cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of inspiratory muscle training on anaerobic power in trained cyclists

The current study was conducted to determine if inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has an effect on anaerobic power during the final sprint phase of a time trial in trained cyclists. Twenty three trained cyclists were included in the data and were randomly assigned to one of two groups, a training or placebo group. Each group performed IMT, but the training group performed at 85% of their maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) while the placebo group trained at 15%. MIP was measured pre and post training. One 15 km time trial was performed pre and post IMT. Heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and arterial oxygen-hemoglobin saturation (SaO2) were recorded every five minutes during the time trial. Immediately following the 15 km time trial each subject performed a 30 second Wingate Anaerobic Test to measure anaerobic power. A two way ANOVA with one repeated factor was applied to test for differences across the tests and between the two groups. The results showed no significant increase in peak anaerobic power in either group. There was, however, a significant main effect for time in mean anaerobic power in both groups (placebo group increased 529.6 ±124.6 watts to 574.4 ± 99.3 and 612.3 ±81.7 watts to 632 ± 81.7 watts in the training group). There was a significant main effect for time when measuring the average SaO2 values in both the placebo and training group from 94.8 ±2.1 % to 95.3 ±1.8 % and 93.8 ± 1.9 % to 95.1 ± 1.6 %, respectively. MIP showed a significant main effect for time in both the placebo and training group from 110 ±40 cmH2O to 150 ±40 cmH2O and 130 ±30 cmH2O to 160 ± 20 cmH2O, respectively. There was no significant main effect over time for RPE, HR, or time trial time in either group. Six weeks of IMT, whether at 15% or 85% of MIP, can improve MIP, and mean anaerobic power during the final sprint phase of a time trial.
Lessons from the Supreme Court of Texas

Over the past two years, the Supreme Court of Texas has decided an unprecedented large number of cases in the estate planning area. Some of the decisions expand and enhance the law, others explain the law, and one is shocking. This article reviews seven Supreme Court cases plus a few recent non-Supreme Court cases that are worthy of special mention.
Racial differences in E-cadherin expression and CpG methylation in prostate cancer

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 4985 Introduction and objective: African-Americans males are twice as likely as Caucasians to present with advanced stage prostate cancer. The prostate cancer mortality rate in African-American men is 2-3 fold higher than in Caucasian men of similar age. E-cadherin, a protein involved in cell adhesion, has been shown to be down-regulated in prostate cancer by promoter methylation. However, it is not clear if E-cadherin promoter methylation plays a role in race-related prostate cancer. We hypothesize that differential expression and CpG methylation of E-cadherin may be a race-related factor that influences the incidence and severity of prostate cancer. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we analyzed E-cadherin promoter methylation and protein expression in 105 prostate cancer samples obtained by radical prostatectomy from 32 African-American and 73 Caucasian men. E-cadherin promotor methylation was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and confirmed with direct DNA sequencing. E-cadherin protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: E-cadherin methylation was present in 49.6% of all specimens. E-cadherin methylation was present in 45% of Caucasian and 53% of African-American prostate cancer specimens. Age of diagnosis, tumor stage and grade, and PSA were similar between African-American and Caucasian patients. African-Americans with E-cadherin methylation had higher PSAs than African-Americans with no methylation (12.1 vs. 6.5 ng/mL). E-cadherin protein expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry, inversely correlated with methylation in both racial groups (p=0.002). Conclusion: E-cadherin promoter CpG methylation correlates with decreased protein expression. Among African-Americans, E-cadherin promotor methylation correlates with higher PSA levels; however, no such association was found in Caucasian patients. The results of these experiments may provide us with novel strategies for management of prostate cancer through methylation pathways.
A School-University Research Partnership to Identify Disengaged Students: A Descriptive Case Analysis of School Climate.

Background/ContextMuch of the literature on school—university research partnerships has focused on collaborations that address curriculum, instruction, and leadership. Less scholarly attention has ...
Interactive Assessment Tools for Computational Thinking in High School STEM Classrooms

This paper presents a pair of online, interactive assessments designed to measures students’ computational thinking skills. The assessments are part of a larger project to bring computational thinking into high school STEM classrooms. Each assessment includes interactive tools that highlight the power of computation in the practice of scientific and mathematical inquiry. The computational tools used in our assessments enable students to analyze data with dynamic visualizations and explore concepts with computational models.
Protected JTAG

In this paper, we consider a particular aspect of an effort to define trusted computing solutions. One of the hardware features of an embedded device is the JTAG (joint test action group) port that allows easy access to a processor for debugging purposes. This access is a potential security threat in a high assurance environment. This paper presents a solution of a protected JTAG. The purpose of providing protected JTAG, as part of the trusted computing platform, is to prevent access to private and confidential information by unauthorized users and yet allow debugging functions. The presented solution introduces different levels of access. The level of user's access is based on the user's permissions.
Neoliberalism confronts Latinos: Paradigmatic shifts in immigration practices

