cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Animal models of manganese's neurotoxicity.

Manganese's neurotoxicity continues to present a puzzling array of differences across individuals and across published reports in the profile of effects seen in humans and nonhuman species, but some of the sources of individual variability are becoming clear from studies of animals. The kinetics of manganese is a critical component of any assessment of risk associated with exposure. After inhalation, the uptake of manganese into and elimination from the central nervous system are slow and some manganese remains in the nervous system a year after inhalation. Comparison with other parenteral routes suggests that manganese depots in lung prolongs exposure even after environmental exposure has ended. Manganese's neurotoxicity is associated with its appearance in basal ganglia structures, especially the globus pallidus. Manganese also appears in the pituitary gland but the functional consequences of this are not well understood. Other critical components in characterizing manganese's neurotoxicity appear to be the behavioral endpoints used, the species studied, and the exposure rate. Over neurological signs and excitability are associated with high exposure rates and the appearance of manganese throughout basal ganglia and basal forebrain regions. More focused behavioral endpoints are required to detect the subtle signs associated with slow exposure rates low exposure levels, but when such designs are used the effect is unequivocal. At lower exposure levels, doses of 5 mg/kg and greater, deficits in a task in which a monkey executed a rowing type motion against a spring approximating its body weight were clearly related to manganese exposure while other traditional measures of response patterns under schedules of reinforcement remained intact. Excitability and other signs of emotionality have not been reported at low exposure rates. In rodents, manganese accumulation and alterations in the function or concentration of neurotransmitters have been reported. Investigations of behavioral effects in these species, which usually involved locomotor activity, have resulted in less consistent results. Manganese produces a constellation of neurotoxic signs whose appearance and detection are influenced by dose and exposure rate. Despite investigations of manganese's neurotoxicity in animals over a wide range of exposure levels, a NOAEL has not been identified. Language: en
Fabrication of the structure for qubits using electrons on liquid helium

In the previous paper the system of qubits using electrons on a liquid helium film was described. In this paper we describe the physical realization of the system that we have begun to fabricate. We will not in this brief discussion describe how we intend to operate the system. We will show that we are nano- and micro-fabricating a new type of electronic device that differs from other microelectronic devices in that the final step of the fabrication deposits a layer of helium rather than some other dielectric. The operation of the device will differ in that it manipulates single electrons and it must operate at low temperatures.
A Transient Stability Assessment Framework in Power Electronic-Interfaced Distribution Systems

This paper introduces a framework of transient stability assessment for future distribution systems that are comprised of multiple microgrids. Enabled by the advances in power electronics and synchrophasor technologies, an angle droop method is introduced for autonomous real power sharing among coupling-operated microgrids. In our previous work, the small-signal stability criterion are derived. It is well-known that only regional transient stability can be established for conventional multi-machine systems interfaced with synchronous generators. In contrast, we show in this paper that asymptotical stability in the large can be achieved if angle droop method is adopted for real power sharing among coupled microgrids. Transient stability criterion is derived by formulating the linear matrix inequality (LMI) version of the Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov (KYP) conditions corresponding to the multi-variable Popov criterion. Numerical studies show the effectiveness of the proposed transient stability assessment framework for future power electronic-interfaced distribution systems.
Reactivity of U3+ Metallocene Allyl Complexes Leads to a Nanometer-Sized Uranium Carbonate, [(C5Me5)2U]6(μ-κ1:κ2-CO3)6

The U3+ allyl complexes (C5Me5)2U[CH2C(R)CH2] (R = H, Me) display three different types of reactivity, as exemplified by reactions with PhN═NPh, cyclooctatetraene, and CO2. Two equivalents of (C5Me5)2U[CH2C(R)CH2] effect a four-electron reduction of PhN═NPh to form the bis(imido) complex (C5Me5)2U(═NPh)2 and the bis(allyl) species (C5Me5)2U[CH2C(R)CH2]2. Two-electron reduction of C8H8 occurs to form (C5Me5)(C8H8)U[CH2C(R)CH2] products that contain only one cyclopentadienyl ring per metal. With CO2 at 80 psi, both reduction and insertion occur. A hexametallic uranium carbonate, [(C5Me5)2U]6(μ-κ1:κ2-CO3)6, is isolated as well as the bis(carboxylate) complexes (C5Me5)2U[κ2-O,O′-O2CCH2C(R)═CH2]2. The polymetallic carbonate complex can also be synthesized from [(C5Me5)2U]2(μ-η6:η6-C6H6) and [(C5Me5)2U][(μ-Ph)2BPh2] and CO2.
Modeling to predict positive pressurization required to control mold growth from infiltration in buildings in a hot and humid climate

