 WP group. There was a significant decrease in odds of disease activity with longer WP when compared to the 0–30 group: 31–60 (OR 0.241, 95% CI 0.108–0.514, p value < 0.001), and 61–180 (OR 0.439, 95% CI 0.218–0.871, p value < 0.05). Unexpectedly, in our study, patients who had the shortest WP 0–30 days had the most disease activity. Shortening WPs may not be enough to suppress disease activity post-natalizumab switch.
CHAPTER THREE – FUNCTIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes functions. The concept of a function has been developed as a means of organizing and assisting in the study of relationships. As graphs are powerful means of exhibiting relationships, it begins with a study of the Cartesian or rectangular coordinate system. It then defines a function and provides a number of ways of viewing the function concept. Function notation is introduced to provide a convenient means of writing functions. The chapter discusses some special types of functional relationships, such as increasing and decreasing functions. Variation can be viewed as a functional relationship. It develops an analogous way to handle points in a plane.
Nursing students' perspectives on observed weight bias in healthcare settings: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND Weight bias continues to be problematic within the healthcare setting among practicing healthcare providers (HCPs). These HCPs serve as influential role models for nursing students when immersed in the clinical environment. However, if HCPs are demonstrating bias toward patients with obesity, this may influence nursing students' beliefs and practices. AIMS This study aimed to explore nursing students' reflections of observed weight bias within the healthcare setting. MATERIALS & METHODS A descriptive qualitative study design was used involving reflective journaling and qualitative content analysis. Two cohorts of third-year baccalaureate nursing students (n = 197) participated in weight sensitivity training and submitted reflective journals over one academic semester. RESULTS Reports of weight bias were categorized into three themes-(1) Direct Impact: Observed Implicit and Explicit Provider Weight Bias; (2) Indirect Impact: Weight Bias Due to Skills, Equipment, or Staffing/Environmental Deficits; and (3) Reactions toward HCP Weight Bias: Conflict Between Weight Bias Training and Real-World Healthcare Experiences. DISCUSSION Weight bias was observed in some HCPs within the healthcare setting. Student reflections explored weight bias and the opposing messages between weight sensitivity training and real-world practices. CONCLUSION Preventing bias through continuing education for HCPs is crucial to provide compassionate care and instill ethical values in the next generation nurses.
Chemistry Education and the Post-constructivist Perspective of Bruno Latour

Using Bruno Latour’s framework of a “collective of humans and nonhumans”, this paper presents an analysis of chemistry instruction in a high school curriculum and professional development setting to present the chemistry education community with a new way to think about reality and knowledge construction and, at the same time, to reconsider the contentious problem of constructivism and realism in chemistry education. Latour’s notion of science as a process where humans and nonhumans produce knowledge in “construction sites” enables a research and commentary project where, through the methodology of narrative case study, four different parts of Latour’s framework are considered: (1) mobilization of the world into scientific activity, (2) the use of procedures that act as “speech prostheses” where nonhumans can enter discourse, (3) the depiction of a process where small steps enable the activity of materials to circulate into the knowledge structures of the classroom, and (4) a process where humans and nonhumans have new identities constructed and stabilized through the mutual exchange of their properties. This paper presents Latour’s ideas through the research question: “What are empirical examples from chemistry education of the operation of Latour’s framework of a concept of collective of humans and nonhumans in knowledge construction?” These results support a conclusion where Latour’s collective of humans and nonhumans has the potential to support new ways to think about research and practice in chemistry education, including in ways that align with emerging feminist materialist research.
Hemp Disease Detection and Classification Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning

Hemp is a multipurpose plant that has industrial as well as medicinal value. The plant is easy to grow, maintain, and suitable under any climate. However, just like other plants, Hemp diseases affect plant growth and cause a significant economic loss in hemp production. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, researchers have started using data-driven machine learning approaches in smart agriculture and farming. Plant disease detection and classification is an application of the smart agriculture technique. This paper focuses on hemp disease detection and classification by proposing one SVM-based machine learning model and three deep learning ensemble models. The focused hemp diseases include Hemp Powdery Mildew, Hemp Leaf Spot, Hemp Bud Rot, and Hemp Nutrient Deficiency. The paper uses pre-trained deep learning ensemble models with transfer learning. It reports comparative evaluation results of the three deep learning ensemble models with an SVM-based model with manual feature extraction. The evaluation results from different models show as high as 98% accuracy with strong application potential.
Characterization of Fatigue in Integrated Tuned Mass-Dampers

