cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engaging pre-service middle-school teacher-education students in mathematical problem posing: development of an active learning framework

Although official curriculum documents make cursory mention of the need for problem posing in school mathematics, problem posing rarely becomes part of the implemented or assessed curriculum. This paper provides examples of how problem posing can be made an integral part of mathematics teacher education programs. It is argued that such programs are a good place to start the process of redesigning mathematics curricula so that school mathematics will pay more than lip service to problem posing. Data are presented and analyzed showing that teacher education students can recognize the need for problem posing both in their own programs and in school mathematics curricula. Examples of problems posed by teacher education students are presented and discussed. An active learning framework for interpreting the role of problem posing in mathematics classrooms is presented.
The adaptation model of immunity.

Although ‘self–nonself’ and ‘danger’ theories have improved our understanding of the immune system, successful immunotherapy of cancer and many autoimmune diseases still remain far from reach. This indicates that our knowledge of how the immune system decides to respond effectively or ineffectively is limited. Emerging evidence suggest that decision-making during the immune response is not solely determined by ‘nonself’ entity of the antigen or damage-associated ‘danger’ signals. This article provides an overview of the ‘self–nonself’ and ‘danger’ models, and suggests that ‘adaptation’ signals are needed to guarantee immunological tolerance that has been observed during the immune response toward ‘self’, ‘nonself’ or even ‘danger’. This should be facilitated by dynamic expression of adapting receptors (ARs) and adapting ligands on cells of the immune system and other somatic cells. Any alterations in the expression of ARs on certain tissues would result in tissue-specific autoimmune diseases or spontaneou...
Combination of Peritubular C4d and Transplant Glomerulopathy Predicts Late Renal Allograft Failure

The histologic associations and clinical implications of peritubular capillary C4d staining from long-term renal allografts are unknown. We identified 99 renal transplant patients who underwent an allograft biopsy for renal dysfunction at least 10 yr after transplantation, 25 of whom were C4d-positive and 74 of whom were C4d-negative. The average time of the index biopsy from transplantation was 14 yr in both groups. Compared with C4d-negative patients, C4d-positive patients were younger at transplantation (29 +/- 13 versus 38 +/- 12 yr; P 2.3 mg/dl at biopsy were very strong predictors of rapid graft loss. C4d alone did not independently predict graft loss. Retrospective staining of historical samples from C4d-positive patients demonstrated C4d deposition in the majority of cases. In summary, these data show that in long-term renal allografts, peritubular capillary staining for C4d occurs in approximately 25% of biopsies, can persist for many years after transplantation, and strongly predicts graft loss when combined with transplant glomerulopathy.
Impact of Residual Insecticide Applied to Upper Story Vegetation on Resting Adult Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT Increased threat of mosquito-vectored diseases necessitates the development for new management tactics and programs. We tested a pyrethroid barrier treatment by using a power sprayer to target upper tree canopies against orniphilic and other resting mosquitoes. Mosquito populations were monitored weekly with CO2-baited Centers for Disease Control (CDC) miniature light traps (without a light) (1) d level and within the vegetation. Traps were operated weekly for 10 weeks; 2 weeks pre- and 8 weeks post-treatment. Culex spp. were collected predominantly in tree canopy CO2-baited traps (81%) compared with CO2-baited traps at ground level (11%) and gravid traps (7%). Over 96% of the mosquitoes collected were Culex spp. Pretreatment canopy catches averaged 489.7 and 618.6 adults per trap-night prior to insecticide treatment in the control and treatment plots, respectively. Tree canopy treatments significantly reduced populations of Aedes spp. and Culex spp. At 4 weeks post-treatment, mosquito numbers co...
E-Cadherin-Mediated Cell Contact Prevents Apoptosis of Spontaneously Immortalized Granulosa Cells by Regulating Akt Kinase Activity

The present studies were designed to determine the role that homophilic E-cadherin binding plays in preventing apoptosis of spontaneously immortalized granulosa cells (SIGCs). Although the levels of E-cadherin were similar to serum control levels, the amount of E-cadherin at the plasma membrane was dramatically reduced by 5 h after serum withdrawal. To determine whether disrupting homophilic E-cadherin binding leads to apoptosis, SIGCs were cultured in serum in the presence of either EGTA or an E-cadherin antibody. Treatment with either EGTA, which disrupts all calcium-dependent contacts, or E-cadherin antibody, induced apoptosis. Exposure to EGTA reduced MEK and Akt kinase activity, whereas E-cadherin antibody only attenuated Akt kinase activity. Because Akt kinase controls caspase-3 activity, an important activator of apoptosis, caspase-3 activity was monitored. Caspase-3 activity increased after serum depletion, or EGTA or E-cadherin antibody treatment. Time-series analysis of caspase-3 activity within single cells revealed that during apoptosis cell contact was disrupted then caspase-3 activity was detected. Finally, the caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, blocked apoptosis. These data taken together are consistent with the concept that E-cadherin-mediated cell contact, either directly or indirectly, promotes Akt kinase activity, which in turn, inhibits caspase-3 activation and thereby maintains SIGC viability.
Kinetic and spectral resolution of cytochrome c-553 and cytochrome f in the photosynthetic electron-transfer chain of heterocysts

