cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Santiago Basabe Serrano (2011), Jueces sin toga: políticas judiciales y toma de decisiones en el Tribunal Constitucional del Ecuador (1999-2007). Quito: FLACSO Ecuador, 200 pp.

?Cual es el papel de las cortes en la politica latinoamericana? En la ultima decada se ha empezado a explorar esta pregunta en la Ciencia Politica, aunque falta mucho por desarrollar. En una revision de la literatura de la disciplina, Kapiszewski y Taylor (2008) hallan que la mayoria de publicaciones sobre las politicas judiciales en America Latina son narrativas historicas con una metodologia cualitativa que limita la replicabilidad de los resultados. Segun ellos, existe una escasez de investigacion cuantitativa que haga explicitos sus metodos y presente la posibilidad de aplicacion mas alla de los casos particulares. Por otra parte, encuentran que la mayoria de publicaciones se centra en solo cuatro paises: Argentina, Mexico, Brasil y Chile. El desafio para la disciplina, entonces, es producir un mejor entendimiento del papel politico de las cortes en la region mediante metodos cientificos rigurosos, sobre todo en los paises menos estudiados.
Seriality and Settlement: Southworth, Lippard, and The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley

This essay reads George Lippard's 'Bel of Prairie Eden (1848), E.D.E.N. Southworth's The Hidden Hand (1859), and a moving panorama, The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley (ca. 1850), to show how the serial structures and temporalities of these particular works and the narrative forms of recursion and repetition that result produce an aesthetic engagement with the past that emphasizes simultaneity and overlap. Highlighting the presence of multiple temporalities as they are represented in landscapes and topographies within popular works frequently read in relation to issues of empire surrounding the US-Mexico war, the essay refocuses attention on broader discourses of settler colonialism. Attending to the recurrence embedded in the ostensibly linear forms of these works, and to images in which they confront US settlement of lands that contain other histories of imperial violence and settlement, helps us recognize articulations of settler colonialism not merely as "forgetting" (forgetting previous claims on space, for example) to be combatted with the "hauntings" or "remembering" of postcolonial approaches, but as various, ongoing processes of "in-betweenness." Reading popular fiction like Lippard's and Southworth's and visual material like The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley for how it depicts the recurrence and copresence of temporalities alerts us to the narrative forms of settlement and reminds us of earlier efforts to narrate the multiple histories of settler space.
Extensivity of Energy and Electronic and Vibrational Structure Methods for Crystals

A pedagogical proof is presented for the extensivity of energies of metallic and nonmetallic crystals that proceeds by elucidating the asymptotic distance dependence of the effective chemical interactions: kinetic, Coulomb, exchange, and correlation. On this basis, a guideline for the size-consistent design of electronic and vibrational methods is proposed. This guideline underscores the significance of the distinct use of the intermediate and standard normalization of wave functions for extensive and intensive quantities, includes the extensive and intensive diagram theorems as the unambiguous criteria for determining size consistency of a method for extensive and intensive quantities, and introduces the extensive-intensive consistency theorem, which stipulates the precise balance between the determinant spaces reached by extensive and intensive operators. Electronic and vibrational methods for crystals are reviewed that are inspired by these formal analyses or developed in accordance with the guideline.
From transistors to MEMS: throughput-aware power gating in CMOS circuits

In this paper we study the effectiveness of two power gating methods -- transistor switches and MEMS switches -- in reducing the power consumption of a design with a certain target throughput. Transistor switches are simple, but have fundamental limitations in their effectiveness. MEMS switches, with zero leakage in the off state, have achieved much focus over the past decade in the RF field, but have only very recently been explored in the context of power gating. In this paper we study both methods in conjunction with voltage scaling and show that MEMS switches are the superior choice over a wide range of target throughputs, especially low-throughput applications such as wireless sensor networks and biomedical implants. We also show that the architectural choices and operating conditions in a throughput-aware design can be profoundly different when using MEMS switches as opposed to transistor switches. For instance, while transistor switches favor smaller and slower architectures, the MEMS switches favor larger and faster designs when the target throughput is low. Moreover, while the optimal operating voltage of a transistor-switched design resides in the subthreshold region, that of a MEMS-switched design can be above or near the threshold voltage. To prove this, we provide both a mathematical analysis and experimental results from four different FFT architectures.
EXISTENCE AND NUMBER

The Frege-Russell view is that existence is a second-order property rather than a property of individuals. One of the most compelling arguments for this view is based on the premise that there is an especially close connection between existence and number. The most promising version of this argument is by C.J.F. Williams (1981, 1992). In what follows, I argue that this argument fails. I then defend an account according to which both predications of number and existence attribute properties to individuals.
Modeling sequential context effects in judgment analysis: A time series approach