Abstract Commercial buildings in humid regions of the United State are generally designed to operate at a positive pressure to limit mold growth, material deterioration and other condensation related problems from infiltration in hot and humid climates. This paper combines existing models of infiltration and mold growth to predict the influence of pressurization level on the risk of mold growth. Walls are treated differently depending on their height and the direction they face. Local weather data are utilized to generate the outside pressure field. Temperature measurements performed on an actual building are applied to a multi-layer envelope temperature prediction model, used to simulate the performance of three different envelope constructions. Annual change in mold index is calculated for three humid locations for one construction type and for two other construction types in one location. The simulated results indicate that for a 22 °C indoor temperature set-point, 3 m high walls facing all directions in an unpressurized building in College Station, TX, will experience an annual increase in mold index. However, 1.5 Pa positive pressurization results in a negative annual change in mold index for all walls that should theoretically eliminate the long-term risk of an increasing mold index on all walls. The model also indicates that only 1 Pa pressurization is required to produce negative annual change in mold index if the same building is moved to Fort Worth, TX and no pressurization is required in Atlanta, GA with a 22 °C indoor temperature set-point.
ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY FOR SINUSITIS

Rational antibiotic therapy for sinusitis is a difficult goal, made difficult by few satisfactory comparative trials with sufficient clinical power, the large numbers of therapeutic options, prescribing pressures from the pharmaceutical industry, and rapid changes in bacterial resistance patterns. Controversies exist about the relative need of antibiotics for uncomplicated disease, duration of therapy, and relative efficacy of various agents. Nonetheless, limited data support the notion of superior efficacy of more potent antimicrobials, and an analysis of in vitro activity versus tissue concentrations of the various antibiotics can predict efficacy of eradication of causative bacteria. Multidrug-resistant pneumococci render any algorithm for empiric antibiotic use problematic and prone to fail.
Relationship between hotel rate increases and discounts and consumers' willingness-to-purchase: a prospect theory perspective

The objective of this research study was to determine the effect of hotel rate increases and discounts against a reference price in an effort to determine if consumer willingness-to-purchase rises and fall accordingly with the changes. The results of price increases against a reference price indicated that as the rates rose, a consumer's willingness-to-purchase decreased in direct relation to the magnitude of the increase. The results for rate discounts when compared to an established reference provided a non-linear relationship, and at certain levels provided no significant change in a consumer's willingness-to-purchase. This is an interesting finding that there is a nonlinear relationship between hotel rate discounts and consumers' willingness to pay. It explains some of the dilemmas faced by hotel managers with reference to hotel rate discounts and increases.
Characterizing a Naturalistic Decision-Making Phenomenon Loss of System Resilience Associated With Implementation of New Technology

We describe a phenomenon viewed through the conceptual lens of a naturalistic decision making perspective: a loss of system resilience, due to increased difficulty in performing macrocognition functions, associated with the implementation of new information technology. Examples of the phenomenon collected in a targeted literature review are characterized by stakeholder groups, technology, typical changes in workflow before and after implementation, and potential impacts on macrocognition and patient outcomes for four clinical care environments. The loss of system resilience is due to increased difficulty in performing macrocognition functions: 1) sensemaking due to less effective cognitive warm-up and collaborative framing strategies, 2) detecting events due to missing trends in data and changes to orders, and 3) coordinating due to less clinical knowledge during scheduling and updating information, and less effective cross-checks. Potential impacts to patient safety include an increase in unnecessary care, missed care, delays in diagnoses and treatment, redundant care, inaccurate diagnoses, medication errors, and adverse events. We recommended future conceptually-driven research in other complex, sociotechnical settings order to develop useful metrics and reduce the risk of incurring undesirable and unnecessary impacts on cognitive work associated with new technology.
Science hobbyists: active users of the science-learning ecosystem

ABSTRACTScience hobbyists engage in self-directed, free-choice science learning and many have considerable expertise in their hobby area. This study focused on astronomy and birding hobbyists and examined how they used organizations to support their hobby engagement. Interviews were conducted with 58 amateur astronomers and 49 birders from the midwestern and southeastern United States. A learning ecology framework was used to map the community contexts with which the hobbyists acted. Results indicated seven contexts that supported the participants’ hobby involvement over time: home, K-12 schools, universities, informal learning institutions, hobby clubs, conferences, and community organizations. Three themes emerged that described how hobbyists interacted with organizations in their communities: (1) organizations provided multiple points of entrance into the science-learning ecosystem, (2) organizations acted as catalysts to facilitate a hobbyist’s development in their hobby, and (3) the relationship betw...
Testing for Associations of Opposite Directionality in a Heterogeneous Population