How has the proliferation of neoliberal ideas altered undocumented immigration policy? I argue three neoliberal principles – privatization, efficiency and personal responsibility – have impacted the implementation of American immigration policy, increasing the detention, abuse, and death of undocumented migrants. This change disproportionately affects Latinos, as they are more likely to either know an undocumented person, or be one themselves. Using an historical structural approach, this work problematizes the inevitability of privatization, discusses the influence of efficiency on the record number of deportations, and criticizes the principle of personal responsibility using the deaths of migrants at the border and in detention. This work is of special importance for Latinos as they disproportionately bear repression, abuse and death at the hands of a neoliberal immigration system.
Abstract A105: Blood donation in relation to colorectal cancer risk in men

Background: Excessive iron may increase colorectal cancer risk, as shown in vitro and animal studies. Human observational studies of iron intakes and body iron stores in relation to colorectal cancer risk have been conflicting, which may partly due to non-specific measurement of iron status. We used the lifetime number of blood donation, a validated determinant of serum ferritin, to investigate the iron hypothesis, which has only been examined in one prior study. Serum ferritin is a reliable measure of body iron stores. Thus, the hypothesis of the depletion of body iron stores lowering the colorectal cancer risk can be tested by comparing colorectal cancer risk between regular blood donors and non-donors. Method: We prospectively examined the association between lifetime number of blood donations and colorectal cancer risk in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Information on number of blood donation and other colorectal cancer risk factors was obtained in 1992 questionnaire. A Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate the multivariable relative risks (RRs, 95%CIs). Results: We documented 659 incident colorectal cancer cases during 16 years of follow-up. The age-adjusted results yielded essentially the same results as the multivariable results. Comparing with the non-donors, the multivariable RRs (95%CIs) were 0.95 (0.79, 1.15) for 1–4 donation, 0.86 (0.65, 1.13) for 5–9 donations, 0.97 (0.73, 1.29) for 10–19 donations, 0.89 (0.60, 1.31) for 20–29 donations, and 1.16 (95%CI: 0.82, 1.63) for at least 30 donations (P-value for test for trend = 0.46). In addition, the null associations did not vary by colorectal cancer sub-sites, or levels of intakes of total iron and heme iron. Conclusion: Lifetime number of blood donation is not associated with risk of developing colorectal cancer risk in men. Our results do not support an important role of body iron stores in colorectal carcinogenesis. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):A105.
[The iodine status in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province 2010].

Objective To explore the iodine level in the environment and the iodine status among the general population as well as the prevalence of thyroid nodules in Hangzhou city.Relationship between the prevalence of thyroid nodules and the policy of universal salt iodization in Hangzhou was also analyzed.Methods Questionnaire,a 3- day weighed dietary record method,and 3 days' 24- hour dietary recall method were used to understand the iodine nutrition status and dietary intake of iodine among the general population in the city.Drinking water,edible salt and morning urine were collected to determine iodine content.All objects under survey underwent the thyroid B ultrasonic examination.Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 13.0 and SAS 9.1.Results (1)In total,12 620 effective questionnaires were available,with 221 water samples,12 730 urine samples,and 3593 salt samples collected.12 515 objects underwent B ultrasonic examination,and 1848received dietary investigation.(2)Water iodine level of Hangzhou was in the range of 0.20-5.99 μg/L,with the median level as 2.58 μg/L.(3) Average daily dietary intake of iodine for adult males in Hangzhou was 289.2 lμg/d.The contribution of iodine intake from iodized salt was 74.4％.(4) The median of Hangzhou residents' urinary iodine was 178.80 μg/L,with the urinary iodine levels at 100 μg/L-,200 μg/L-,＜100 μg/L,and ≥300 μg/L groups were 37.14％,23.11％,21.05％,and 18.69％ respectively.Urinary iodine of pregnant women was 141.0 tg/L.(5) Incidence of thyroid nodules in females(28.6％ ) was higher than that of males(20.1％ ).The detection rate increased with age (6.4％ at group 6-,10.9％ at 12-,12.0％ at 18-,24.4％ at 40-,and 38.8％ at 65-) ; with the highest in urban area (29.8％),followed by suburbs (23.3％) and in rural area it showed the least (20.3％).Urinary iodine level was found lower among the population who had been detected with thyroid nodules (160.36 μ g/L) than those among the undetected population (182.00 μg/L).Conclusion Hangzhou appeared to be an area where the environmental was iodine deficient.Iodized salt was the major source of iodine intake.The iodine status among the general population seemed to be safe and suitable,but the iodine level for pregnant women was not sufficient.There was still no evidence indicating that the universal salt iodization policy in Hangzhou was associated with the prevalence of thyroid nodules. Key words: Salt iodization; Water iodine; Urinary iodine; Dietary iodine intake; Thyroidnodules
Capillary Electrophoresis: A New Tool in Food Analysis

The principle, equipment, and application of capillary electrophoresis in food analysis are reviewed
The role of surface layer proteins in the degradation of a photosynthetic prokaryote, the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp.