In this article a broad perspective incorporating elements of time series theory is presented for conceptualizing the data obtained in multi-trial judgment experiments. Recent evidence suggests that sequential context effects, assimilation and contrast, commonly found in psychophysical judgment tasks, may be present in judgments of abstract magnitudes. A time series approach for analyzing single-subject data is developed and applied to expert prognostic judgments of risk for heart disease with an emphasis on detecting possible sequential context effects. The results demonstrate that sequential context effects do exist in such expert prognostic judgments. Contrast and assimilation were produced by cue series; the latter occurring more frequently. Experts also showed assimilation of prior responses that was independent of the cue series input. Time series analysis also revealed that abrupt or large trial-by-trial changes in the value of cues that receive the most attention in prognostic judgment tasks can disrupt the accuracy of these judgments. These findings suggest that a time series approach is a useful alternative to ordinary least squares regression, providing additional insights into the cognitive processes operating during multi-cue judgment experiments.
Diffusion Limited Delivery of Streptokinase and tPA to a Thrombus

The delivery of the thrombolytics streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) from intravenous administration is studied computationally, in particular focusing on the convection, diffusion, and reaction in a fully occluded vessel. The thrombolytic was convectively transported approximately two occluded vessel diameters and was diffusively transported the remaining distance to the thrombus. The time required for complete reaction of the thrombolytic and the total amount of thrombolytic that reacts at the thrombus were found to be primarily functions of the length of the occluded vessel. The diameter and branching angle of the clogged artery are of secondary importance and the effect of flow rate along the main artery is negligible. Except for the shortest occluded vessels, intravenous delivery of the thrombolytic to the thrombus is a diffusion-limited process. Following a 1 h intravenous administration of the thrombolytic, it was found that 4–5 h are typically needed to achieve the maximum delivery of streptokinase to the thrombus; 2–3 h are needed for tPA. Less than 10−5% of the administered thrombolytic is actually delivered to the thrombus when intravenous administration is utilized. These results suggest that a drastic change in the mechanism of delivery is necessary.
The Integrin αvβ5 Is Expressed on Avian Osteoclast Precursors and Regulated by Retinoic Acid

Osteoclasts arise by proliferation, differentiation, and subsequent fusion of marrow-derived precursors, all processes requiring attachment to matrix. Integrins are important mediators of cell-matrix recognition and bone is rich in proteins containing the Arg-Gly-Asp motif, recognized primarily by av integrins. Thus, we determined if avian osteoclast precursors express integrins capable of mediating initial attachment to matrix proteins. Early, marrow-derived osteoclast precursors, when first isolated, contain no detectable avb3, but express an av integrin with an 80 kDa associated b subunit. Immunoprecipitation with an antibody raised against the conserved b5 cytoplasmic tail sequence indicates the the av associated the integrin is avb5. Retinoic acid is a resorptive steroid, and its exposure to early osteoclast precursors prompts a time- and dose-dependent decrease in avb5 expression, while simultaneously stimulating avb3 expression. Northern analysis reveals that retinoic acid decreases b5 steadystate mRNA, nontranscriptionally, without altering that of av. The finding avb5 expression decreases under the influence of retinoic acid, an osteoclastogenic steroid, while those of avb3 rise, suggests that these closely related integrins play separate and complementary roles during osteoclast differentiation. (J Bone Miner Res 1999;14: 32‐38)
Relative efficacy of buprenorphine, nalbuphine and morphine in opioid-treated rhesus monkeys discriminating naltrexone

Efficacy is one determinant of whether a drug is an agonist or an antagonist under a particular set of conditions. Relative efficacy among the μ opioid receptor (MOR) ligands buprenorphine, nalbuphine, and morphine was examined in monkeys dependent on morphine (3.2 mg/kg/day) or l-α-acetylmethadol (LAAM) (1.0 mg/kg twice daily) and that discriminated naltrexone (0.0178 mg/kg) from saline. In morphine-treated monkeys, buprenorphine and not nalbuphine substituted for naltrexone. When administered before naltrexone in morphine-treated monkeys, morphine and nalbuphine shifted the naltrexone dose-effect curve to the right, while buprenorphine shifted the naltrexone dose-effect curve to the left. Under conditions of acute morphine deprivation, naltrexone-lever responding was slightly attenuated by buprenorphine and markedly attenuated by nalbuphine and morphine. In LAAM-treated monkeys, buprenorphine substituted completely for naltrexone in only one monkey, while nalbuphine and morphine failed to substitute in any monkey. When administered before naltrexone in LAAM-treated monkeys, buprenorphine, nalbuphine, and morphine dose dependently shifted the naltrexone dose-effect curve to the right, with the exception of one monkey in which buprenorphine shifted the naltrexone dose-effect curve to the left. These results demonstrate that a low efficacy MOR ligand can exert agonist or antagonist actions in the same animal depending on immediate pharmacologic history. The qualitatively different effects of buprenorphine in morphine- and LAAM-treated monkeys might be related to magnitude of dependence insofar as dependence can determine the efficacy required for agonist activity. Thus, buprenorphine has markedly different effects across different levels of opioid dependence.
Development of a Global Marine Environmental Library