Recent work concerned with passive vibration suppression in structural systems has focused on the development of metastructures. Metastructures (also called architected materials) are a type of mechanical metamaterial: an object arranged or constructed in such a manner that it has traits unachievable by its constituent material. Metastructures often consist of embedded spring mass systems made from small beams with a tip mass or chiral lattice structures with mass inserts. The goal of a metastructures design is to reduce vibrations of the host structure. It does this using the absorber action of the embedded spring mass systems. The embedded tuned mass dampers (TMDs) then become prone to sustaining failure by fatigue. While many recent papers discuss various geometric and material designs, very few if any address the issues of fatigue of the embedded absorbers. This paper makes an initial investigation into the relationship between the TMDs’ geometric parameters and their fatigue performance with the goal of improving the design and implementation metastructures. A sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the geometric TMD parameter with the largest impact on natural frequency and stress concentration. Analytical models for natural frequency and maximum stress were developed for the TMDs and compared to finite element models. The analytical models were substantiated by the FEA models for some of the perturbed parameters, indicating that further work would be needed to confirm that, for a given parameter, a certain trend in natural frequency indicates an anticipatable trend in stress.
Towards cancer equity via patient outreach.

In this Journal Club, Brian Rivers highlights a study aimed at enhancing the participation of African American patients in cancer clinical trials.
Uniformly-Distributed Energy Losses in Photonic Gratings Enabled by Exceptional Points in Band Diagrams

Non-Hermitian systems manifesting degeneracy in both eigenvectors and eigenvalues – exceptional points (EPs) – demonstrate exotic phenomena in many fields and have been used to distinguish lasing modes, control light propagation, increase the resonator sensitivity to perturbations, show loss-induced transparency and non-reciprocal light transmission and propagation [1] , [2] . By proper tuning photonic grating dimensions, EPs can be observed in band diagrams [3] , [4] . Lately, systems with EPs have been reported to show constant-intensity solutions. However, decay-free fields in systems with EPs have been experimentally demonstrated only in macro-scale acoustical waveguides [5] . We report here uniformly-distributed energy losses experimentally observed in photonic gratings with ≈ 50 % duty cycle (DC), which operate between EPs in their band diagram. The losses are accompanied by projecting a decay-free free-space beam profile, even though the photonic structure is excited only from one side. Both the finite element method (FEM) and a coupled-mode theory (CMT) strongly agree with experimental findings.
On a modified form of Pocklington equation for thin, bent wires

Classical integral or integro-differential equations of the Pocklington and Hallen type, describing radiation and scattering of electromagnetic fields by thin, ideally conducting wires, are of significant practical interest and have been extensively studied. These equations follow from the boundary condition that requires a vanishing of the tangential component of the total electric field at the wire surface. The total electric field consists of both a known incident field and a scattered field that is due to a generally unknown current induced in the wire. The scattered electric field for a given point on the wire surface consists both of a “far” field at distant points significantly exceeding the wire's radius $a$ , and by a “near” field due to arbitrarily nearby points. Expressions for the “near” field include a logarithmic singularity in the kernel of the associated Pocklington equation. This singularity is an important feature that makes the Pocklington equation solvable and well-posed. Thus, the Pocklington equation in its standard form can be considered as a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind with a singular kernel.
Cognitive Rehabilitation after Head Trauma

Cognitive interventions are increasingly used and accepted as components of rehabilitation programs after head trauma. A number of recent reviews assess the general effectiveness of cognitive retraining in general (Butler & Namerow, 1988; Gouvier, Webster, & Blanton, 1986; Rimmele & Hester, 1987). Others have reviewed the effectiveness of particular cognitive rehabilitation programs (Ben-Yishay, Rattok, Lakin, Piasetsky, Ross, Silver, Zide, & Ezrachi, 1985; Prigatano, 1987; Williams, 1987) and of retraining in specific cognitive domains, such as attention (Sohlberg & Mateer, 1987; Wood, 1986) and memory (Glisky & Schacter, 1986). Despite varying perspectives among practitioners, a general consensus appears to be evolving regarding effective intervention strategies, and this consensus is reflected in current cognitive rehabilitation texts (Adamovich, Henderson, & Auerbach, 1985; Najenson, Rahmani, Elazar, & Auerbach, 1984; Sohlberg & Mateer, 1989; Szekeres, Ylvisaker, & Holland, 1985; Trexler, 1982).
Allogeneic interactions in the immune response and tolerance: I. The allogeneic effect in unprimed rats and mice