Abstract Oxidation of cytochrome c-553 and cytochrome f following single-turnover flashes was measured in isolated heterocysts. Half-times of oxidation for these two cytochromes were determined by measuring the rate of bleaching at 554 nm in heterocysts possessing cytochrome c-553, or in heterocysts in which cytochrome c-553 was replaced by plastocyanin. Flash-induced difference spectra demonstrate that a fast bleaching (t0.5 = 20–35 μs) corresponds to the oxidation of cytochrome c-553, and a slower bleaching (t0.5 = 87 μs) corresponds to the oxidation of cytochrome f.
Nutrient covariance between forest foliage and fine roots

Abstract Plants face a trade-off in distributing C and nutrients between above- and below-ground resource acquiring tissues. We compiled data on tree foliar and fine root nutrient concentrations from across a range of forest biomes and leaf forms to reveal general patterns in the covariance of nutrients in these tissues, as well as N and lignin concentrations in leaf litter and fine roots. Linear patterns between foliar and fine root tissues for N, P, Ca, and Mg clearly indicate covariance in nutrient concentrations between above- and below-ground resource acquiring tissues. However, concentrations of N and P in foliage were higher than in roots in nearly all cases. Slopes
Hospital ownership and preventable adverse events.

To determine whether hospital ownership was associated with preventable adverse events, the authors reviewed the medical records of a random sample of 15,000 hospitalizations in Utah and Colorado in 1992. Hospitals were categorized as nonprofit, for-profit, major teaching government (e.g., county, state ownership), and minor or nonteaching government. Multivariate analyses adjusting for other patient and hospital characteristics found that, when compared with patients in nonprofit hospitals, patients in minor or nonteaching government hospitals were more likely to suffer a preventable adverse event of any type (odds ratio (OR), 2.46; 95 percent confidence interval (95% CI), 1.45 to 4.20); preventable operative adverse events (OR, 4.85; 95% CI, 2.44 to 9.62); and preventable adverse events due to delayed diagnoses and therapies (OR, 4.27; 95% CI, 1.48 to 12.31). Patients in for-profit hospitals were also more likely to suffer preventable adverse events of any type (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.38); preventable operative adverse events (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.42 to 4.87); and preventable adverse events due to delayed diagnoses and therapies (OR, 4.15; 95% CI, 1.84 to 9.34). Patients in major teaching government hospitals were less likely to suffer preventable adverse drug events (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.89).
Netrin-1: a potential universal biomarker for acute kidney injury

acute kidney injury (AKI) is commonly associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, which strongly depend on the time of the diagnosis to allow therapeutic interventions. Recent studies clearly indicate that routine assessments of kidney function based on serum creatinine and blood urea
Selection of Japanese Quail for Contrasting Blood Corticosterone Response to Immobilization

Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divergently selected for 12 generations for increased (high stress, HS) and decreased (low stress, LS) blood corticosterone (B) response to unfamiliar environments. Response lines were selected initially on the basis of wild-type quail B response to albino (ALB) quail intrusion (S1 to S3) and subsequently on B response to immobilization (IMB) (S4 to S12). Using ALB intruders as stressors proved unsuccessful, therefore the practice was abandoned in favor of using IMB, which proved successful. Across nine generations of selection, using the IMB stressor, the HS line exhibited a mean serum B response that was approximately 58% greater than that of the random-bred (control stress, CS) line, whereas the LS line had a mean response approximately 23% less than that of the CS line. Selection differentials were approximately three-fold greater in the HS than in the LS line whereas realized heritabilities (h2) were approximately two-fold greater in the HS than in the LS line.
Monitoring of the in-river migration of smolts from two groups of spring chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), with different profiles of Renibacterium salmoninarum infection

Broodstock segregation based on the measurement of maternal Renibacterium salmoninarum infection levels by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the membrane filtration-fluorescent antibody technique (MF-FAT) was previously shown to affect the prevalence and levels of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) in progeny of chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), during hatchery rearing. Subgroups of fish from that study were marked with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and monitored by PIT-tag detectors during the first 342km of their migration to the Pacific Ocean. Differences in the recovery of tagged fish were significant (P≤ 0·01) at each detection point and became more pronounced as the fish moved downstream. Cumulative recoveries of fish from the low-BKD group and the high-BKD group, respectively, were 31% and 28% after 116km, 44% and 37% after 176km, and 51% and 42% after 342km. There were no apparent differences in the migration timing of the two groups to the first detection point. The data suggested that in-river survival was higher in the progeny group from parents that had low R. salmoninarum infection levels or tested negative for R. salmoninarum (low-BKD group) than in the group female parents with high infection levels (high-BKD group).
Molecular-beam optothermal spectrum of the ν1 CH stretching fundamental band of CHF2Cl