The Ocean Projects Department of the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) is developing a Global Marine Environmental Library (GMEL) of academic ocean environmental studies. The purpose of GMEL is to provide an easy to use, accessible set of unclassified, academically-validated publications or references to NAVOCEANO users. These published studies have been approved and released for inclusion into GMEL and will include a collection of various public reports, publications, analyses, interpretations, and compilations of academic works across large ocean regions. The importance of such works lies in the academic interpretation of the marine environment and associated dynamic processes. GMEL will be organized primarily by ocean region, and presently, three academic institutes are participating in developing an effective organizational library structure. It is intended for this effort to be a first step toward promoting interest among academic members to join and participate in the Global Marine Environmental Library.
Midazolam and fentanyl continuous infusion anesthesia for cardiac surgery: comparison of computer-assisted versus manual infusion systems

Continuous infusion of intravenous anesthetics can be achieved either by a manually controlled infusion (MCI) pump, or by a computer-assisted continuous infusion (CACI) pharmacokinetic model-driven infusion system. Randomized double-blind comparisons of the two infusion systems for general anesthesia were performed in 24 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients were allocated to receive continuous infusions of midazolam and fentanyl by either a MCI device or CACI. Midazolam and fentanyl infusions were independently titrated to maintain hemodynamic stability, defined as mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) within 20% of baseline values. As directed by the study design, comparable hemodynamic control was achieved in both groups. Mean plasma fentanyl concentrations measured at specific timepoints were similar between groups. The plasma midazolam level for induction was 196 +/- 139 ng/mL in the CACI group and 300 +/- 128 ng/mL in the MCI group, and the fentanyl level was similar in both groups, 6.7 +/- 1.9 ng/mL in CACI and 6.3 +/- 4.6 ng/mL in the MCI group. The drug levels were lower (P 0.05 for comparisons between groups for duration of anesthesia and total fentanyl dose).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Influence of preheating rate on kinetics of high-temperature gas-solid reactions

The influence of preheating rate on kinetics of high-temperature reactions in gas–solid systems was investigated by a computer-assisted electrothermography technique. Two systems were investigated: Nb–N2 and Ti–N2, in the temperature ranges 2,100–2,500 K and 1,350–1,600 K, respectively. The results showed that for both systems, reaction kinetics are enhanced by increasing the preheating rate to the desired reaction temperature. Analysis of the experimental data in the context of the sharp-interface model showed that the activation energy of the diffusion coefficient does not depend on heating rate, while the preexponential factor is affected. Additional experiments suggest that nonisothermal preheating, even though of short duration, about 10 ms, influences chemical reactivity of the solid reactant by changing its specific surface area.
Oviposition by Heliothis on Soybeans and Cotton

Oviposition on soybeans and cotton by Heliothis zea (Boddie) and H. virescens (F.) was studied in the green-house and in field cages containing soybean or soybean and cotton plants. Both species preferred cotton over soybeans for oviposition. Seasonal variations in egg-laying preference for these 2 host plants were exhibited by both insects. They often preferred the pubescent lower leaf surface to the upper leaf surface stems or pods of soybeans. Egg-laying by both species on soybeans occurred in the upper ⅔ of the plant, whereas oviposition in cotton occurred in the upper ⅓ of the plant.
Social Learning Theory and the training of retail loss prevention officers

This study investigated how retail loss prevention training practices and techniques influence the behavior and performance of loss prevention officers. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with loss prevention officers from two major retailers located within the United States. The purpose of the interviews was to examine how specific elements of Social Learning Theory guided or informed loss prevention officer behavior. The results suggest that peer-trainers have the greatest influence on an officer’s decision to conform or deviate from their company policy. From this data, evidence-based practices can be developed for retailers to avoid costly litigation stemming from inappropriate officer behavior.
Female Bladder Outlet Obstruction