In gene networks, it is possible that the patterns of gene co-expression may exist only in a subset of the sample. In studies of relationships between genotypes and expressions of genes over multiple tissues, there may be associations in some tissues but not in the others. Despite the importance of the problem in genomic applications, it is challenging to identify relationships between two variables when the correlation may only exist in a subset of the sample. The situation becomes even less tractable when there exist two subsets in which correlations are in opposite directions. By ranking subset relationships according to Kendall’s tau, a tau-path can be derived to facilitate the identification of correlated subsets, if such subsets exist. However, the current tau-path methodology only considers the situation in which there is association in a subsample; the more complex scenario depicting the existence of two subsets with opposite directionality of associations was not addressed. Further, existing algorithms for finding tau-paths may be suboptimal given their greedy nature. In this paper, we extend the tau-path methodology to accommodate the situation in which the sample may be drawn from a heterogeneous population composed of subpopulations portraying positive and negative associations. We also propose the use of a cross entropy Monte Carlo procedure to obtain an optimal tau-path, CEMC $$_{tp}$$ . The algorithm not only can provide simultaneous detection of positive and negative correlations in the same sample, but also can lead to the identification of subsamples that provide evidence for the detected associations. An extensive simulation study shows the aptness of CEMC $$_{tp}$$ for detecting associations under various scenarios. Compared with two standard tests for detecting associations, CEMC $$_{tp}$$ is seen to be more powerful when there are indeed complex subset associations with well-controlled type-I error rates. We applied CEMC $$_{tp}$$ to the NCI-60 gene expression data to illustrate its utility for uncovering network relationships that were missed with standard methods.
Open versus minimally invasive surgical approaches in pediatric urology: Trends in utilization and complications

Summary Objective Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are anecdotally reported to be increasingly used, but little objective data supports this. Our objective was to assess trends in MIS utilization across various procedures in pediatric urology and to compare postoperative complication rates between MIS and open procedures. Methods We analyzed the 1998–2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. We identified children ( Results We identified 163,838 weighted encounters in the “overall cohort,” 70,273 of which were at centers performing more than five MIS procedures over the years studied. Use of MIS techniques increased significantly over time for several procedures, most prominently for nephrectomy ( Fig. ). The overall rate of complications was lower in patients undergoing MIS compared with open surgery (6% vs. 11%, p Discussion Limitations include that these data may not be generalizable to encounters not in the sample pool. As a large, retrospective, administrative database, NIS may be affected by miscoding bias – rendering our analysis sensitive to the accuracy of procedure coding in NIS. Although the accuracy level of NIS is high for an administrative database, it is possible at least some portion of our cohort may be incorrectly coded. Further, the NSQIP complications we identified may represent associated comorbidities and not true postoperative complications, as NIS does not provide temporal relationships between different diagnosis codes. Despite these limitations, we note that the NIS database is rigorously monitored and audited for coding accuracy and, therefore, represents a reasonably reliable panorama of the characteristics of an inpatient surgical cohort. However, it is important to note that the choice of operative modality is, undoubtedly, multifactorial and patient/setting-specific. Conclusions There is increasing use of MIS for pediatric urology procedures, although utilization rates vary among procedures. MIS was associated with a lower postoperative complication rate than for open procedures. Higher-volume MIS centers have a lower complication rate than lower-volume centers. Download : Download high-res image (235KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Prevalence of MIS by procedure and year (p
ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF LATE DISCHARGE AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC CATHETER IMPLANTATION

Background: Early discharge after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been found to be safe and feasible in selected patients, yet majority patients are discharged late (>3 days post-TAVI) during hospitalization. Studies on correlation of hospitalization costs and length of stay post-
Age-stratified phase I trial of a combination of bortezomib, gemcitabine, and liposomal doxorubicin in patients with advanced malignancies

Background Preclinical data suggest synergistic activity of bortezomib, gemcitabine, and liposomal doxorubicin. Because tolerance to therapy may be attenuated in elderly patients, we performed an age-stratified phase I trial of this combination.
Recent Gallium Nitride Power HEMT Single-Event Testing Results

The results of recent Single Event Effect (SEE) testing of newly available power GaN HEMTs are presented. High power GaN HEMT devices from two manufacturers were tested with heavy ions. Destructive SEE was observed in all test devices. The failure voltage threshold, cross-section, and angular dependence are investigated.
Co-stimulatory signaling determines tumor antigen sensitivity and persistence of CAR T cells targeting PSCA+ metastatic prostate cancer