Abstract The infrared spectrum of the ν1 CH stretching fundamental of CHF235Cl and CHF237Cl has been measured using a color-center-laser molecular-beam optothermal spectrometer. The high resolution (∼0.0005 cm−) and low rotational temperature (TRot ∼ 14 K) allow the assignment of approximately 500 transitions up to J′ = 16 and K′a = 11 for the excited state of the dominant CHF235Cl isotopic form. The spectrum exhibits perturbations affecting the K′a = 6 through K′a = 9 levels, with the interaction being strong enough at K′a = 7 to observe transitions to the perturbing or “dark” state. A perturbation analysis yields a coupling matrix element of ∼0.02 cm−1 between the two states, with the perturbation determined to be a Fermi-resonance and/or parallel-type Coriolis interaction between the A′ symmetry CH strecthing state and an A′ dark state. The essentially unperturbed K′a = 0–5, 10–11 states have been fit to a Watson-type asymmetrical top Hamiltonian to a standard deviation of 0.00025 cm−1, which is approximately a factor of three larger than the estimated experimental uncertainty. The resulting band origin is 3021.63351(4) cm−1. A smaller set of transitions have been assigned to the CHF237Cl species, yielding a band origin of 3021.3995(10) cm−1.
West Nile virus: a primer for the clinician.

This paper provides the clinician with an understanding of the epidemiologic and biological characteristics of West Nile virus in North America, as well as useful information on the diagnosis, repo...
Mental Health and Substance Use Among Patients in a North Carolina HIV Clinic

Background The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a significant public health concern in North Carolina, and previous research has pointed to elevated mental health distress and substance use among HIV-infected populations, which may impact patients' adherence to medications. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of mental health and substance use issues among patients of a North Carolina HIV clinic, to examine differences by demographic characteristics, and to examine factors associated with suboptimal adherence to HIV medications. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of clinical data routinely collected through a health behavior questionnaire at a large HIV clinic in North Carolina. We analyzed data collected from February 2011 to August 2012. Results The sample included 1,398 patients. Overall, 12.2% of patients endorsed current symptomology indicative of moderate or severe levels of depression, and 38.6% reported receiving a psychiatric diagnosis at some point in their life. Additionally, 19.1% had indications of current problematic drinking, and 8.2% reported problematic drug use. Nearly one-quarter (22.1%) reported suboptimal adherence to HIV medications. Factors associated with poor adherence included racial/ethnic minority, age less than 35 years, and indications of moderate or severe depression. Limitations The questionnaire was not completed systematically in the clinic, which may limit generalizability, and self-reported measures may have introduced social desirability bias. Conclusion Patients were willing to disclose mental health distress, substance use, and suboptimal medication adherence to providers, which highlights the importance of routinely assessing these behaviors during clinic visits. Our findings suggest that treating depression may be an effective strategy to improve adherence to HIV medications.
Factors Associated With Discontinuation of Home Hemodialysis.

Background Home hemodialysis (HHD) is associated with improved clinical and quality-of-life outcomes compared to in-center hemodialysis, but remains an underused modality in the United States. Discontinuation from HHD therapy may be an important contributor to the low use of this modality. This study aimed to describe the rate and timing of HHD therapy discontinuation, or technique failure, and identify contributing factors. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants Using data from a large dialysis provider, we identified a nationally representative cohort of patients who initiated HHD therapy from 2007 to 2009 (N=2,840). Factors Demographics, end-stage renal disease duration, kidney transplant listing status, comorbid conditions, level of urbanization or rurality based on residence zip code, socioeconomic status based on residence zip code, and dialysis facility factors. Outcomes Discontinuation from HHD therapy, defined as 60 or more days with no HHD treatments. Measurements Competing-risk models were used to produce cumulative incidence plots and identify sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with HHD therapy discontinuation. Transplantation and death were treated as competing risks for HHD therapy discontinuation. Results The 1-year incidence of discontinuation was 24.9%, and the 1-year mortality estimate was 7.6%. Median end-stage renal disease duration prior to initiating HHD therapy was 2.1 years. Diabetes and smoking/alcohol/drug use were associated with increased risk for HHD discontinuation (HRs of 1.34 [95% CI, 1.07-1.68] and 1.34 [95% CI, 1.01-1.78], respectively). Listing for kidney transplantation and rural residence (rural-urban commuting area ≥ 7) were associated with decreased risk for HHD therapy discontinuation (HRs of 0.73 [95% CI, 0.61-0.87] and 0.78 [95% CI, 0.59-1.02], respectively). Limitations Limited to variables available within the DaVita dialysis and US Renal Data System data sets. Conclusions A substantial proportion of patients discontinue HHD therapy within the first 12 months of use of the modality. Patients with diabetes, substance use, nonlisting for kidney transplantation, and urban residence are at greater risk for discontinuation. Targeting high-risk patients for increased support from clinical teams is a potential strategy for reducing HHD therapy discontinuation and increasing technique survival.
Native Bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Abundance and Diversity in North Georgia Apple Orchards Throughout the 2010 Growing Season (March to October)