The non-specific symptoms the patients express upon the presentation of female bladder outlet obstruction make it a challenge to diagnose. There are subtle differences between the obstructed patient and those whose bladders are underactive and/or fail to mount a detrusor contraction. These disparities can be extracted through a thorough history and examination. At times, the clinician may utilize nomograms, non-invasive uroflow, and urodynamics with the addition of fluoroscopy to establish the diagnosis of obstruction. Management of the obstruction depends on the nature of the condition, whether functional or anatomical. The increase in the number of sling procedures performed to treat stress urinary incontinence has resulted in a rise in the number of iatrogenic obstructions. The temporal relationship between surgery and obstruction is the key to identifying the problem.
The Pharmacist’s Role in interpretation and Use of Anticonvulsant Serum Levels

The provision of patient-oriented pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic services is a necessary part of managing the complex problems of anticonvulsant therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of anticonvulsant drug levels as interpreted by a pharmacist, and the effect upon drug therapy. Of 686 patients seen in the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Pediatric Neurology Clinic, 157 patients (23 percent) had anticonvulsant drug levels drawn. For these 157 patients a total of 282 separate levels were determined, and analysis of the data revealed that 146 levels (52 percent) were outside the therapeutic range. Out of these 157 patients who had levels drawn, 134 of the patients' charts were complete and available for analysis. The major reasons for drawing the levels were lack of control, 49 percent; manifestation of toxicity, 28 percent; and questionable compliance, 22 percent. Along with these results the following was determined: dosage increased, 30 percent; dosage decreased, 13 percent; drug discontinued, 9 percent; new drug added, 22 percent; dosage formulation changed, 2 percent; and no change of therapy, 30 percent. Interpreting and using these levels for appropriate modification of anticonvulsant therapy is a major service offered by the pharmacist in this setting.
Abstract 957: TMPRSS2:ERG overexpression limits vitamin D receptor action in prostate cancer cells

Treatment with the active metabolite of vitamin D (1,25D), or the less calcemic analog of 1,25D (EB1089) decreases growth of many prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines. The actions of 1,25D are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a hormone activated transcription factor. A recent study showed that the prostates of mice fed with a low vitamin D diet produced levels of metabolites similar to those found in humans with low normal levels, exhibited a significant increase in proliferation, and decrease in apoptosis compared to mice fed a diet supplemented to achieve higher levels of vitamin D metabolites. This suggests that 1,25D plays a role in limiting proliferation of normal prostate cells. 1,25D is inactivated by the enzyme CYP24. 1,25D dependent induction of CYP24 provides a negative feedback mechanism to limit VDR signaling. VDR dependent induction of CYP24 requires an ETS transcription factor. The majority of PCa contain a TMPRSS2:ETS factor fusion gene linking the promoter of the androgen regulated TMPRSS2 gene with the coding regions of ETS transcription factors. The most common fusion gene is TMPRSS2:ERG (T/E). This fusion promotes growth and invasiveness. We speculated that T/E might also cause hyperinduction of CYP24 limiting the beneficial anti-proliferative actions of 1,25D. To test this, we used siRNA targeting ERG to reduce expression of T/E in VCaP cells. Depletion of ERG reduced 1,25D induction of CYP24 by 95%. We have generated an LNCaP cell line that expresses a T/E isoform in response to doxycycline. Induction of ERG caused an increase in both potency and efficacy of 1,25D dependent CYP24 induction. In the presence of increased ERG expression, 1 nM 1,25D caused an induction of CYP24 equivalent to 100 nM 1,25D in control cells. This increase in CYP24 in ERG over-expressing cells suggests that physiological levels of 1,25D (typically Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 957. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-957
COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR MODAL TESTING OF A SPACE STATION ELEMENT SIMULATOR

Verification of a dynamic model of a constrained structure requires a modal survey test of the physical structure and subsequent modification of the model to obtain the best agreement possible with test data. Constrained-boundary or fixed-base testing has historically been the most common approach for verifying constrained mathematical models, since the boundary conditions of the test article are designed to match the actual constraints in service. However, there are difficulties involved with fixed-base testing, in some cases making the approach impractical. This paper addresses some of those difficulties, and some successes, related to testing the Space Station TestBed Calibration Beam. It also includes an emphasis on the Residual Flexibility Approach.
Reversing T-cell Dysfunction and Exhaustion in Cancer

