cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Nursing Implications for the Recovery of Atrophied Skeletal Muscle Following Bed Rest

Atrophied skeletal muscle is a common clinical manifestation of bed rest that occurs primarily because of a lack of weight-bearing activity on the muscle. Findings from several studies using an animal model to simulate the effects of bed rest on muscles indicate that when atrophied muscle is used again for weight-bearing activity, it undergoes a series of physiological changes, such as muscle fiber (myofiber) damage, death, and regeneration. Also, in the recovering muscle, the inflammatory white blood cells, called macrophages, accumulate and shift in type in relation to the ongoing myofiber changes. Similar processes may occur in the muscles of a patient resuming normal physical activity following bed rest. The authors briefly describe the physiological changes related to atrophied muscle recovery and the implications for nursing care. Nursing measures for the recovery period may include (a) assessing for symptoms associated with muscle injury, decreased strength, and fatigue; (b) encouraging sufficient protein intake and maintaining normal metabolic demands to ensure muscle repair; and (c) temporarily avoiding the use of immunosuppressive therapy, if possible, to ensure adequate macrophage function.
Prediction of polymer insulating material degradation using Daubechies wavelet transformation

Economic and technical advantages have led to the increased use of polymer materials for insulators in transmission and distribution lines. Two important factors, which affect the performance of materials, are aging and loss of hydrophobicity. The conventional method to detect the changes along the material surface has been the measurement of leakage current. In this paper, a new method based on the Daubechies-4 wavelet transformation function is proposed and realized. The objective is to find a pattern that provides an early warning of the failure of polymer material. Different polymer materials were tested by the standard Inclined Plane (IP) testing method. Over a fixed interval of time, maximum and minimum values of the wavelet transform of the signal and that of the leakage current are stored for further analysis. With the obtained data, graphs are plotted and for the data obtained just before failure, distinct differences are observed to predict a failure of the polymer material.
Stereo matching via selective multiple windows

Window-based correlation algorithms are widely used for stereo matching due to their computational efficiency as compared to global algorithms. In this paper, a multiple window correlation algorithm for stereo matching is presented which addresses the problems associated with a fixed window size. The developed algo- rithm differs from the previous multiple window algorithms by intro- ducing a reliability test to select the most reliable window among multiple windows of increasing sizes. This ensures that at least one window is large enough to cover a region of adequate intensity variations while at the same time small enough to cover a constant depth region. A recursive computation procedure is also used to allow a computationally efficient implementation of the algorithm. The outcome obtained from a standard set of images with known disparity maps shows that the generated disparity maps are more accurate as compared to two popular stereo matching local algorithms. © 2007 SPIE and IS&T. DOI: 10.1117/1.2711817
A prospective evaluation of the incidence of bacteremia associated with EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration

Abstract Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)--guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is frequently performed for diagnostic evaluation of lesions in or near the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Little data exist concerning possible infectious complications associated with EUS-guided FNA. This prospective evaluation was undertaken to determine the frequency of bacteremia and infectious complications associated with EUS-guided FNA. Methods: All patients undergoing EUS-guided FNA for any indication were enrolled in this study. Patients who required antibiotic prophylaxis as per the American Heart Association or American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines were excluded from the study as were patients with cystic lesions, patients with advanced liver disease/ascites and those with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Blood cultures were obtained 30 and 60 minutes after the EUS-FNA. Patients were monitored for evidence of infection after procedure including telephone follow-up of each subject 1 week after procedure. Results: One hundred patients underwent EUS-FNA of 108 lesions. All blood cultures were negative except in 6 patients in whom 1 of 2 bottles were positive for coagulase negative Staphylococcus , which was considered a contaminant. There were no complications of acute febrile illness, abscess or other infections. Conclusion: EUS-guided FNA was not associated with bacteremia or infectious complications. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;53:189-92.)
Armchair methodology and epistemological naturalism

In traditional armchair methodology, philosophers attempt to challenge a thesis of the form ‘F iff G’ or ‘F only if G’ by describing a scenario that elicits the intuition that what has been described is an F that isn’t G. If they succeed, then the judgment that there is, or could be, an F that is not G counts as good prima facie evidence against the target thesis. Moreover, if these intuitions remain compelling after further (good faith) reflection, then traditional armchair methodology takes the judgment to be serious (though not infallible) evidence against the target thesis—call it secunda facie evidence—that should not be discounted as long as those intuitions retain their force. Some philosophers, however, suggest that this methodology is incompatible with epistemological naturalism, the view that philosophical inquiry should be sensitive to empirical observations, and argue that traditional armchair methodology must deemphasize the role of intuitions in philosophical inquiry. In my view, however, this would be a mistake: as I will argue, the most effective way to promote philosophical progress is to treat intuitions as having the (prima and secunda) evidential status I’ve described. But I will also argue that philosophical inquiry can produce a theory that is sensitive to empirical observations and the growth of empirical knowledge, even if it gives intuitions the prima- and secunda-facie evidential status that traditional armchair methodology demands—and thus that traditional armchair methodology, if properly practiced, need not be abandoned by naturalists, or even (except for a few exceptions) be much revised.
Use of psychotropic medication in Alzheimer's disease is associated with more rapid cognitive and functional decline