Abstract The accumulation of refractory prokaryotic cell membranes has been suggested as a possible source of both dissolved and particulate organic matter in the deep ocean. A surface layer protein (S-layer) is widely found as part of the cell envelope in both Eubacteria and Archaea and is made up of a monomolecular layer of glycoproteins. This heavily glycosylated protein covers the outermost cell surface in a regularly ordered planar crystalline structure. With special attention to the possible geochemical importance of S-layer protein in seawater, we studied the degradation of two species of marine cyanobacteria, Synechococcus sp. CCMP2370 and CCMP1334, with and without an S-layer structure, respectively, after they had been treated with buffers that can strip the S-layer from the cell surface. Based on evidence from bulk chemical and molecular analysis as well as electron microscopy, stripped cells of CCMP2370 lost their cell membrane structure and degraded more rapidly and became more enriched in d -amino acids, while stripped CCMP1334 cells maintained their membrane structures, and degradation was not enhanced. These results suggest that S-layer glycoproteins have a limited contribution to selective preservation of proteinaceous materials during the degradation of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus , but like peptidoglycan, S-layer structure functions as a defensive barrier on the cell membrane to prevent cell lysis and slow degradation of cyanobacterial cellular materials. Our results imply that selective preservation of glycoprotein is not as important as physical protection by S-layer in regulating the degradation of cellular materials of cyanobacteria.
Direct Satellite Broadcasting: Selected Social Implications

(1982). Direct Satellite Broadcasting: Selected Social Implications. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 6, Communication Yearbook 6, pp. 289-288.
The effects of interruption similarity and complexity on performance in a simulated visual-manual assembly operation

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of interruption task similarity and complexity on performance of a simulated industrial assembly operation. Eighteen participants performed a simulated industrial assembly operation, including one trial with no interruption and eight others presenting an interruption task. Interruption conditions comprised a full crossing of task similarity to the primary assembly operation (similar, dissimilar) and complexity (simple, complex) with replication for each participant. Order of condition presentation was randomized. Findings revealed greater time to return to primary visual-manual assembly performance after a similar task interruption. Results also indicated complex interruptions may promote cognitive arousal that increases productivity following assembly interruptions. The majority of results are explained in terms of the Activation-Based Memory for Goals model. Findings provide some guidance for interruption management protocol design for workers engaged in procedural visual-manual assembly operations.
A Postdoc with Walter

In the spring of 1967, to my great delight, I was offered a postdoctoral position to work with Walter Kohn in La Jolla, at the then munificent salary of $10,400 per year. I arrived late one night in October. Driving along some dark canyon road, I began to wonder what on earth I was doing there; it was a rather different place from Cambridge, Massachusetts where I had spent most of the prior ten years. As I soon found out, however,Walter and Harry Suhl had built a strongly interactive community in condensed matter theory that was better than many of the well-known groups in the East, and which drew outstanding people from everywhere.
The Present Perfect borders: A study in language contact

This paper analyzes the properties of the Present Perfect in Barranquenho/Barranqueno, a contact variety spoken in the southern border of Portugal and Spain. In this variety, the Present Perfect displays a mixed structure: while the forms of auxiliary and participle are from Portuguese, its range of interpretations is not attested in Portuguese but rather in Spanish. As in other domains of the grammar of Barranquenho that have been studied, the Present Perfect displays features attributable to Portuguese and to Spanish. These findings are discussed against hypotheses regarding the emergence of this contact variety as well as the theoretical debate concerning the relation between language contact and second language acquisition.
Abstract 26: Durability Of Blood Pressure Control In A Randomized Trial Of Home Telemonitoring With Pharmacist Case Management (Hyperlink)