Advancing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered adoptive T cells for the treatment of solid cancers is a major focus in the field of immunotherapy, given impressive recent clinical responses in hematological malignancies. Prostate cancer may be amenable to T cell-based immunotherapy since several tumor antigens, including prostate stem-cell antigen (PSCA), are widely over-expressed in metastatic disease. While antigen selectivity of CARs for solid cancers is crucial, it is problematic due to the absence of truly restricted tumor antigen expression and potential safety concerns with "on-target off-tumor" activity. Here, we show that the intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain can determine a CAR's sensitivity for tumor antigen expression. A 4-1BB intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain in PSCA-CARs confers improved selectivity for higher tumor antigen density, reduced T cell exhaustion phenotype, and equivalent tumor killing ability compared to PSCA-CARs containing the CD28 co-stimulatory signaling domain. PSCA-CARs exhibit robust in vivo anti-tumor activity in patient-derived bone-metastatic prostate cancer xenograft models, and 4-1BB-containing CARs show superior T cell persistence and control of disease compared with CD28-containing CARs. Our study demonstrates the importance of co-stimulation in defining an optimal CAR T cell, and also highlights the significance of clinically relevant models in developing solid cancer CAR T cell therapies.
La sociedad Folk

Para que podamos entender la sociedad en general y, en particular, nuestra moderna sociedad urbana, debemos tomar en consideracion las sociedades constituidas en forma menos parecida a la nuestra: las sociedades primitivas p folk. 1 Todas las sociedades son semejantes en algunos aspectos y diferentes en otros; la aseveracion posterior que se dejara sentada aqui, es de que las sociedades folk tienen ciertas caracteristicas en comun que nos permiten clasificarlas como un tipo, pero como un tipo que esta en contraste con la sociedad de la ciudad moderna.
A spectral luminosity function in the pigeon determined by flicker photometry

A method was developed for using flicker photometry in determining photopic spectral sensitivity in the pigeon. The overall spectral curves for two animals were found to be in substantial agreement with previously published data, but the errors of measurement were reduced fourfold.
Understanding Price Rigidity On The Internet: A Massive Quasi-Experimental Data Mining Approach

This research is a three-essay dissertation for theory development and empirical research on price rigidity in e-commerce. Price rigidity involves prices that do not change with the regularity predicted by standard economic theory. The first essay is a case study exploring daily patterns of Internet pricing for the two major online bookstores, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com at a micro-level analysis, informing our understanding of “how rigid prices are on the Internet.” The second essay proposes and evaluates an Internet-based price rigidity model to predict what variables can explain the observed empirical regularities and variations in price adjustment patterns of Internet-based retailers. Finally, the third essay investigates the practical importance of price points on the Internet and provides a rational choice explanation, based on “rational inattention theory.” I also provide additional commentary on a new empirical research approach called the massive quasi-experimental data mining method, which employs time-series data to examine price adjustment patterns and price rigidity on the Internet. Taken together, this research draws upon new theoretical perspectives that are largely new to the field of information systems (IS), but that offer rich opportunities for theory building and empirical research in settings that will be of high interdisciplinary interest. I believe that such interdisciplinary studies have the potential to provide a distinctive foundation for IS research and can also serve as a guide to research on other economic phenomena in e-commerce.
Museum Collections and Archaic Era Vertebrate Faunal Remains from Cuba

Museum collections are an underutilised source of environmental archaeological data. Curated collections often contain faunal and floral remains that can be analysed using new methods and to addres...
Two lytic bacteriophages that depend on the Escherichia coli multi-drug efflux gene tolC and differentially affect bacterial growth and selection

Bacterial pathogens are increasingly evolving drug resistance under natural selection from antibiotics in medicine, agriculture, and nature. Meanwhile, bacteria ubiquitously encounter bacteriophages and can rapidly evolve phage resistance. However, the role of phages in interacting with drug-resistant and drug-sensitive bacteria remains unclear. To gain insight into such relationships, we screened for and characterized phages that rely on the multi-drug efflux pump gene tolC . First, we screened a collection of 33 environmental and commercial Escherichia coli phages for their ability to infect cells that lacked tolC . Our screen revealed two phages that had reduced efficiency of plating (EOP) on the tolC knockout compared to wild type. We further characterized these phages with bacterial growth curves, transmission electron microscopy, and analysis of phage-resistant mutants. Phage U136B is a curly-tailed virus in family Siphoviridae with no ability to infect a tolC knockout, suggesting TolC is the U136B receptor. Phage 132 is a contractile-tailed virus in family Myoviridae with reduced EOP on cells lacking ompF and its positive regulators tolC and ompR . U136B and 132 differentially effect bacterial growth and lysis, and U136B-resistant mutants contain mutations of the tolC gene. Together, these results show that the tolC gene involved in drug resistance can modify bacteria-phage interactions in multiple ways, altering bacterial lysis and selection. These new phages offer utility for studying evolution, tradeoffs, and infection mechanisms.
Imaging through distributed-volume aberrations using single-shot digital holography.