Bees play a key role in agriculture, directly affecting the production of over one-third of the human food supply. Apis mellifera (Honey Bee), the chief pollinator used in commercial agriculture, has been in decline. Reliance on a single species for the pollination of a significant portion of commercial agriculture can be dangerous. One alternative to using Honey Bees as the main commercial pollinator is native bees. In this study, we document native bee species diversity and abundance throughout the 2010 growing season (March through October) at 4 North Georgia Malus domestica (Apple) orchards. The 4 study sites included 2 large-scale orchards (Mercier Orchards and Hillside Orchards) and 2 small- scale orchards (Mountain View Orchards and Tiger Mountain Orchards). A comprehensive sampling methodology using pan-traps, vane-traps, malaise traps, and sweep-netting was performed at each orchard on 8 separate collection days. A total of 1817 bees were identi- fied to species. These bees comprised 128 species in 28 genera in 5 families. Several native bee species were quite common and widespread at all 4 orchards. These native bee species included: Andrena crataegi, A. perplexa, Lasioglossum imitatum, L. pilosum, and Xylocopa virginica (Eastern Carpenter Bee). Andrena crataegi was identified as the best native bee candidate for Apple pollination in North Georgia due to its abundance, wide-spread distri- bution in Georgia Apple orchards, and its life-history characteristics.
Decreased energy metabolism in brain stem during central respiratory depression in response to hypoxia

LaManna, J. C., M. A. Haxhiu, K. L. Kutina-Nelson, S. Pundik, B. Erokwu, E. R. Yeh, W. D. Lust, and N. S. Cherniack.Decreased energy metabolism in brain stem during central respiratory depression i...
The ceramic ecology of florida: compositional baselines for pottery provenance studies

AbstractThe success of pottery provenance studies is fundamentally dependent upon spatially patterned variation in the composition of exploited clay resources. Uniformity in clay composition within a region and recognizable differences between regions of interest are essential requirements for determining provenance, but these parameters are difficult to satisfy in study areas such as the coastal plain of the southeastern USA in which chemical and mineralogical variation tend toward continuous gradients. In an attempt to improve the reliability and validity of pottery provenance studies in the area, this research investigates compositional variation in raw clay samples from across Florida and southern Georgia through NAA (n=130) and petrographic analysis (n=99). The results indicate that fourteen distinct compositional regions can be differentiated, ranging from 50 km to 400 km in length. These regions dictate the direction and minimum distance a pottery vessel must have been transported in order to be re...
DES-ASP1--angiotensin II: possible role in mediating responses of the renin-angiotensin system.

SummaryIn dexamethasone-treated dogs, both antiogensin II and its heptapeptide fragment (des-asp1-angiotensin II) stimulated the secretion of the adrenal steroids aldosterone, corticosterone, and cortisol. Further, there was no statistically significant difference in the steroidogenic potency of the two peptides. An interesting incidental finding was the decrease in PRA with both peptides, again with no demonstrable difference in the magnitude of the responses. The present data are consistent with the hypothesis that the heptapeptide mediates responses produced by the renin-angiotensin system in both the adrenals and the kidneys.We thank Lois Hoover, Sandy Anderson, Dale Welch, and John Thomas for their technical assistance.
Rheological Properties of Silica Filled Poly (Methyl Methacrylate)