Background: Patients with high blood pressure (BP) visit a physician on average 4 times per year, but fewer than half have controlled BP. Practical, effective, and sustainable models are needed to improve BP management. Accumulating evidence supports the effectiveness of team-based models for care and home telemonitoring, but few studies have examined whether effects persist after intervention completion. Aims: Hyperlink is a clinic-randomized trial testing an intervention combining home BP telemonitoring with pharmacist case management in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: We enrolled 450 patients with uncontrolled BP from 16 primary care clinics, 8 randomized to usual care (UC, 222 patients) and 8 to telemonitoring intervention (TI, 228 patients). TI patients received home telemonitors that transmit BP data to a secure database. Pharmacists met with TI patients by phone and adjusted drug therapy based on home BP data. The intervention had an ‘intensive’ phase for the first 6 months and a ‘maintenance’ phase with less frequent pharmacist support through 12 months. Patients were followed through 18 months to observe durability of effects on BP control (<140/90 mm Hg, <130/80 mm Hg if diabetes or kidney disease). General and generalized linear mixed models were used to accommodate the cluster-randomization. Results: Enrollees were 45% female, 82% white, and 12% black, with mean age of 61 years. Mean BP at baseline was 148/85 mm Hg in both groups. Results indicate a significant effect on BP control in the TI group. Around 71% of TI patients achieved BP control at each time point, while UC BP control was 45.2% at 6 months, 52.8% at 12 months and 57.1% at 18 months. The mean difference in BP change (mm Hg) between groups from baseline was -10.7/-6.0 at 6 months, -9.7/-5.1 at 12 months, and -6.6/-3.0 at 18 months (Table 1, attached). Mean number of drugs per patient increased in TI from 1.5 at baseline to 2.2 at 6 months, persisting through 18 months. A small increase was observed in UC, with 1.4 at baseline, 1.6 at 6 and 12 months, and 1.7 at 18 months. Conclusions: Home telemonitoring with pharmacist case management was effective at reducing BP for 12 months, with a persistent effect 6 months later. Further long-term follow-up of study participants is planned. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Basis for calculating cross sections for nuclear magnetic resonance spin-modulated polarized neutron scattering

In this work we study the potential for utilizing the scattering of polarized neutrons from nuclei whose spin has been modulated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). From first principles, we present an in-depth development of the differential scattering cross sections that would arise in such measurements from a hypothetical target system containing nuclei with non-zero spins. In particular, we investigate the modulation of the polarized scattering cross sections following the application of radio frequency pulses that impart initial transverse rotations to selected sets of spin-1/2 nuclei. The long-term aim is to provide a foundational treatment of the scattering cross section associated with enhancing scattering signals from selected nuclei using NMR techniques, thus employing minimal chemical or isotopic alterations, so as to advance the knowledge of macromolecular or liquid structure.
Bitcoin’s Consistency Property

Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency nowadays. Inspired by the success, both industry and academia seek to apply Bitcoin's core technique, Blockchain, to other fields like finance, healthcare and Internet-of-Things. One main application is to use Blockchain as the distributed transaction ledger system, a ledger (or a log) of all transactions that is maintained by anonymous participants in a distributed fashion. For the ledger system, consistency is an important property which specifies how the system orders the transactions. Intuitively, Blockchain is designed to maintain a single ground truth – the chain itself is the order of the transactions that all participants should respect. However, we show that under some circumstances, Bitcoin violates eventual consistency, i.e., participants would not converge to a single chain. Thus, we urge a more thorough study on Bitcoin's consistency properties. At the end of the paper, we propose related research directions.
Characteristics of Sundowner Winds near Santa Barbara, California, from a Dynamically Downscaled Climatology: Environment and Effects near the Surface

Abstract Sundowners are downslope windstorms that occur over the southern slopes of the east–west-trending Santa Ynez range in Santa Barbara County, California. In the past, many extreme fires in the area, including the Painted Cave, Montecito Tea, Jesusita, and Sherpa fires, have occurred during sundowner events. A high-resolution 11-yr dynamically downscaled climatology was produced using a numerical weather prediction model in order to elucidate the general dynamical characteristics of sundowners. The downscaled climatology is validated with observations during the 2016 Sherpa fire. A sundowner index (SI) is computed from the climatology that quantifies the magnitude of adiabatic warming and northerly (downslope) wind component during sundowner events. The SI allows for the classification of historical events into categories of various strengths. The primary characteristics of strong sundowners from this classification include 1) internal gravity wave breaking over the Santa Ynez range, 2) initiation i...
Discordant scales and the potential pitfalls for human-carnivore conflict mitigation

Abstract Floral and faunal biodiversity are jeopardized by a number of ecological, environmental, and anthropogenic factors. Increasingly however, an evident disconnect between the science and policy spheres problematizes efforts to conserve biodiversity. One of the issues that informs this research-implementation gap is discordance among the scales at which: i) the research objective is devised, ii) the data are collected, and iii) the inferences are applied. This issue might be influential among human-carnivore conflict research where applied results are intended to optimize the implementation of interventionist activities. Using human-lion (Panthera leo) conflict research as a novel case study, we reviewed papers studying patterns of conflict from 1990 to 2016. Despite the fact that the majority (70.5%, 62 of 88) of these papers devised their research objectives at broad spatial scales (i.e., either landscape or regional), most (64.8%, 57 of 88) envisioned their inferences at fine scales (i.e., either household or community). Mismatches between the coarsest reported scale of data collection and the finest reported scale of inference were also evident. For instance, 24 of 79 papers (30.4%) had potentially problematic mismatches given that the scale of inference was at a finer scale than the scale of data collection. We infer that scale discordance in human-lion conflict research is common and derives, in part, from the lack of fine-scale geospatial data describing the systems in which humans and lions interact. Efforts to develop more resolute geospatial libraries across biodiverse regions will help to make conservation research more effectual by narrowing the research-implementation gap. One sentence summary Discordance between the scale of data collection and the scale of prediction problematize efforts to devise interventions for human-carnivore conflict.
Genetic Classification Trees