This paper explores the use of single-shot digital holography data and a novel algorithm, referred to as multiplane iterative reconstruction (MIR), for imaging through distributed-volume aberrations. Such aberrations result in a linear, shift-varying or “anisoplanatic” physical process, where multiple-look angles give rise to different point spread functions within the field of view of the imaging system. The MIR algorithm jointly computes the maximum a posteriori estimates of the anisoplanatic phase errors and the speckle-free object reflectance from the single-shot digital holography data. Using both simulations and experiments, we show that the MIR algorithm outperforms the leading multiplane image-sharpening algorithm over a wide range of anisoplanatic conditions.
When Should QT Prolongation Be Considered in Antiemetic Use

Antiemetic medications are commonly prescribed in the acute care setting. Most carry a warning for QTc interval prolongation, which may devolve into potentially fatal arrhythmias. Ondansetron, the most commonly prescribed antiemetic, increases the QTc interval by 6–20 ms, which is not sufficient to cause cardiac arrhythmias in most patients. The risk of significant QTc prolongation after receiving an antiemetic drug is significantly associated with preexisting QTc prolongation, electrolyte abnormalities, and organ failure. Patients who are known to have underlying risk factors should have a screening electrocardiogram performed prior to medication administration. Other patients can safely receive a single dose of an antiemetic without any preceding tests.
Computer Navigation vs Conventional Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Medicare Database Analysis

Abstract Background Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) is applied to total hip arthroplasty (THA) in an attempt to optimize implant positioning. The effect of CAS on postoperative complications after THA remains unknown. Our study aims to assess the change in complication rates when CAS is used in THA. Methods The Medicare database was studied from 2005 to 2012. All THAs performed with CAS were identified. A total of 64,944 THAs were identified, including 5412 CAS-THAs and 59,532 conventional THAs. Medical and surgical adverse events were collected at various time points. Results CAS-THA was not associated with a decreased rate of dislocation at 30 days (1.0% vs 1.2%; odds ratio [OR], 1.14; P = .310), 90 days (1.1% vs 1.4%; OR, 1.23; P = .090), or 2 years (2.3% vs 2.3%; OR, 1.01; P = .931). CAS-THA was associated with a significantly higher rate of periprosthetic fracture at 30 days (0.4% vs 0.6%; OR, 1.46; P = .040) as well as revision THA at 30 days (1.0% vs 1.4%; OR, 1.43; P = .003) and 90 days (1.2% vs 1.7%; OR, 1.42; P Conclusion Administrative coding data fail to demonstrate any clinically significant reduction in short-term adverse events with CAS-THA. Further study is warranted to evaluate whether the purported benefits of CAS result in a reduction of the adverse events after THA.
Digital Megaregulation Uncontested? TPP’s Model for the Global Digital Economy

The United States championed the creation of new rules for the digital economy in TPP. Analyzing this effort as “digital megaregulation” foregrounds aspects that the conventional “digital trade” framing tends to conceal. On both accounts, TPP’s most consequential rules for the digital economy relate to questions of data governance. In this regard, TPP reflects the Silicon Valley Consensus of uninhibited data flows and permissive privacy regulation. The paper argues that the CPTPP parties endorsed the Silicon Valley Consensus due to a lack of alternatives and persistent misperceptions about the realities of the global digital economy, partly attributable to the dominant digital trade framing. It suggests a new approach for the inclusion of data governance provisions in future international trade agreements that offers more flexibility for innovative digital industrial policies and experimental data regulation.
Individualised Professional Development Using the Pyramid Model in an Urban Head Start Programme

In the United States, preschool teachers report behaviour management as one of the greatest challenges when educating young children. Teachers consistently feel unprepared to meet the needs of chil...
Assessing Validity of Visual Field Clustering Schemes for Standard Perimetry Using Machine Learning Classifiers

Purpose: To evaluate the validity of 4 different visual field clustering schemes used to discriminate glaucomatous from healthy eyes by assessing their performance with machine learning classifiers. Methods: Commonly used schemes for clustering 24-2 visual field locations ("maps") were compared Garway-Heath et al., Weber et al., Glaucoma Hemifield Test Sectors (GHTs) and GHT Difference (GHTd) maps. Glaucoma patients (156 eyes/156 patients) had IOP>23 mmHg and glaucomatous optic neuropathy by masked stereophotograph review. Normal controls (189 eyes/189 participants) had no history of elevated IOP and normal optic discs. Raw thresholds from standard perimetry Humphrey full-threshold field locations were averaged within each cluster ("cluster thresholds"), for all clusters within each map. Four types of statistical and machine classifiers [Linear Discriminant Function (LDF), constrained Mixture of Gaussian (cMoG) and Support Vector Machines (SVM linear; SVM gaussian)] were trained separately on each of the "maps" using cluster thresholds plus age,.and tested using cross-validation techniques. Results: Areas under the ROC curves ranged from 0.77±0.02 (GHTd with SVMl and LDF) to 0.93±0.01 (Garway-Heath with cMoG). Sensitivities for detection of GON at a specificity of 96%, for example, generally ranged from 0.50 (Garway-Heath with LDF) to 0.75 (Garway-Heath with cMoG), although GHTd with LDF and SVMl were lower with sensitivities of 0.35 and 0.33 respectively. Conclusions: All maps appear to aggregate the visual field locations with similar effectiveness. None of the maps reduce performance compared to a full set of 52 field locations and no single map outperformed the others. This suggests that the choice of map for comparison of the visual field with structural locations on the optic disc is open and determined by the needs of a particular study. 1 Goldbaum et. al.(2002), IOVS, 43, 162-9.
I Have Not Gotten Any Interview, What Should I Do?