Abstract Normal rats and mice showed a significant increase in trinitrophenyl-specific plaque-forming cells following the administration of immunocompetent allogeneic spleen cells. The “response” was maximal at 4–5 days and decreased to background levels by 7–12 days. Induction of a graft-versus-host reaction produced a greater increment in direct trinitrophenyl plaque-forming cells than was found with a host-versus-graft, although the kinetics were identical in both cases. The increase in the number of plaque-forming cells was derived from the host in the graft-versus-host and at least in part from the donor in the host-versus-graft. This effect was not restricted to rats, as it was demonstrable in allogeneic combinations in normal mice and with a xenogeneic (rat → mouse) interaction. The trinitrophenyl specificity detected herein was attributed to prior sensitization with crossreacting environmental antigens. The results suggest that foreign lymphoid cells are able to trigger these cells to differentiate and proliferate into plaque-forming cells.
Middleware in Modern High Performance Computing System Architectures

A recent trend in modern high performance computing (HPC) system architectures employs "lean" compute nodes running a lightweight operating system (OS). Certain parts of the OS as well as other system software services are moved to service nodes in order to increase performance and scalability. This paper examines the impact of this HPC system architecture trend on HPC "middleware" software solutions, which traditionally equip HPC systems with advanced features, such as parallel and distributed programming models, appropriate system resource management mechanisms, remote application steering and user interaction techniques. Since the approach of keeping the compute node software stack small and simple is orthogonal to the middleware concept of adding missing OS features between OS and application, the role and architecture of middleware in modern HPC systems needs to be revisited. The result is a paradigm shift in HPC middleware design, where single middleware services are moved to service nodes, while runtime environments (RTEs) continue to reside on compute nodes.
To swaddle, or not to swaddle? paleoepidemiology of developmental dysplasia of the hip and the swaddling dilemma among the indigenous populations of North America

Objectives Clinical prevalence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is high among modern indigenous populations of North America, yet no systematic study of the paleoepidemiology of this group exists. This study discusses the skeletal criteria, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and risk factors of DDH. A range of cases of DDH from an archaeological Native American population are described and the clinical and prehistoric prevalence of DDH among indigenous populations of North America are calculated and discussed within a biocultural perspective. Methods Pelves of 390 adults from the Late Prehistoric (1490 B.P. ± 70) Buffalo site, West Virginia, were examined for DDH. Morphology of true and false acetabula was classified and other changes of the pelvis, lower limb, and spine were noted along with cranial deformation, providing evidence of infant restriction. Prevalence of DDH among living and archaeological indigenous peoples of North America were calculated and compared. Cranial deformation was assessed as evidence for swaddling. Results DDH was identified in 18 adults from Buffalo, resulting in a minimum prevalence of 46.15 per 1,000, within the range reported in modern indigenous groups in North America. Most, but not all, of the DDH cases were associated with cranial deformation, but not all cases of cranial deformation were associated with DDH. Conclusions The etiology of DDH suggests that components of both genetic predisposition and swaddling practices have combined to create a high-risk environment for the development of DDH, contributing to high prevalence within archaeological populations, like Buffalo, and modern Indigenous groups of North America. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:116–128, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mastoparan-Induced Intracellular Ca2+ Fluxes May Regulate Cell-to-Cell Communication in Plants

The relationship of Ca2+ and plasmodesmatal closure was examined in staminal hairs of Setcreasea purpurea by microinjecting cells with active mastoparan (Mas-7), inactive mastoparan (Mas-17), active inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), or inactive IP3. Calcium green dextran 10,000 was used to study cellular free Ca2+, and carboxyfluorescein was used to monitor plasmodesmatal closure. When Mas-7 was microinjected into the cytoplasm of cell 1 (the tip cell of a chain of cells), a rapid increase in calcium green dextran-10,000 fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasmic areas on both sides of the plasmodesmata connecting cells 1 and 2 during the same time that the diffusion of carboxyfluorescein through them was blocked. The inhibition of cell-to-cell diffusion was transient, and the closed plasmodesmata reopened within 30 s. The elevated Ca2+ level near plasmodesmata was also transient and returned to base level in about 1.5 min. The transient increase in Ca2+, once initiated in cell 1, repeated with an oscillatory period of 3 min. Elevated Ca2+ and oscillations of Ca2+ were also observed near interconnecting cell walls throughout the chain of cells, indicating that the signal had been transmitted. Previously, we reported that IP3 closed plasmodesmata; now we report that it stimulated Ca2+ and oscillations similar to Mas-7. The effect was specific for similar concentrations of Mas-7 over Mas-17 and active IP3 over inactive IP3. It is important that the Ca2+ channel blocker La3+ eliminated the responses from Mas-7 and IP3, indicating that an influx of Ca2+ was required. These results support the contention that plasmodesmata functioning is regulated via Ca2+ and that IP3 may be an intermediary between the stimulus and Ca2+ elevations.
Familial occurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Familial occurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is rare. This is only the second case of parent-to-child inheritance and the first case of father-to-son inheritance. The available data point toward a multifactorial mode of genetic transmission.
Catecholamines in human amniotic fluid