In the context of chronic antigen exposure in chronic viral infections and cancer, T cells become exhausted/dysfunctional. These exhausted T cells exhibit defective proliferative capacities and cytokine production, but are not totally inert and may exert lytic functions. Importantly, exhausted T cells upregulate multiple inhibitory receptors/immune checkpoints that bind to their ligands expressed by tumor cells and antigen-presenting cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Immune checkpoint blockades with anti-CTL antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and/or anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) mAbs successfully reinvigorate tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes and provide persistent clinical benefits to a large number of patients with advanced cancer. This great and long-awaited success for the immunotherapy of cancer has infused considerable enthusiasm in the field of oncology and fostered the development of combinatorial strategies to target the multiple mechanisms of tumor-induced T-cell dysfunction. Here, we review the critical immunoregulatory mechanisms driving T-cell exhaustion in the TME. We also discuss the development of promising combinatorial immunotherapies to counteract the mechanisms of tumor-induced T-cell dysfunction to improve the clinical efficacy of current immune checkpoint blockades. As our understanding of the mechanisms supporting tumor-induced T-cell dysfunction improves based upon preclinical and clinical studies, we expect that novel combinatorial immunotherapies will emerge to improve the clinical outcome of patients with advanced cancers.
"X-Y" Theory and "Harmonious Education" Mode of Ideological and Political Courses

The Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC put forward "harmonious society" concept,which has given new connotation and mission to harmonious education.According to the current problems in ideological and political teaching,from the requirement of building a socialist harmonious society,by the use of X-Y theory,this paper applies the concept of harmonious society and "human-orientation" to ideological and political teaching,and proposes the mode of building "harmonious education" and its principle so that teaching and learning can have a "resonance" effect and get the "1 +1 2" overall effect to strengthen the effectiveness of ideological and political course.
Spin Funneling for Enhanced Spin Injection into Ferromagnets

It is well-established that high spin-orbit coupling (SOC) materials convert a charge current density into a spin current density which can be used to switch a magnet efficiently and there is increasing interest in identifying materials with large spin Hall angle for lower switching current. Using experimentally benchmarked models, we show that composite structures can be designed using existing spin Hall materials such that the effective spin Hall angle is larger by an order of magnitude. The basic idea is to funnel spins from a large area of spin Hall material into a small area of ferromagnet using a normal metal with large spin diffusion length and low resistivity like Cu or Al. We show that this approach is increasingly effective as magnets get smaller. We avoid unwanted charge current shunting by the low resistive NM layer utilizing the newly discovered phenomenon of pure spin conduction in ferromagnetic insulators via magnon diffusion. We provide a spin circuit model for magnon diffusion in FMI that is benchmarked against recent experiments and theory.
Thyroxine-Induced Absences in JME

A patient with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), manifested as absences at age 10 and myoclonic jerking and generalized tonic clonic seizures at age 15, was treated successfully with primidone at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Impurities: Thinking Ecologically With Safe

Locating in Todd Haynes's (1995) film Safe an example of “ecological art,” this essay demonstrates how formal and narrative elements of the film generate an “atmospheric rhetoric” within which audiences are invited to attend and attune to both the protagonist's and their own ecological enmeshment. These forms of attention—to the banal details of coexistence—and attunement—to the strange sounds of everyday life in postindustrial societies—provoke a mode of “ecological thought.” As this essay argues, thinking ecologically engenders a meaningful mode of political engagement that invites reflection on the consequences of impure relations.
Dorothy Chansky, Kitchen Sink Realisms: Domestic Labor, Dining, and Drama in American Theatre

Kitchen Sink Realisms examines both iconic and now-obscure works of American drama focused on domesticity and domestic labour. Chansky’s research is both extensive and sharply focused, and the study is remarkable for its breadth and its depth, its originality, and the persuasiveness of its arguments.
Using the 5 Practices to Improve Facilitation of POGIL Activities (Abstract Only)

POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) is a flipped classroom, problem-based learning technique for teaching students content through carefully designed questions that they work through in teams with well-defined roles. This technique enables students to retain content while also learning process skills such as communication and teamwork. Developing POGIL activities and facilitating them takes practice and experience. Few, if any, current faculty have been taught using POGIL activities and so have less experience to bring to their development and especially to their incorporation into the classroom. The skills and preparation for delivering an effective POGIL class are very different than faculty have seen in action. The 5 practices: Anticipating, Monitoring, Selecting, Sequencing, and Connecting can be used to better understand how to prepare for and facilitate POGIL activities. While the POGIL organization (pogil.org) has many training sessions, including facilitator training available, most computer science materials still do not incorporate facilitator information that goes beyond the answers to the questions and suggested timing for sections of activities. A brief example of an activity prepared using the 5 practices will be shared to illustrate the potential along with anecdotes and tips for transitioning from traditional lecture to POGIL activities in the classroom.
Traditional Nest-site Use by Chestnut-collared Swifts