The genetic processes of tree crossover and mutation, used by Koza in genetic programming, have been adapted and customized for classification tree evolution. Classification trees are ideal for genetic evolution because the fitness (error) contribution of each subtree is localized and independent of other disjoint subtrees. Consequently, good building “wedges” from parent trees can readily combine to produce superior offspring. Leaf decision analysis enables the system to concentrate crossover and mutation on replacing those subtrees which contribute the most error, instead of doing these operations randomly. Leaf analysis is also used to control automatic pruning of new trees, so that the average size of the trees grows only gradually with successive generations. All these features combine to produce a system which exhibits brisk convergence on classification problems. The system has been sucessfully applied to the prediction of prepayment rates for adjustable rate home mortgage loans.
OSiMa: human pose estimation from a single image

Human upper body pose estimation plays a key role in applications related to human-computer interactions. We propose to develop an avatar based video conferencing system where a user's avatar is animated following his/her gestures. Tracking gestures calls for human pose estimation through image based measurements. Our work is motivated by the pictorial structures approach and we use a 2D model as a collection of rectangular body parts. Stochastic search iterations are used to estimate the angles between these body parts through Orientation Similarity Maximization (OSiMa) along the outline of the body model. The proposed approach is validated on human upper body images with varying levels of background clutter and has shown (near) accurate pose estimation results in real time.
Review Article: Animal Disease Agents Transmitted by Horse Flies and Deer Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Published reports of tabanid transmission of pathogenic agents of animals (including man) are reviewed. Experimental evidence for tabanid transmission of the following disease agents is discussed: viruses (equine infectious anemia, vesicular stomatitis, hog cholera, rinderpest, equine encephalitides, tick-borne encephalitis); bacteria ( Anaplasma marginale, Coxiella bumetii, Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium chauvoei, Pasteurella multocida, Francisella tularensis, Brucella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Leptospira spp.); protozoa [ Besnoitia besnoiti, Haemoproteus metchnikovi, Theileria tarandi rangiferis, Trypanosoma theileri, T. evansi, T. equiperdum, T. vivax, T. congolense, T. simiae, T. brucei brucei, T. b. gambiense (rhodesiense) ] ; and helminths ( Loa loa, Dirofilaria repens, D. roemeri, Elaeophora schneideri, Onchocerca gibsoni ). Results of laboratory and field studies indicate that tabanids are essential for the biological transmission of H. metchnikovi, T. theileri, L. loa, D. roemeri , and E. schneideri and that tabanids are mechanical vectors of the viruses of equine infectious anemia, vesicular stomatitis, hog cholera, and rinderpest; the bacteria A. marginale, B. anthracis, C. chauvoei, P. multocida, F. tularensis, Brucella spp., L. monocytogenes, E. rhusiopathiae ; and the protozoa B. besnoiti, T. evansi, T. equiperdum, T. congolense, T. brucei brucei, T. b. gambiense (rhodesiense) . The extent to which tabanids are important in the natural mechanical transmission of most of these agents is not known. Indirect modes of transmission involving secondary bloodfeeding insects (at tabanid bite sites) and contaminative transmission of agents adherent to external tabanid structures are briefly discussed.
VECTOR VALUED MEASURES AND DECOMPOSING MAPS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the relationships between vector valued measures and the theory of generalized random processes, especially the theory of Radon-ifying and decomposing maps. The result is a Radon–Nikodym theorem for a measure with values in a locally convex space, whose proof is based on a general theorem for decomposition of linear random processes. This theorem is similar to results of Metivier and Sion. A partial converse leads to relationships with the Choquet representation theory for measures on compact convex sets.
The Thalassemias: Models for Analysis of Quantitative Gene Control

The pace at which information about the thalassemias is accumulating has quickened.* There are a number of excellent reviews21,22,24,26,55,190,249, 269,394,398,402 which cover the historical development of clinical and genetic information, together with concepts to account for the pathophysiology of this group of familial anemias. We have selected highlights of this history in order to draw comparisons with the parallel growth of information concerning control of gene activity. These efforts began for different reasons and depended at first on different experimental systems. The theme for this review is that they now appear to be converging on a common question: what determines the rate of production of a given gene product (hemoglobin) in differentiated cells (erythrocytes) of a eukaryote (man) ?
Catalytic, selective, and stereocontrolled construction of C4 quaternary and homobenzylic dihydroisoquinolones by sp3 C–H benzylation

C1 benzylated isoquinoline derivatives constitute the core of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). However, their C4 congeners remain elusive. Here, we describe a diastereoselective, catalytic, and modular C(sp3)–C(sp3) coupling protocol wherein β-amino sp3 C–H bonds of readily affordable vicinally functionalized dihydroisoquinolones are replaced by sp3 C–benzyl bonds. The method provides expedient access to C4 quaternary and homobenzylic dihydroisoquinolones, which are attractive fragments for potential drug discovery.
Latin American healthcare systems in times of pandemic.