Ceramic fiber spinning is critical to the manufacture of fibrous monolith ceramics, and understanding the interactions between the polymer matrix and ceramic particle filler is necessary to predict the flow properties of these systems. In this study, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was filled with octadecanol-coated St6ber silica, and the rheological behavior of the filled polymers investigated at various filler volume fractions. The rheological behavior of these materials was studied in both dynamic and steady-state experiments. The time required for filled PMMA to reach steady-state behavior under constant shear stress was found to be long, on the order of an hour. The steady-state viscosities increased as expected with filler volume fraction, but did not correlate well with existing models. This is hypothesized to be a result of matrix-filler surface interactions, and will be investigated further in future work.
Trend Toward High-Volume Hospitals and the Influence on Complications in Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Hospitals in which a high volume of arthroplasty procedures are performed have been observed to have better outcomes. As the number of arthroplasties has increased, it is not known whether surgical cases have shifted to high-volume hospitals. In this study, we examined the change in the volume of arthroplasties to provide a contemporary definition of “high-volume” centers, quantified surgical volume that shifted to high-volume centers, and investigated the resulting effect on complications. Methods: Data from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (2000 to 2012) were used to quantify trends in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) volume. Elective primary THAs and TKAs were identified and grouped by hospital by utilizing the hospital identifier, which indicates the geographic location of the hospital. County geographic and population data were obtained from the U.S. Census, and the distances between hospitals and the centroids of counties were calculated. Risk-standardized surgical complication rates for hospitals (2009 to 2012) were obtained from Medicare Hospital Compare and grouped by hospital volume. Results: From 2000 to 2012, there was a marked increase in the number of hospitals that performed a combined volume of ≥400 elective primary THAs and TKAs. The number of elective primary TKAs and THAs performed annually increased from 343,000 to 851,000. In 2012, 65.5% of the arthroplasties were performed in high-volume hospitals (≥400 arthroplasties annually), and 26.6% of the arthroplasties were performed in very high-volume hospitals (≥1,000 procedures annually). The proportion of arthroplasties performed in low-volume hospitals (<100 arthroplasties annually) shrank from 17.9% to 5.4%. Very high-volume hospitals had the lowest complication rates (2.745 per 100; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.56 to 2.93), and low-volume hospitals had the highest complication rates (3.610 per 100; 95% CI, 3.58 to 3.64; p < 0.0001) (odds ratio, 1.327; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.40). Our analysis showed that 81.9% of the U.S. population lived within 50 miles of a high-volume hospital. Conclusions: Arthroplasty patients are electing to have their procedures at higher-volume hospitals in the United States. Each successively higher hospital volume category manifested a lower complication rate.
Construction of Computer Basic Curriculum Based on Blackboard Learning Platform

The construction of computer basic course based on Blackboard learning platform is introduced, creating the complementary teaching model of network of teaching and traditional teaching, openning up a broad space for learning, providing a wealth of course resources and promoting interest in autonomous learning of students.
Radar micro-Doppler based human activity classification for indoor and outdoor environments

This paper presents the results of our experimental investigation into how different environments impact the classification of human motion using radar micro-Doppler (MD) signatures. The environments studied include free space, through-thewall, leaf tree foliage, and needle tree foliage. Results on presented on classification of the following three motions: crawling, walking, and jogging. The classification task was designed how to best separate these movements. The human motion data were acquired using a monostatic coherent Doppler radar operating in the C-band at 6.5 GHz from a total of six human subjects. The received signals were analyzed in the time-frequency domain using the Short-time Fourier Transform (STFT) which was used for feature extraction. Classification was performed using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) using a Radial Basis Function (RBF). Classification accuracies in the range 80-90% were achieved to separate the three movements mentioned.
Pensiones sociales y pobreza en América Latina

This document analyzes the relationship between pensions and poverty amongthe elderly after the recent expansion of non-contributory pension programs inthe Latin American region. The analysis focuses on a set of 18 countries aroundthe year 2012. Based on administrative and survey data, the document revisitsthe strategies adopted and evaluates the current situation of the elderly. Theresults indicate that the scheme adopted in each country varies accordingto different national realities. The expansion of non-contributory pensions isassociated with the reduction in poverty among the elderly, but there remaingaps to be closed.
Time-consciousness in the Analogies

So far, we have seen that an impersonal consciousness of self can be regarded as a necessary condition for experience in as much as an impersonal perspective is built into our ability to interpret the world in terms of concepts. And, in a very general way, Kant has connected the possibility of such impersonal self-consciousness with the existence of categories. The task of this chapter is to explain how the categories can serve as enabling conditions of experience. Carrying out this task involves an explanation of the link between self-consciousness and the kind of time-consciousness that is necessary to any experience that is intelligible to us. For the sake of brevity, I shall restrict my discussion to the arguments Kant develops in the Analogies of Experience for the enabling role in experience of the most significant set of categories: the relational categories of substance, causation, and interaction. In contrast to the categories of quantity and quality, the so-called mathematical categories, Kant does not regard the dynamic categories in general, or the relational categories in particular, as constitutive of intuition. Kant insists that there cannot be intuitions that do not have some kind of extensive magnitude or metric, or some kind of intensive magnitude, or magnitude corresponding to the intensity of sensation involved in them.
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Other Sarcomas of the Kidney

Although extremely rare, renal sarcomas can cause high rates of morbidity and death. The diagnosis of these entities remains challenging and findings illustrate the importance of obtaining a preoperative biopsy given the various range of prognosis. Furthermore, there is no standardized treatment for renal sarcomas, and evidence from the literature to help clinicians manage renal sarcomas is limited. Here, we summarize the clinical knowledge about the major clinicopathological characteristics, outcomes, and management of primary renal primitive neuroectodermal tumors and other rare types of kidney sarcomas, including leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and primary renal synovial sarcoma.
Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing Enhances High Intensity Time Trial Performance Following Prolonged Cycling.