As per the data since 2004, the number of applicants is increasing for almost the same number of positions making the match more competitive. As witnessed in 2018, the number of applicants registering reached an all-time high. Of 43,909 applicants registered, active applicants were 37,103, which are 752 more registrants and 1134 more active applicants as compared to 2017. The top reasons for not securing an interview could be defined as modifiable and non-modifiable. Personal statement, letters of recommendation, US clinical experience, and research which come under modifiable could always be worked upon to improve the chances to secure an interview. An applicant has a higher chance of securing an interview spot when applied to IMG-friendly specialties and programs in particular.
Dimensional Characterization of the Human Cervical Interlaminar Space as a Guide for Safe Application of Minimally Invasive Dilators.

Background The risk of interlaminar passage of a dilator into the cervical spinal canal in minimally invasive approaches is currently unknown. Among the various anthropometric data reported in the literature, there is no report of the interlaminar dimensions in the cervical spine. Objective To report the cervical interlaminar dimensions in neutral, flexion, and extension. Methods A total of 8 spines were sectioned into cervical (C2-T1) segments. Digitized coordinate data defining the locations and movements of chosen anatomic points on the laminar edges at a given spinal level were used to compute the dimensions during a static neutral posture, flexion, and extension positions to mimic the positions during surgery. Interlaminar dimensions were averaged and categorized for each vertebral level and spinal posture. Results Based on the reported measurements, the smallest diameter dilator in commonly used dilator sets has the potential to traverse the interlaminar space at all levels in flexion. In a neutral posture, the average interlaminar distance at C2-3, C6-7, and C7-T1 was still greater than 2.0 mm, the smallest diameter of the initial dilator. The largest interlaminar distance was at C6-7 in flexion (7.68 ± 1.60 mm). Conclusion Because dilators pass directly onto the cervical lamina without visualization of the midline structures, the interlaminar distances have increased relevance in the minimally invasive cervical approaches of foraminotomy and laminectomy. The data in this report demonstrate the theoretical risk of interlaminar passage with small diameter dilators in posterior minimally invasive approaches to the cervical spine.
High-performance size-exclusion chromatography of 63Ni-constituents in renal cytosol and microsomes from 63NiCl2-treated rats.

Fractionations of /sup 63/Ni-constituents were performed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography upon samples of renal cytosol and washed renal microsomes from rats that were killed 1 h after an im injection of /sup 63/NiCl2. Chromatography of renal cytosol on TSK-GEL SW-2000 and SW-3000 separated /sup 63/Ni into six fractions. The largest component (Fraction F) contained approximately 80% of cytosolic /sup 63/Ni. Since Fraction F was eluted near the total permeation volume of SW-2000 columns and beyond the total permeation volume of SW-3000 columns, its molecular weight could not be reliably estimated. The other components, which comprised collectively the remaining 20% of cytosolic /sup 63/Ni, had apparent molecular weights of 168,000 (Fraction A), 84,000 (Fraction B), 51,000 (Fraction C), 24,000 (Fraction D), and approximately 10,000 (Fraction E). Solubilized washed microsomes from kidneys of /sup 63/NiCl2-treated rats contained /sup 63/Ni in five components with elution profiles and /sup 63/Ni-contents that resembled Fractions A, B, D, E, and F of renal cytosol, based upon chromatography on SW-3000 columns. This study provides a rapid, convenient, and reproducible technique to fractionate /sup 63/Ni-components in tissue extracts, and it demonstrates in vivo binding of /sup 63/Ni to several constituents of renal cytosol and microsomes from /sup 63/NiCl2-treatedmore » rats.« less
Student Perceptions of Cognitive Efficiency: Implications for Instruction

This study used a phenomenological approach with content analysis to create a model of how students perceive cognitive efficiency (CE), which is generally described as increases in the rate, amount, or conceptual clarity of knowledge, versus cognitive costs needed to attain knowledge. Graduate education students completed a five-item open-ended survey to measure perceptions of CE and what factors they believed enhanced or inhibited CE. Analysis of results revealed that student perceptions of CE predominantly focused on malleable aspects of self-regulated and reflective cognition, aligning with many descriptions of expert teaching. Students described a diminished emphasis on knowledge acquisition and information processing, in contrast to views typically associated with CE in instructional and psychological research ( Hoffman & Schraw, 2010 ; van Gog & Paas, 2008 ). Practical teaching and learning implications, including suggestions for instructional practice and future research are presented.
Psychological and Educational Consultation in the International Context.