The COVID- 19 pandemic is a critical test for the already overburdened and mostly underfunded public healthcare systems of Latin America. In a region that suffers from severe inequalities, public healthcare systems are the only source of medical care for a large sector of the population who work in the informal economy or are unemployed. State-run hospitals and clinics are already overstressed by continuous demand for treatment of vector-borne diseases and community-acquired infections as well as high rates of non-communicable diseases. Ideological misconceptions and denial among Latin America's political leaders prevented timely preparations for the pandemic and added to chronic governance problems. As ethical expertise in Latin America focuses on research ethics, few hospitals in the region have functioning clinical ethics committees or clinical ethics policy, forcing healthcare personnel to make excruciating treatment decisions in an environment dominated by material scarcity and public distrust. This essay examines the emergence of COVID-19 in Latin America and the serious challenge that it poses for Latin America's public healthcare systems.
The Vindiciae contra tyrannos on Tyranny

Tyranny in the Vindiciae contra tyrannos. Published anonymously and containing the most systematically argued critique of tyranny, the Vindiciae draws on biblical and ancient sources. Laws are granted to the people by God. What happens when a prince or feudal lord orders an act that is clearly contrary to divine law? Only tyrants give such orders. Over thirty attributes of tyranny are listed.
BRAIN TOPiC Study: Assessing Variability in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Outcome Prognostication – Do Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Exist in TBI, Too? (P05.202)

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we surveyed clinicians caring for patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI) to assess (1) possible variability in outcome prognostication in TBI, varying by clinicians level of training and medical specialty, (2) possible biases and self-fulfilling prophecies, and (3) whether specific ICU medical complications may influence clinicians in their outcome prognostication. BACKGROUND: Patients with msTBI commonly die from withdrawal of support, likely as a consequence of an unfavorable outcome prognosis provided to the family by the treating physician. It is unknown whether prognostication may lead to self-fulfilling prophecies, and whether the presence of intensive care unit (ICU) complications may accentuate possible provider bias. DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted an anonymous electronic survey of clinicians, including faculty members (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Trauma, Anesthesia/Critical Care), neurology house staff, ICU affiliate practitioners and neuroICU nurses at a single Level I trauma center. The survey included three TBI case vignettes and their respective ICU courses. Questions were designed to assess the utilization of known TBI prognostic models, relative importance of ICU complications for outcome prognostication and aggressiveness of care recommended by the survey participant. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 72% (106 surveys returned). In all 3 cases, the majority of participants did not recommend withdrawal of care, but did predict unfavorable 6-month outcomes. 51% of participants consider medical ICU complications as very important in TBI prognostication. Age, ICU course and head CT findings are the prognostic variables considered most important to outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We have discovered great variability in outcome predictions made by clinicians with different levels of experience in treating msTBI. Self-fulfilling prophecies may exist in msTBI outcomes. Outcome estimates should focus not only on admission variables, but also on ICU complications in order to guide clinicians in providing prognostication. Disclosure: Dr. Izzy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Compton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carandang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hall has nothing to disclose. Dr. Muehlschlegel has nothing to disclose.
Abstract A18: Selectively targeting PI3K isoforms to treat glioblastoma

The phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) family consists of four catalytic isoforms (PIK3CA, B, D, and G that encode p110alpha, beta, delta, and gamma, respectively), which play deviating roles in the formation and progression of different types of cancer such as breast and colon cancers. However, whether these PI3K isoforms function differently or equivalently in glioblastoma has not yet been explored. Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive malignant glioma and patients often succumb to tumor recurrence, a progressive disease state that significantly contributes to the poor prognosis of glioblastoma. PI3K signaling is hyperactivated and mutated in glioblastoma; however, targeting PI3K to treat this cancer has not yet been successful. Given that PI3K isoforms are functionally divergent, it is very likely that selectively targeting PI3K catalytic isoforms is a more effective and discriminating approach to treating GBM. This possibility is supported by the following lines of evidence. Firstly, among four PI3K catalytic isoforms, PIK3CB is highly expressed in glioblastoma and high levels of PIK3CB exhibit the strongest correlation with the incidence, risk (time to develop recurrence), and survival of glioblastoma recurrence based upon expression data of PI3K isoforms and patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Secondly, PI3K is often hyperactivated in glioblastoma cells with high levels of p110beta, but not other p110s, and depletion of p110beta inactivates, whereas knockdown of other p110s has no effect on, PI3K activity as well as glioblastoma cell survival. Thirdly, the selective activation of p110beta may be due primarily to a gap junction protein connexin 43 because this cell surface protein activates p110beta in p110beta-high glioblastoma cells through a selective interaction between connexin 43 and p110beta. Lastly, glioblastoma cells display differential responses to p110 isoform-selective inhibitors. Only p110beta selective inhibitors effectively activate apoptosis in, suppress the viability of, and impede the xenograft growth of p110beta hyperactivated glioblastoma cells. More importantly, p110beta inhibitors are much less toxic to normal astrocytes than other p110 inhibitors. These findings have revealed molecular details underlying the divergent roles of PI3K catalytic isoforms in glioblastoma, which will foster a rational design of more effective PI3K-based therapies for this deadly disease. Citation Format: Kevin J. Pridham, Lamvy Le, Sujuan Guo, Robin T. Varghese, Yanping Liang, Cara M. Rodgers, Gary R. Simonds, Deborah F. Kelly, Zhi Sheng. Selectively targeting PI3K isoforms to treat glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr A18.
Phytogeographical relationships and analysis of the flora of South Texas Plains