There is good evidence that mouth rinsing with carbohydrate (CHO) solutions can enhance endurance performance (≥30 min). The impact of a CHO mouth rinse on sprint performance has been less consistent, suggesting that CHO may confer benefits in conditions of ‘metabolic strain’. To test this hypothesis, the current study examined the impact of late-exercise mouth rinsing on sprint performance. Secondly, we investigated the effects of a protein mouth rinse (PRO) on performance. Eight trained male cyclists participated in three trials consisting of 120 min of constant-load cycling (55% Wmax) followed by a 30 km computer-simulated time trial, during which only water was provided. Following 15 min of muscle function assessment, 10 min of constant-load cycling (3 min at 35% Wmax, 7 min at 55% Wmax) was performed. This was immediately followed by a 2 km time trial. Subjects rinsed with 25 mL of CHO, PRO, or placebo (PLA) at min 5:00 and 14:30 of the 15 min muscle function phase, and min 8:00 of the 10-min constant-load cycling. Magnitude-based inferential statistics were used to analyze the effects of the mouth rinse on 2-km time trial performance and the following physiological parameters: Maximum Voluntary Contract (MVC), Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Heart Rate (HR), and blood glucose levels. The primary finding was that CHO ‘likely’ enhanced performance vs. PLA (3.8%), whereas differences between PRO and PLA were unclear (0.4%). These data demonstrate that late-race performance is enhanced by a CHO rinse, but not PRO, under challenging metabolic conditions. More data should be acquired before this strategy is recommended for the later stages of cycling competition under more practical conditions, such as when carbohydrates are supplemented throughout the preceding minutes/hours of exercise.
Hereditary Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

We describe a 3 generation family with members affected with papillary renal cell carcinoma, an uncommon histological type of renal cell carcinoma. Multiple tumors of varying size were present in both kidneys of affected family members. The disorder was not linked to polymorphic markers on chromosome 3p and there was no loss of heterozygosity at loci on 3p in renal tumors. The results suggest the presence of a renal cell carcinoma gene not located on 3p that predisposes to renal cell carcinoma with a distinct histological appearance. The inherited disorder in this family appears to be different from recognized hereditary cancer syndromes.
Phytoestrogens and the Role in Cardiovascular Health: To Consume or Not to Consume?

Popularity for consuming a soy diet is ever increasing because of the widespread notion that soy protein and/or its bioactive compounds, phytoestrogens, are heart-healthy and lower the risk of developing coronary heart disease. This thought is partially supported by early epidemiological observations, clinical trials, and experimental studies. However, many of the latest, well-controlled studies of soy isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens, have been inconsistent and have not confirmed these purported benefits. Furthermore, there is a rising concern over the long-term dietary use of phytoestrogens, which bind endogenous estrogen receptors and can act as endocrine mimetics, and may adversely affect human health. The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the current literature of phytoestrogens and assess the impact of phytoestrogens on cardiovascular health. Biology, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and history are briefly discussed along with the ostensible benefits and potential risks associated with dietary intake of soy phytoestrogens. Although the emphasis of this chapter is placed on the specific role of phytoestrogens, the bulk of phytoestrogens is typically consumed as part of dietary soy protein. Therefore, the effect of soy protein on cardiovascular health is also discussed.
Preface: innovations in the management of valvular and structural heart disease.

According to registry data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology, the number of valvular and structural interventions performed yearly is rapidly expanding.
High-performance multilayer WSe 2 field-effect transistors with carrier type control

In this study, high-performance multilayer WSe2 field-effect transistor (FET) devices with carrier type control are demonstrated via thickness modulation and a remote oxygen plasma surface treatment. Carrier type control in multilayer WSe2 FET devices with Cr/Au contacts is initially demonstrated by modulating the WSe2 thickness. The carrier type evolves with increasing WSe2 channel thickness, being p-type, ambipolar, and n-type at thicknesses 5 nm, respectively. The thickness-dependent carrier type is attributed to changes in the bandgap of WSe2 as a function of the thickness and the carrier band offsets relative to the metal contacts. Furthermore, we present a strong hole carrier doping effect via remote oxygen plasma treatment. It non-degenerately converts n-type characteristics into p-type and enhances field-effect hole mobility by three orders of magnitude. This work demonstrates progress towards the realization of high-performance multilayer WSe2 FETs with carrier type control, potentially extendable to other transition metal dichalcogenides, for future electronic and optoelectronic applications.
Update on Graves disease: advances in treatment of mild, moderate and severe thyroid eye disease.