Interest in international aspects of educational psychology and consultation, as well as other sub-specializations in the field, has grown significantly in recent years. However, a truly global per...
The SIMM study: Survey of integrative medicine in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are characterized by significant symptom burden. Integrative medicine (IM) offers unique symptom management strategies. This study describes IM interventions utilized by MPN patients and the association with symptom burden, quality of life, depression, and fatigue adjusted for lifestyle confounders. MPN patients were surveyed online for IM utilization, MPN symptom burden (MPN-Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), and a single question on overall quality of life. Measures were compared by IM participation and adjusted for alcohol and tobacco use, BMI, diet, and MPN type using multiple linear and logistic regression. A total of 858 participants were included in the analysis. Aerobic activity (p =< 0.001) and strength training (p = 0.01) were associated with lower mean symptom burden while massage (p =< 0.001) and support groups (p =< 0.001) were associated with higher levels of symptom burden. Higher quality of life was reported in massage (p = 0.04) and support groups (p = 0.002) while lower quality of life was noted in aerobic activity (p =< 0.001) and strength training (p = 0.001). A lower depression screening score was noted in those participating in aerobic activity (p = 0.006), yoga (p = 0.03), and strength training (p = 0.02). Lower fatigue was noted in those participating in aerobic activity (p =< 0.001) and strength training (p = 0.03) while higher fatigue was noted in those participating in massage (p =< 0.001) and breathing techniques (p = 0.02). Data available on request from the authors. This international survey of MPN patients on IM usage, has shown that patients who participated in a form of IM had a pattern of decreased levels of symptom burden, fatigue, depression, and higher QoL, as adjusted for health lifestyle practices overall.
Destabilizing the boundaries of the techno/human: the fluxable cyborg in Rosa Montero’s Lágrimas en la lluvia

In “A Cyborg Manifesto”, Donna Haraway (2006. “A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late twentieth Century.” In The International Handbook of Virtual Learning Envi...
Lessons Learned From a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial Testing an Inhibitory Learning Approach to Exposure in Anxious Youth

Abstract Accumulating evidence from basic and translational research indicates that fear extinction may be best explained by principles of “inhibitory learning,” by which prefrontal cortical structures inhibit activity in the amygdala. New guidelines for the clinical practice of exposure therapy have arisen from research on inhibitory learning, but these guidelines have received little empirical testing in clinical samples of youth receiving treatment for anxiety disorders. We investigated the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of conducting exposure therapy for anxiety disorders in youth according to clinical guidelines developed from basic research on inhibitory learning principles, using a pilot randomized controlled trial design. Thirteen youths (ages 7 to 16) were recruited from a university hospital-based pediatric outpatient clinic to participate in a 9-week treatment study and were randomized to either an inhibitory learning-based exposure condition or a standard exposure condition. Results supported the feasibility and acceptability of an inhibitory learning-based approach to exposure therapy in youth and, despite the small sample size, effect sizes were in favor of the inhibitory learning approach on several measures. Differences between the standard exposure and inhibitory learning conditions are discussed using two case examples. Discussion of results and lessons learned may contribute to changes in clinical guidelines for optimally effective practice of exposure.
The Dynamics of the U.S. Trade Deficit During Covid-19: The Role of Essential Medical Goods

The pandemic-induced increase in trade of essential medical goods accounted for 41.3 percent of the increase in the U.S. trade deficit from January to June.
Secondary angiosarcoma following catheter‐based brachytherapy

Secondary angiosarcoma of the breast following catheter-based brachytherapy after lumpectomy is rare. We describe a case of a patient with breast cancer treated with partial mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy followed by accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), who developed skin changes 6 years after completion of therapy. Punch biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of secondary angiosarcoma. This case is even more unique in that the location of the skin changes was remote to the lumpectomy site. There is a critical need to recognize secondary angiosarcoma presentation after APBI and determine the rate of occurrence compared with traditional external beam irradiation.
Monetary policy and the US housing market: A VAR analysis imposing sign restrictions

Abstract This article examines the impact of monetary policy shocks on the US housing market using an identification procedure similar to the one suggested by Uhlig [Uhlig, H., 2005. What are the effects of monetary policy on output? Results from an agnostic identification procedure. Journal of Monetary Economics 52, 381–419]. The identification procedure imposes sign restrictions on the response of some variables for a certain period. No restrictions are placed on the response of the housing variable. Overall, the results indicate that housing starts and residential investment respond negatively to contractionary monetary policy shocks. However, the magnitude of the impact is sensitive to the selection of the horizon for which the restrictions hold. Moreover, a comparison of the results with those obtained from a conventional Choleski decomposition, suggests that the impact of monetary policy on the housing market is much less certain under the sign restrictions approach.
Competitive Games as Formative Assessment in Informal Science Learning: Improvement or Hindrance?