In Trinidad, Chestnut-collared Swifts have been reported nesting in the same Guacharo Gorge (= Dunstan Cave) for about 70 years. This site, in upper Arima Valley on the grounds of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, was first mentioned by Belcher and Smooker (1936) and the swifts nesting there were extensively studied by Snow (1962) and Collins (1968, 1974). Snow recorded one particular Chestnut-collared Swift nest used in four successive years and, after being washed away, rebuilt the following year near the original position.
The effective thermal conductivity of saturated porous media

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effective thermal conductivity of saturated porous media. Although the effective thermal conductivity problem is unsolved, several aspects of the problem are understood. Specifically, the effective conductivity depends on the solid–fluid conductivity ratio, the volume fractions of the constituent phases, and the geometry of the solid–fluid interface. The latter dependency causes the most difficulty because it is the least precisely known feature of a porous medium. Additionally, the relationship between the effective conductivity and medium morphology depends on the solid–fluid conductivity ratio. To clarify this relationship, the chapter examines the effective conductivity problem within the context of small, intermediate, and large solid–fluid conductivity ratios. The key results are (1) the effective conductivity is least sensitive to interfacial geometry when the solid–fluid conductivity ratio is small, (2) the effective conductivity is mildly sensitive to morphology when the solid–fluid conductivity ratio is moderate, and (3) the effective conductivity is most sensitive to interface geometry when the solid–fluid conductivity ratio is large. For very large local effective thermal conductivity ( k ) and when the solid-phase morphology is unspecified, either averaging methods or statistical methods must be used. Unfortunately, averaging methods bring with them closure issues, much like the Reynolds averaging of the turbulent transport equations for energy and momentum in a single-phase fluid.
Glutaminase inhibition improves FLT3 inhibitor therapy for acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood cancer that is poorly responsive to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and a diagnosis of AML is usually fatal. More effective and better-tolerated therapies for AML are desperately needed. Activating mutations in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) are one of the most frequently observed genetic defects in AML. FLT3 inhibitors have shown impressive anti-leukemic activity in clinical trials; however, sustained remissions using these inhibitors as monotherapy have not been achieved. Our previous studies have implicated impaired glutamine metabolism in response to FLT3 inhibitors as a dominant factor causing AML cell death. In this study, we have employed metabolic flux analysis to examine the effects of FLT3 inhibition on glutamine utilization in FLT3-mutated AML cells using stable isotope tracers. We found that the FLT3 inhibitor AC220 inhibited glutamine flux into the antioxidant factor glutathione profoundly due to defective glutamine import. We also found that the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 similarly impaired glutathione production by effectively blocking flux of glutamine into glutamate. Moreover, the combination of AC220 with CB-839 synergized to deplete glutathione, induce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and cause loss of viability through apoptotic cell death. In vivo, glutaminase inhibition with CB-839 facilitated leukemic cell elimination by AC220 and improved survival significantly in a patient-derived xenograft AML mouse model. Therefore, targeting glutaminase in combination with FLT3 may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for improving treatment of FLT3-mutated AML.
The impact of functional integration on perceived risk and consumer-based brand equity

AbstractConsumers today have access to a wide span of corporate information and are increasingly aware of the degree to which the functional areas of marketing and supply chain activities are becoming more integrated. Functional integration involves coordinating supply- and demand-focused activities and is theorized to create two interrelated benefits for consumers: lower perceived purchase risk and, ultimately, higher consumer-based brand equity. Despite an emphasis on the important role of consumers in the functional integration literature, the consumers’ viewpoint is missing. This research addresses this gap using a survey and an experiment to investigate the impact of functional integration on consumers’ perceptions of risk and consumer-based brand equity. Findings suggest that when functional integration acts as a component of brand association, purchase risk decreases and consumer-based brand equity increases. The results can help scholars and practitioners better understand the role of functional i...
New Insights into Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Graft Rejection

Allogeneic transplantation of foreign organs or tissues has lifesaving potential, but can lead to serious complications. After solid organ transplantation, immune-mediated rejection mandates the use of prolonged global immunosuppression and limits the life span of transplanted allografts. After bone marrow transplantation, donor-derived immune cells can trigger life-threatening graft-versus-host disease. T cells are central mediators of alloimmune complications and the target of most existing therapeutic interventions. We review recent progress in identifying multiple cell types in addition to T cells and new molecular pathways that regulate pathogenic alloreactivity. Key discoveries include the cellular subsets that function as potential sources of alloantigens, the cross talk of innate lymphoid cells with damaged epithelia and with the recipient microbiome, the impact of the alarmin interleukin-33 on alloreactivity, and the role of Notch ligands expressed by fibroblastic stromal cells in alloimmunity. While refining our understanding of transplantation immunobiology, these findings identify new therapeutic targets and new areas of investigation.
Enhanced Human Face Recognition Using LBPH Descriptor, Multi-KNN, and Back-Propagation Neural Network