Purpose of reviewTo report the most recent therapeutic advances of thyroid eye disease (TED) and offer general recommendations for management of TED.Recent findingsTreatment of Graves ophthalmopathy is traditionally based on the use of high doses of corticosteroids and/or radiotherapy (RT) to decrea
Answer to an open problem on mean residual life ordering of parallel systems under multiple-outlier exponential models

Abstract In a comprehensive survey on stochastic comparison, Balakrishnan and Zhao (2013) proposed an open problem on mean residual life ordering between two parallel systems under multiple-outlier exponential models. This paper provides an affirmative answer to this open problem.
Staff perceptions of challenging parent–staff interactions and beneficial strategies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Aim To characterise neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff perceptions regarding factors which may lead to more challenging staff–parent interactions, and beneficial strategies for working with families with whom such interactions occur. Methods A survey of 168 physician and nursing staff at two NICUs in American teaching hospitals inquired about their perceptions of challenging parent–staff interactions and situations in which such interactions were likely to occur. Results From a medical perspective, staff perceptions of challenging interactions were noted when infants had recent decompensation, high medical complexity, malformations or long duration of stay in the NICU. From a psychological/social perspective, a high likelihood of challenging interactions was noted with parents who were suspicious, interfere with equipment, or parents who hover in the NICU, express paranoid or delusional thoughts, repeat questions, perceive the staff as inaccessible, are managing addictions, or who require child protective services involvement. Frequent family meetings, grieving opportunities, education of parents, social work referrals, clearly defined rules, partnering in daily care and support groups were perceived as the most beneficial strategies for improving difficult interactions. Conclusion This study delineates what staff perceive as challenging interactions and provides support for an educational and interventional role that incorporates mental health professionals.
A new experiment-independent mechanism to persistify and serve the detector geometry of ATLAS

The complex geometry of the whole detector of the ATLAS experiment at LHC is currently stored only in custom online databases, from which it is built on-the-fly on request. Accessing the online geometry guarantees accessing the latest version of the detector description, but requires the setup of the full ATLAS software framework "Athena", which provides the online services and the tools to retrieve the data from the database. This operation is cumbersome and slows down the applications that need to access the geometry. Moreover, all applications that need to access the detector geometry need to be built and run on the same platform as the ATLAS framework, preventing the usage of the actual detector geometry in stand-alone applications. Here we propose a new mechanism to persistify (in software development in general, and in HEP computing in particular, persistifying means taking an object which lives in memory only - for example because it was built on-the-fly while processing the experimental data, - serializing it and storing it on disk as a persistent object) and serve the geometry of HEP experiments. The new mechanism is composed by a new file format and the modules to make use of it. The new file format allows to store the whole detector description locally in a file, and it is especially optimized to describe large complex detectors with the minimum file size, making use of shared instances and storing compressed representations of geometry transformations. Then, the detector description can be read back in, to fully restore the in-memory geometry tree. Moreover, a dedicated REST API is being designed and developed to serve the geometry in standard exchange formats like JSON, to let users and applications download specific partial geometry information. With this new geometry persistification a new generation of applications could be developed, which can use the actual detector geometry while being platform-independent and experiment-independent.
Deliberate self-poisoning with long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides.

Long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides, also called superwarfarins, are known for their greater potency, longer half-life and delayed onset of symptoms. Cases of superwarfarin poisoning can pose a diagnostic and clinical challenge due to a wide array of presentations and prolonged severe coagulopathy requiring months of high-dose oral vitamin K therapy. The most common presentation of long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning is mucocutaneous bleeding, with other common presentations including haematuria, gingival bleeding, epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding. We discuss a case of deliberate self-poisoning with long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides presenting with haematuria and coagulation values above measurable limits. This case is important as it required immediate and maintenance therapy in order to prevent profound bleeding, as well as the evaluation of the patient’s psychosocial factors to ensure medical compliance and to prevent refractory complications or repeated self-harm.
Evaluation of flammable volume in the case of a catastrophic leak of R-32 from a rooftop unit

Abstract With the effort to use alternative refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP), the majority of these alternative refrigerants are classified as slightly flammable. In this paper we report on the numerical evaluation of a catastrophic leak scenario of R-32 refrigerant from a 3-ton roof top air conditioning unit (RTU) which serves a 12.2 × 9.14 × 2.4 m room. A full rupture of a 6.35 mm (¼ inch) pipe downstream of the evaporator coil is simulated. Two separate cases with refrigerant releases of 1.81 kg and 3.62 kg charge have been studied. The two charges are released in 10.2 and 20.4 s, respectively, just after the end of a unit cooling cycle. The flammable volume inside the room existed only for about 40 s with a maximum flammable volume inside the room of 1.12% of the total room volume for the 3.62 kg charge case.
Causal Discovery with Linear Non-Gaussian Models under Measurement Error: Structural Identifiability Results.