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine the amniotic fluid levels of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (N), and dopamine (D) at different gestational ages in the human. Amniotic fluid obtained from 32 pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis for medical indications was analyzed with a radioenzyme assay for these catecholamines. The gestational ages ranged from 17 to 39 weeks. No patient was in active labor at the time of amniocentesis. The data obtained in this study demonstrated a rise of all three catecholamines at the end of the third trimester: N = 362.7 ± 61.2 pg/ml (±SEM), E = 179.6 ± 45.4 pg/ml (p
Managing Probabilistic Data with MystiQ: The Can-Do, the Could-Do, and the Can't-Do

MystiQ is a system that allows users to define a probabilistic database, then to evaluate SQL queries over this database. MystiQ is a middleware: the data itself is stored in a standard relational database system, and MystiQ is providing the probabilistic semantics. The advantage of a middleware over a re-implementation from scratch is that it can leverage the infrastructure of an existing database engine, e.g. indexes, query evaluation, query optimization, etc. Furthermore, MystiQ attempts to perform most of the probabilistic inference inside the relational database engine. MystiQ is currently available from mystiq.cs.washington.edu .
Regulation of endothelial cell barrier function by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Thrombin-induced endothelial cell barrier dysfunction is tightly linked to Ca2+-dependent cytoskeletal protein reorganization. In this study, we found that thrombin increased Ca2+/calmodulin-depend...
Orbital Frontal Seizures. An Unique Electroencephalographic and Clinical Syndrome

SUMMARY An unique electroencephalographic pattern characterized by periodic frontal sharp slow-waves resembling the periodic activity of SSLE was seen in three children with seizures. The seizures were associated with prominent autonomic disturbance, loud vocalization, ambulation, and automatisms. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures never occurred despite a seizure frequency often exceeding 50/day. Depth recording at surgery in one child revealed an orbital frontal focus, and the removal of gliotic tissue in this region resulted in complete cessation of seizures and return of normal cerebral electrical activity. It is speculated that the unique clinical pattern is due to seizure discharge arising in the orbital frontal region with spread to subcortical regions, particularly the hypothalamus and to the temporal lobe. RESUME Chez 3 enfants presentant des crises, on a trouve un pattern EEG unique caracterise par des pointes lentes periodiques frontales ressemblant a l'activite periodique de la LESS. Les crises etaient associees a des troubles importants du systeme neurovegetatif, a de fortes vocalisations, a une deambulation et a des automatismes. Ils ne presentaient jamais de crises generalisees tonico-cloniques malgre la frequence des crises depassant souvent le chiffre de 50 par jour. Des enregistrements en profondeur chez un enfant ont mis en evidence un foyer fronto-orbitaire et l'ablation d'un tissu glial dans cette region a entraine une cessation complete des crises et une normalisation de l'electrogenese. On avance l'hypothese que ce tableau clinique particulier est dua des crises qui prennent leur origine dans la region fronto-orbitaire avec diffusion sous-corticale et en particulier dans l'hypothalamus et le lobe temporal.
mTOR inhibition increases learning/memory (684.16)

Cognitive impairment is a far too common medical problem. Moreover, there is no effective therapy for increasing memory and learning in individuals with such an impairment. Recent studies implicate that mTOR pathway may be involved in learning and behavior. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that mTOR inhibition can increase the learning and memory in mice. We examined spatial learning ability in mTOR heterozygous and control mice by Morris Water Maze. In the control group of mice, we also inhibited mTOR pathway by rapamycin administration and examined its effect on learning and memory.Our results demonstrate that mTOR heterozygous mice had significantly higher ability for spatial learning. Also, inhibition of mTOR in control mice increased the spatial learning ability. We conclude that mTOR inhibition can lead to increased learning ability. However, further investigations are needed to examine the role of mTOR in Alzheimer and disorders in which memory impairment is the major pathology.
Brazilian-U.S. Communication Forum |Television Representations and Symbolic Reproduction of Inequality