This investigation was conducted to examine middle school students’ use of formative assessment technologies in informal science learning contexts. Specifically, this study focused on students’ overall preferences when using a game-based student response system (GSRS; Wang, 2015) as a formative assessment. Data sources included students’ (n = 42) self-reported preferences for competitive versus non-competitive GSRS, teachers’ reflective journals, and external observations focused on student engagement. Data analysis examined the degree to which students preferred competitive or noncompetitive types of games. The study also uncovered some of the challenges associated with implementation. Results illuminate potential trade-offs and suggest that while students ultimately prefer competitive-style games, the competitive nature of those games sometimes proved to be a hindrance with undesirable characteristics. More research is needed to better understand this discrepancy, and to better determine how the competitive characteristics might influence students’ perceptions of the tools.
Pharmacological and genetic activation of cAMP synthesis disrupts cholesterol utilization in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

There is a growing appreciation for the idea that bacterial utilization of host-derived lipids, including cholesterol, supports Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) pathogenesis. This has generated interest in identifying novel antibiotics that can disrupt cholesterol utilization by Mtb in vivo. Here we identify a novel small molecule agonist (V-59) of the Mtb adenylyl cyclase Rv1625c, which stimulates 3, 5-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) synthesis and inhibits cholesterol utilization by Mtb. Similarly, using a complementary genetic approach that induces bacterial cAMP synthesis independent of Rv1625c, we demonstrate that inducing cAMP synthesis is sufficient to inhibit cholesterol utilization in Mtb. Although the physiological roles of individual adenylyl cyclase enzymes in Mtb are largely unknown, here we demonstrate that the transmembrane region of Rv1625c is required for cholesterol metabolism. Finally, in this work the pharmacokinetic properties of Rv1625c agonists are optimized, producing an orally-available Rv1625c agonist that impairs Mtb pathogenesis in infected mice. Collectively, this work demonstrates a novel role for Rv1625c and cAMP signaling in controlling cholesterol metabolism in Mtb and establishes that cAMP signaling can be pharmacologically manipulated for the development of new antibiotic strategies. Author SummaryThe recalcitrance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to conventional antibiotics has created a need to identify novel pharmacological mechanisms to inhibit Mtb pathogenesis. There is a growing understanding of the metabolic adaptations Mtb adopts during infection to support its survival and pathogenesis. This has generated interest in identifying small molecule compounds that effectively inhibit these in vivo metabolic adaptations, while overcoming challenges like poor pharmacokinetic properties or redundancy in target pathways. The Mtb cholesterol utilization pathway has repeatedly been speculated to be a desirable antibiotic target, but compounds that successfully inhibit this complex pathway and are suitable for use in vivo are lacking. Here, we establish that stimulating cAMP synthesis in Mtb is a mechanism that is sufficient to block cholesterol utilization by the bacterium, preventing the release of key metabolic intermediates that are derived from breakdown of the cholesterol molecule. For the first time, we identify small molecule agonists of the Mtb adenylyl cyclase Rv1625c that have promising pharmacological properties and are suitable for use during in vivo studies. These Rv1625c agonists increase cAMP synthesis, inhibit cholesterol utilization by Mtb, and disrupt Mtb pathogenesis in mouse models of chronic infection.
On Automation in Media Industries: Integrating Algorithmic Media Production into Media Industries Scholarship

Media industries scholarship has devoted a substantial amount of attention to understanding the decision-making dynamics surrounding the production of media content. This work has addressed factors such as organizational norms and structures, environmental cognitions, and audience information systems. Today, an increasingly important layer over all of these established factors is the role that algorithmically-driven decision-making tools play in the process of producing media content. This essay will argue for the importance of media industries scholarship effectively accounting for this algorithmic turn and its implications for media production. It will illustrate a number of current examples in which algorithms are playing an increasingly influential role in media production, and how these examples connect with media industries scholarship. The essay concludes by proposing some lines of inquiry for future research.
Limitations on the K-shell X-ray conversion efficiency of a krypton Z-pinch plasma

The radiative behavior and its influence on the energy redistribution of a dynamically imploding current driven krypton gas puff plasma is investigated. Time dependent radiation magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations self-consistently driven by a circuit equation are carried out for loads that remain stable to the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The circuit driving the load is represented by a superclass pulsed power generator with peak short circuit currents of between 60 and 100 mega-amperes. The loads are configured either as thin annular cylindrical shells or uniform cylindrical fills. The results suggest a class of load designs leading to higher density on axis that may produce enhanced K-shell yields.