Causal discovery methods aim to recover the causal process that generated purely observational data. Despite its successes on a number of real problems, the presence of measurement error in the observed data can produce serious mistakes in the output of various causal discovery methods. Given the ubiquity of measurement error caused by instruments or proxies used in the measuring process, this problem is one of the main obstacles to reliable causal discovery. It is still unknown to what extent the causal structure of relevant variables can be identified in principle. This study aims to take a step towards filling that void. We assume that the underlining process or the measurement-error free variables follows a linear, non-Guassian causal model, and show that the so-called ordered group decomposition of the causal model, which contains major causal information, is identifiable. The causal structure identifiability is further improved with different types of sparsity constraints on the causal structure. Finally, we give rather mild conditions under which the whole causal structure is fully identifiable.
Visual Input and Motor Output of Command Interneurons of the Defense Reflex Pathway in the Crayfish

Visual systems hold a special fascination for a large number of neurophysiologists. This is due in part to the fact that the behavior of visual interneurons (INs) “more closely resembles perception than sensation” (Lettvin et al., 1959) and thus conveys the illusion that we are studying something that is very close to behavior. Some excellent illustrations of this point can be found in the studies of the optic nerve of the rock lobster by Wiersma and co-workers recently reviewed by York and Wiersma (1975).
Research Methodologies in Science Education: Students' Ideas About the Nature of Science

(2002). Research Methodologies in Science Education: Students' Ideas About the Nature of Science. Journal of Geoscience Education: Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 322-329.
Inquiry Systems, William James, John Dewey, Edward Singer, C. West Churchman

This chapter presents a more comprehensive overview of Inquiry Systems. Inquiry Systems are the underlying basis of understanding, and thus coping, with wicked messes. Once again, it shows that Fake News is due to perverse forms of Fake Inquiry.
Simulation of Laser Lithotripsy-Induced Heating in the Urinary Tract.

Abstract Purpose: Holmium laser lithotripsy is a common modality used to fragment urinary stones during ureteroscopy. Laser energy deposited during activation produces heat and potentially causes t...
Investigation and analysis for the epidemiology of the outbreak of infectious diarrhea caused by the drinking water pollution

Objective Analyze the main reasons of the epidemic and provide scientific evidence for controlling the outbreak of the infectious diarrhea in the future.Method Utilize field epidemiological study and laboratory test.Outcome 279 cases are reported in this epidemic,and the attack rate is 12.51%.Enteropathogenic Escherichia coil is confirmed by the etiology detection.Main symptoms are abdominal distension,abdominal pain,borborygmus,and diarrhea.Most of them are no fever.The reason for occurrence of this epidemic is due to the pollution of drinking water by the Escherichia coil.Conclusion For the control of the outbreak of intestinal infectious disease such as infectious diarrhea,detecting the epidemic in time is of first importance.Taking effective action is guarantee,and achieving the "early,small,strict and actual"is the key point.
Fiduciary Theory: The Missing Piece for Positive Rights

Finding an unassailable grounding for positive rights is notoriously difficult. For those who live under a stated regime of the protection of negative liberties, or liberties from government, the idea of positive rights sits uncomfortably at best. Positive-rights claims such as the right to food, shelter, medical care, or other subsistence—claims that would require action in the derogation of existing distributions and entitlements—seem to be in clear violation of fundamental beliefs about the functions and purposes of government. In this chapter, it is argued that this conclusion about positive rights is false. In fact, there is an undeniable imperative that government recognize positive rights. The grounding for that imperative is found not in some extrinsic source, such as constitutional command or moral ideas, but in the intrinsically fiduciary nature of the government/citizen relationship itself.
Assessing the Impact of Telemonitoring-Facilitated Lifestyle Modifications on Diabetes Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Lifestyle modification to promote regular physical activity and healthy eating is a key element of diabetes management. We aimed at evaluating randomized controlled trials that assess...
A Comparison of Neuraxial and General Anesthesia for Thirty-Day Postoperative Outcomes in United States Veterans Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to investigate which anesthetic technique is superior on 30-day outcomes after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in United States veteran patients. To our knowledge, this is the first account from the Veterans Health Administration comparing the effects of different anesthesia modalities in patients undergoing TKA. Methods The Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was utilized to analyze patients undergoing primary TKA during the period of 2008-2015. Subjects were divided into 2 cohorts based on the method of surgical anesthesia used: general anesthesia or neuraxial anesthesia. Propensity score matching was utilized to avoid possible selection bias between the 2 cohorts when assessing patient demographics and comorbidities. The 2 groups were analyzed for 30-day postoperative complications, using multivariable logistic regression techniques to evaluate independent associations between anesthetic method and postoperative outcomes. Results All Veterans Affairs patients undergoing primary TKA under general anesthesia (n = 32,363) and neuraxial anesthesia (n = 14,395) within the study period were included in this study. Following propensity score matching, multivariable analysis revealed significantly lower risks of cardiovascular (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-0.88, P Conclusion Veteran patients undergoing TKA under neuraxial anesthesia had reduced postoperative complications and decreased hospitalization stay compared to patients undergoing general anesthesia.