It has been difficult to understand the relationship between mediated images of poverty in telenovelas and the symbolic reproduction of inequalities in Brazil, due in part to two factors: 1) the denial of the structural causation of social classes; and 2) the construction of images in which people are seen as autonomous actors over their personal lives. The objective of this paper is to highlight some telenovela images of poverty and to make some preliminary suggestions about the impact of these images in the lives of young, working class people on the basis of 20 interviews. One assumption made about telenovelas is that they give viewers a window into the lives of characters in various social classes, spurring a desire to trade places with others. In terms of my interviewees, more than half (14) had negotiated readings of poverty and meritocracy, while few (2) saw the political or social causes of inequality. This suggests that preferred and negotiated readings of poverty could be associated with telenovela viewing, an act which, in turn, promotes faith in personal merit and obscures Brazilian inequalities.
The development of myocardial insulin resistance in conscious dogs with advanced dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The failing heart demonstrates a preference for glucose as its metabolic substrate. Advanced, severe DCM is characterized by depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stores, which may be a consequence of impaired insulin mediated glucose uptake and oxidation at a time when the myocardium prefers glucose as its substrate. We examined the time course and magnitude of myocardial insulin resistance during the evolution of dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods and results: Thirty-four conscious, chronically instrumented dogs were studied at four stages during the evolution of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) induced by rapid RV pacing [control, early, late and advanced severe]. Transmyocardial glucose, lactate, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were measured in the fasting state. The cellular insulin signaling cascade and ATP levels were measured on myocardial samples. NEFA and insulin concentrations increased early and progressively in DCM in association with increased norepinephrine concentrations and progressive hemodynamic impairment. In advanced DCM but not earlier stages, myocardial ATP levels were decreased by 34%. There was decreased myocardial glucose uptake evident under both basal (−29±5%) and insulin stimulated (−32±4%) conditions in advanced, severe DCM, associated with a 31% reduction in GLUT-4 translocation. Importantly, there were no alterations in proximal steps in insulin signaling, but significant reductions in serine (Ser473) phosphorylation of Akt-1 . Conclusions: Advanced, severe DCM is associated with the development of myocardial insulin resistance. There is impaired myocardial glucose uptake and altered myocardial insulin signaling, involving decreased Ser 473 phosphorylation of Akt-1 . Myocardial insulin resistance in advanced, severe DCM was also associated with reduced myocardial ATP levels.
Optimization of Lipid-Indinavir Complexes for Localization in Lymphoid Tissues of HIV-Infected Macaques

In HIV-infected persons on highly active antiretroviral therapy, residual virus is found in lymphoid tissues. Indinavir concentrations in lymph node mononuclear cells of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy were approximately 25% to 35% of those in blood mononuclear cells, suggesting that drug insufficiency contributes to residual virus in lymphoid tissues. Therefore, we developed novel lipid-indinavir nanoparticles targeted to lymphoid tissues. Given subcutaneously, these nanoparticles provided indinavir concentrations 250% to 2270% higher than plasma indinavir concentrations in both peripheral and visceral lymph nodes. Improved indinavir delivery was reflected in reduced viral RNA and CD4(+) T-cell rebound. This study optimized lipid nanoparticle formulation with respect to indinavir in lymphoid tissues of HIV-infected macaques. Regardless of lipid characteristic tested (charge, fluidity, and steric modification), indinavir binds completely to lipid at pH 7.4 but is reversed at pH 5.5 or lower. Compared with previous formulations, nanoparticles composed of disteroyl phosphatidylcholine and methyl polyethylene glycol-disteroyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPC:mPEG-DSPE) provided 6-fold higher indinavir levels in lymph nodes and enhanced drug exposure in blood. Enhanced anti-HIV activity paralleled improved intracellular drug accumulation. Collectively, these data suggest that indinavir nanoparticles composed of DSPC:mPEG-DSPE provided the most effective lymphoid delivery and could maximally suppress the virus in lymphoid tissues.
Understanding the molecular bases of tissue inflammation

Tissue inflammation is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Originally thought to be restricted to acute or chronic infection or autoimmune diseases, it is becoming increasingly clear that tissue inflammation is associated with a high proportion of most chronic diseases in humans. Inflammation is a consequence of the activation of pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune response. Following their activation, effector mechanisms are triggered and adaptive immunity ensues. I will discuss the role that these pathways play with emphasis on the increasingly important contribution that is recognized for the components of the NLR inflammasome proteins. We find that these contribute to an astonishingly wide spectrum of human inflammatory diseases. As a result, therapeutic intervention in this area holds promise for treatment of human disease.
A Theory for Stretchiness

Superplastic metal alloys can be easily molded into strong, yet complex shapes for airplanes and cars. A new theory attempts to explain at the atomic level why such materials can stretch so easily.