The southernmost tip of Texas is a part of the Tamaulipan Province of northeastern Mexico which some authors consider in the Madrean Subkingdom of the Holarctic Kingdom, while others the “Xerofitica Mexicana” of the Neotropical Kingdom. To shed more light on this question, a natural flora of fourteen counties in the S TX Plains ecoregion, South Texas Plains flora (S TX), was compiled, studied from a biogeographical perspective, and analyzed in this work. The analysis was based primarily on the species and genera distribution outlines. Phylogenetic literature was searched to find relationships, patterns of migrations, and geographical connections of the species of major clades. Taxonometric and geographic spectra of the S TX flora were obtained and compared with those of two other floras in southern Texas: SC Texas (EP, or Edwards Plateau) and Big Bend Region (BB). There are 1250 native species in 553 genera and 117 families in the S TX flora. These species were classified into 25 geographic (floristic) elements. Herein is presented a checklist of S TX accompanied by the geoelement descriptions, a comparison of geographical spectra of the species and genera in all three floras, and the biogeographical analysis of the S TX flora. South TX, having a flat topography and being on the crossroads of migration routes, has multiple connections with adjacent floristic centers. The Tamaulipan endemism is not particularly high (8% in S TX) in comparison with much higher Chihuahuan endemism in BB (23% in BB; 10% in S TX). Proportions of taxa of the largest families in the three southern Texas floras show much higher numbers of tropical-subtropical, Tamaulipan, Gulf Coast, and Mesoamerican (coastal) species in the S TX flora in comparison with those of EP and BB. North temperate, E North American, and Prairie species are best represented in EP (47%), followed by S TX (36%), with only 17% in BB. The majority of the BB differential species are in the Chihuahuan, SW N American, Sonoran/Apachian, and the Madrean geoelements. The genera of the largest family, Asteraceae, that are differential among the three floras show importance of the Mexican (Madrean) centers of diversity as well as migrations from the Tethyan Subkingdom in the assembly of the S TX flora. Tethyan connections are also evident among the Boraginaceae s. str. and some other groups found in the flora. The spectra of generic and specific geographical elements of S TX illustrate transitional position of its flora. It represents an ecotone between the Western (Madrean) and the Eastern (Atlantic and Gulf Coast) N American Regions, with a very high influence of the various Neotropical elements and a higher affinity to the EP flora than to that of BB.
Characterization of Nonphysician Health Care Workers' Burnout and Subsequent Changes in Work Effort.

Importance Burnout is a pervasive, unrelenting problem among health care workers (HCWs), with detrimental impact to patients. Data on the impact of burnout on workforce staffing are limited and could help build a financial case for action to address system-level contributors to burnout. Objective To explore the association of burnout and professional satisfaction with changes in work effort over 24 months in a large cohort of nonphysician HCWs. Design, Setting, and Participants This longitudinal cohort study was conducted in Rochester, Minnesota; Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and community-based hospitals and health care facilities in the Midwest among nonphysician HCWs who responded to 2 surveys from 2015 to 2017. Analysis was completed November 25, 2020. Exposures Burnout, as measured by 2 items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and professional satisfaction. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was work effort, as measured in full-time equivalent (FTE) units, recorded in payroll records. Results Data from 26 280 responders (7293 individuals aged 45-54 years [27.8%]; 20 263 [77.1%] women) were analyzed. A total of 8115 individuals (30.9%) had worked for the organization more than 15 years, and 6595 individuals (25.1%) were nurses. After controlling for sex, age, duration of employment, job category, baseline FTE, and baseline burnout, overall burnout (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.38-1.70;P Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that burnout and professional satisfaction of HCWs were associated with subsequent changes in work effort over the following 24 months. These findings highlight the importance of addressing factors contributing to high stress among all HCWs as a workforce retention and cost reduction strategy.
Precarious Parental Employment Conditions and Family Poverty Experiences in the First Six Years of a Child’s Life

Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort in the United States (N ≈ 10,700), this study examines the relationship between precarious parental work characteristics and families’ poverty status during the early childhood years. We focus on four aspects of parental work—occupational prestige, hourly wages, weekly work hours, and nonstandard work schedules—and three dimensions of familial poverty: poverty depth, volatility in family income, and poverty duration. The longitudinal latent class analysis identified five distinct maternal work profiles and three distinct paternal work profiles. Regression results then suggest that children in families whose mothers and fathers held jobs with precarious work characteristics had significantly higher probabilities of experiencing (1) near-poor conditions or falling into poverty, if not deep poverty; (2) volatility in family income; and (3) longer duration of poverty. Results in this study shed new light on the sensitivity of families’ economic status to the precarious work conditions that have been on the rise in a society increasingly characterized by income inequality.
Body Sense: The Science and Practice of Embodied Self-Awareness

When we are first born, before we can speak or use language to express ourselves, we use our physical sensations, our "body sense," to guide us toward what makes us feel safe and fulfilled and away from what makes us feel bad. As we develop into adults, it becomes easy to lose touch with these crucial mind-body communication channels, but they are essential to our ability to navigate social interactions and deal with psychological stress, physical injury, and trauma. Combining a ground-up explanation of the anatomical and neurological sources of embodied self-awareness with practical exercises in touch and movement, Body Sense provides therapists and their clients with the tools to attain mind-body equilibrium and cultivate healthy body sense throughout their lives.
Semaphorin regulation of neural circuit assembly in the central nervous system

The assembly of neural circuits requires a wide array of molecular cues. These cues include secreted and transmembrane ligands and also the signaling receptors that together modulate axonal and dendritic morphology to promote functional neural connectivity during development. The semaphorin family of proteins and their various receptors serve this function. Many experiments demonstrate in vivo, and in multiple neural systems, how semaphorin-mediated regulation of neuronal morphology is critical for the regulation of neuronal connectivity. This system is nicely illustrated by recent work on semaphorin function in establishing neural connections in the olfactory and visual systems in both flies and mice. Further, semaphorins and their receptors regulate the elaboration of axon trajectories and precise targeting of these projections in the mammalian central nervous system, in addition to mediating axon pruning and also excitatory and inhibitory synaptogenesis. Taken together, these investigations into how semaphorins regulate neural connectivity provide insight into developmental mechanisms critical for neurite targeting, laminar-specific innervation, selective synapse formation, and neural circuit refinement.
Treaty-Making and the Nation: The Constitutional Foundations of the Nationalist Conception of the Treaty Power

In Missouri v. Holland, the Supreme Court ruled that treaties are not limited to those subjects otherwise falling within the scope of Congress's legislative powers. Thus, the President and two-thirds of the Senate together can regulate matters which are "reserved" to the states from congressional control. In light of the Supreme Court's renewed federalism agenda, some have suggested that Missouri was wrongly decided and should now be overruled. At stake are principally human rights treaties. Consider a treaty prohibiting the death penalty. In light of recent decisions limiting the scope of Congress's powers under the Commerce Clause and Statute 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, such a provision may well be beyond Congress's legislative authority. Would it nevertheless be valid if included in a treaty approved by two-thirds of the Senate? This article seeks to provide an in-depth historical defense of Missouri. Acolytes of state's rights in foreign affairs have had only a superficial understanding of the relevant history. Although the treaty power has been the subject of relentless controversy from the beginning, throughout most of our history the dominant view has affirmed the nationalist conception endorsed in Missouri. Beginning with the early antebellum period, moreover, the issue has been inextricably bound up with the whole question of race. Although Missouri dealt with a migratory bird treaty, in fact, in the immediate background was a nationwide controversy over the power of treaties to limit the Plessy-sanctified right of the states to impose separate but equal schools on racial minorities.
Magnetically-assembled immunoisolative polymeric cell transplantation device

We report fabrication and characterization of a magnetically-assembled polymeric nanoporous microcontainer for cell transplantation device. SU-8 cuboid base with 200 × 200 × 200 μm3 cell loading space was fabricated. In addition, SU-8 lid was fabricated in a manner that it has triple layer with 350 nm thick membrane where myriads of 7∼20 nm wide nanoslots were defined by nanoimprint lithography. In both SU-8 base and the lid, another layer of SU-8 with electroplated CoNiMnP permanent magnets with aligned magnetization were fabricated and they were bonded. Pancreatic islet cell was loaded into the SU-8 cuboid base in sterile condition and the lid was assembled by magnetic force. The magnetically-assembled polymeric cell transplantation device was successfully tested with FM −64 dye (∼1 nm) for semi-permeability which is essential to the immune-isolation characteristics.