Face recognition has become a fascinating field for researchers. The motivation behind the enormous interest in the topic is the need to improve the accuracy of many real-time applications. The complexity of the human face and the changes due to different effects make it more challenging to design as well as implement a powerful computational system for human face recognition. In this paper, we presented an enhanced approach to improve human face recognition using a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) and features extraction based on the correlation between the training images. A key contribution of this paper is the generation of a new set called the T-Dataset from the original training data set, which is used to train the BPNN. We generated the T-Dataset using the correlation between the training images without using a common technique of image density. The correlated T-Dataset provides a high distinction layer between the training images, which helps the BPNN to converge faster and achieve better accuracy. Data and features reduction are essential in the face recognition process, and researchers have recently focused on the modern neural network. Therefore, we used a local binary pattern histogram descriptor to prove that there is potential improvement even using traditional methods. We applied five distance measurement algorithms and then combined them to obtain the T-Dataset, which we fed into the BPNN. We achieved higher face recognition accuracy with less computational cost compared with the current approach by using reduced image features. We test the proposed framework on two small data sets, the YALE and AT&T data sets, as the ground truth. We achieved tremendous accuracy. Furthermore, we evaluate our method on one of the state-of-the-art benchmark data sets, Labeled Faces in the Wild (LFW), where we produce a competitive face recognition performance.
Splice Variants of MDM2 in Oncogenesis

Many types of human cancers overexpress MDM2 protein. A common characteristic among these cancers is an associated increase in mdm2 splice variants. Provided here is a comprehensive list, based on a literature review, of over 70 mdm2 variants. These variants are grouped according to in-frame versus out-of-frame status and their potential (or ability) to be translated into isoform proteins. We describe the putative functions for these mdm2 splice variant mRNAs, as well as the mechanistic drivers associated with increased mdm2 transcription and splicing. The paradoxical signal transduction functions of the most commonly studied variants mdm2-a,-b and -c are addressed for their outcomes in the presence and absence of wild-type p53. These outcomes vary from tumor promotion to growth arrest. Finally, we present issues in the detection of endogenous MDM2 protein and how many of the antibodies commonly used to detect MDM2 do not present a full picture of the cellular representation of the isoform proteins. This review provides a focusing lens for individuals interested in learning about the complexities of mdm2 mRNAs and their protein isoforms as well as the roles MDM2 isoforms may play in cancer progression.
Plasma Surface Modification of Three Dimensional Poly (ε-Caprolactone) Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Application

In the present study, the effect of oxygen-based plasma treatment on the three dimensional poly (e-caprolactone) (PCL) was analyzed in terms of surface wettability, surface energy, and surface biocompatibility. The surface treatment was carried out for 1, 3, and 5-min durations on three dimensional PCL scaffolds at atmospheric pressure using a radio frequency (RF) plasma treatment system. The solid surface energies of the modified and unmodified PCL scaffolds were calculated by using the Owens-Wendt’s method. To examine the effect of oxygen plasma treatment on cell-scaffold interaction, mouse osteoblast cell line (7F2) was used. Oxygen plasma treatment contributed in decreasing the hydrophobicity of PCL for the 1-min treatment. A change in the surface energy from 39.98 mN/m for untreated to 52.54 mN/m for 1-min treated was observed by the increment in the polar component of surface energy. However, with the extended treatment times (3-min, and 5-min), the hydrophilicity, and the surface energy remained unaffected. The highest mouse osteoblast cells proliferation rate was observed for the 1-min treated sample.
Amixicile Reduces Severity of Cryptosporidiosis but Does Not Have In Vitro Activity against Cryptosporidium.

ABSTRACT Cryptosporidium species cause significant morbidity in malnourished children. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is the only approved treatment for cryptosporidiosis, but NTZ has diminished effectiveness during malnutrition. Here, we show that amixicile, a highly selective water-soluble derivative of NTZ diminishes Cryptosporidium infection severity in a malnourished mouse model despite a lack of direct anticryptosporidial activity. We suggest that amixicile, by tamping down anaerobes associated with intestinal inflammation, reverses weight loss and indirectly mitigates infection-associated pathology.
Are there more differences or similarities between the hospital-acquired pneumonia guidelines?

The 2016 hospital-acquired (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) guideline was sponsored by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and endorsed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (1).
Utilization of emergency department computed tomography and otolaryngology consultation in the diagnosis of pediatric peritonsillar abscess.

Abstract Objectives To determine whether obtaining a computed tomography (CT) scan in the emergency department (ED) is predictive of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) in the pediatric population, and to evaluate for clinical characteristics that may suggest whether a CT is beneficial in the diagnosis of pediatric PTA. Methods Single-institution retrospective chart review at Rush University Hospitals. Study included pediatric patients, aged 17 or younger, who presented to the ED with suspected PTA over a 6-year period. Patients received a neck CT and/or an official otolaryngology consultation. Relevant demographic and study parameters were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS. Results A total of 36 pediatric patients with suspected PTA. Of these, 47.2% (17/36) received a diagnosis of PTA while 52.8% (19/36) received an alternative diagnosis. Patients with PTA were more likely to have trismus (41.2% vs 5.3%; p Conclusion This is the first study to investigate the benefit of CT imaging in the diagnosis of pediatric PTA and impact of an otolaryngology consult on the frequency of CT scans. Pediatric patients at high risk for PTA based on clinical findings may not require CT imaging for diagnosis. Patients at lower risk may benefit from imaging based on the availability of an otolaryngology consult or expertise of the examiner.
Evidence-Based Recommendations for Programming Quizzes to Improve College Student Behavior in Residential Courses

Several researchers have shown quizzes effectively support college student success; however, instructors can implement quizzes in multiple ways. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on quizzes in undergraduate courses using the PRISMA method (i.e., Moher et al. Public Libr Sci Med 6(7):e1000097, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 ). We searched peer-reviewed journals in the ERIC database and included studies in which researchers manipulated a quiz (or some aspect of a quiz) and measured the effects on out-of-class preparation, class attendance, in-class participation, and/or performance on exams in the context of a traditional face-to-face undergraduate course. We used this body of literature to develop evidence-based recommendations for how instructors can program quizzes to improve college student behavior within their courses and promote overall student success in higher education. Limitations and areas for future research are discussed.
Bio-optical Characteristics and the Vertical Distribution of Photosynthetic Pigments and Photosynthesis in an Artificial Cyanobacterial Mat.

Zonations of photosynthesis and photopigments in artificial cyanobacterial mats were studied with (i) oxygen and pH microsensors, (ii) fiber-optic microprobes for field radiance, scalar irradiance, and PSII fluorescence, and (iii) a light microscope equipped with a spectrometer for spectral absorbance and fluorescence measurements. Our analysis revealed the presence of several distinct 1–2 mm thick cyanobacterial layers mixed with patches of anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. Strong attenuation of visible light confined the euphotic zone to the uppermost 3 mm of the mat, where oxygen levels of 3–4 times air saturation and a pH peak of up to pH 8.8 were observed under saturating irradiance (413 μmol photon m−2 s−1). Oxygen penetration was 5 mm in light and decreased to 1 mm in darkness. Volumetric oxygen consumption in the photic and aphotic zones of illuminated mat was 5.5 and 2.9 times higher, respectively, than oxygen consumption in dark incubated mats. Scalar irradiance reached 100–150% of incident irradiance in the upper 0.5 mm of the mat due to intense scattering in the matrix of cells, exopolymers, and carbonate precipitates. In deeper mat layers scalar irradiance decreased nearly exponentially, and highest attenuation coefficients of 6–7 mm−1 were found in cyanobacterial layers, where photosynthesis and photopigment fluorescence also peaked. Visible light was attenuated >100 times more strongly than near infrared light. Microscope spectrometry on thin sections of mats allowed detailed spectral absorbance and fluorescence measurements at defined positions relative to the mat surface. Besides strong spectral signals of cyanobacterial photopigments (Chl a and phycobiliproteins), the presence of both green and purple photosynthetic bacteria was evident from spectral signals of Bchl a and Bchl c. Microprofiles of photopigment absorbance correlated well with microdistributions of phototrophs determined in an accompanying study.
Cultural Competence of Urban Middle School Physical Education Teachers.

Much literature cites how cultural clashes among teachers and students can undermine educational processes and cause feelings of mistrust among students in school settings. This research examined the cultural competence of secondary PE teachers who taught in diverse urban schools. The research questions guiding the study were (1) what do urban teachers know about students and the community they serve? (2) what instances of cultural distance exist between teachers and students in these schools? and (3) how do teachers bridge cultural distance between themselves and their students? Using qualitative research methods, we examined the cultural competence of six purposively sampled PE teachers in an urban school district over one school year. Participants were recruited based on recommendations from the PE supervisor in a large metropolitan school district in the Southeastern United States. Data collection included multiple interviews (n = 36), teaching observations and field notes (n = 18), and teaching workshops (n = 4).Subscribe to TPE