Commentary on Rosenberg PB, Mielke MM, Han D, et al. The association of psychotropic medication use with the cognitive, functional and neuropsychiatric trajectory of Alzheimer's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2012; 27:1248–57.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Psychotropic medicines are commonly prescribed in Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet their long-term effects are unknown. Rosenberg and colleagues determined AD clinical outcome trajectories after psychotropic exposure in the Cache County Dementia Progression Study. The authors hypothesised a more rapid clinical decline with antipsychotics and benzodiazepines and an improved status with antidepressants. The authors studied 230 participants diagnosed with AD using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 1987 (DSM-III-R) and the NINCDS-ADRDA Alzheimer's Criteria. Participants were followed up for an average of 3.7±2.49 years (median follow-up of one visit). Mean changes in adjusted Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating sum of six domains (CDR-Sum) and 10-item Neuropsychiatric Inventory—Clinician Rating … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DInternational%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bgeriatric%2Bpsychiatry%26rft.stitle%253DInt%2BJ%2BGeriatr%2BPsychiatry%26rft.aulast%253DRosenberg%26rft.auinit1%253DP.%2BB.%26rft.volume%253D27%26rft.issue%253D12%26rft.spage%253D1248%26rft.epage%253D1257%26rft.atitle%253DThe%2Bassociation%2Bof%2Bpsychotropic%2Bmedication%2Buse%2Bwith%2Bthe%2Bcognitive%252C%2Bfunctional%252C%2Band%2Bneuropsychiatric%2Btrajectory%2Bof%2BAlzheimer%2527s%2Bdisease.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1002%252Fgps.3769%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22374884%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1002/gps.3769&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22374884&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F5%2Fe50.atom
Inducible nitric oxide synthase links NF-κB to PGE2 in polyunsaturated fatty acid altered fibroblast in-vitro wound healing

Background: This study investigated mechanisms of altered fibroblast collagen production induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids. 3T3-Swiss fibroblasts were grown in medium containing either eicosapentaenoic or arachidonic acid. The effects of nuclear factor-kappaB activation by lipopolysaccharide on inducible nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, collagen production, and in-vitro wound healing were studied. Results: Eicosapentaenoic acid treated cells produced less prostaglandin E 2 but had increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, nitric oxide production, collagen formation, and recoverage area during in-vitro wound healing than cells treated with arachidonic acid. Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB with lipopolysaccharide increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E 2 , collagen, and the in-vitro wound recoverage area. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide, but the amount of nitric oxide was greater in eicosapentaenoic acid treated cells. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester plus lipopolysaccharide treatment increased collagen production and cellular recoverage area while treatment with NGnitro-L-arginine methyl ester alone decreased it in wounded fibroblasts. Conclusion: The activation of the NF-κB pathway and PGE2 can be linked by the cross-talk of iNOS and NO in the PUFA altered fibroblast collagen production and wound healing. Additional studies are needed to determine how polyunsaturated fatty acids can be used as adjuvants in combination with other treatments (i.e, drugs) to design therapies to either enhance healthy collagen production or inhibit production and reduce fibrosis.
Anencephaly in Central Virginia Retrospective Review

From this nine-year survey a relation is postulated with an influenza epidemic which occurred during early gestation.
Trophic-dynamic considerations in relating species diversity to ecosystem resilience

Complexity in the networks of interactions among and between the living and abiotic components forming ecosystems confounds the ability of ecologists to predict the economic consequences of perturbations such as species deletions in nature. Such uncertainty hampers prudent decision making about where and when to invest most intensively in species conservation programmes. Demystifying ecosystem responses to biodiversity alterations may be best achieved through the study of the interactions allowing biotic communities to compensate internally for population changes in terms of contributing to ecosystem function, or their intrinsic functional redundancy. Because individual organisms are the biologically discrete working components of ecosystems and because environmental changes are perceived at the scale of the individual, a mechanistic understanding of functional redundancy will hinge upon understanding how individuals' behaviours influence population dynamics in the complex community setting. Here, I use analytical and graphical modelling to construct a conceptual framework for predicting the conditions under which varying degrees of interspecific functional redundancy can be found in dynamic ecosystems. The framework is founded on principles related to food web successional theory, which provides some evolutionary insights for mechanistically linking functional roles of discrete, interacting organisms with the dynamics of ecosystems because energy is the currency both for ecological fitness and for food web commerce. Net productivity is considered the most contextually relevant ecosystem process variable because of its socioeconomic significance and because it ultimately subsumes all biological processes and interactions. Redundancy relative to productivity is suggested to manifest most directly as compensatory niche shifts among adaptive foragers in exploitation ecosystems, facilitating coexistence and enhancing ecosystem recovery after disturbances which alter species' relative abundances, such as extinctions. The framework further explicates how resource scarcity and environmental stochasticity may constitute ‘ecosystem legacies’ influencing the emergence of redundancy by shaping the background conditions for foraging behaviour evolution and, consequently, the prevalence of compensatory interactions. Because it generates experimentally testable predictions for a priori hypothesis testing about when and where varying degrees of functional redundancy are likely to be found in food webs, the framework may be useful for advancing toward the reliable knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem function relations necessary for prudent prioritization of conservation programmes. The theory presented here introduces explanation of how increasing diversity can have a negative influence on ecosystem sustainability by altering the environment for biotic interactions – and thereby changing functional compensability among biota – under particular conditions.
Down syndrome and leukemia: What have we learned?

The increased risk of transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during early childhood in Down syndrome (DS) has stimulated research related to the role of trisomy 21 in the development of hematological neoplasm. The unique biological features of TMD including spontaneous resolution in the majority of cases, the increased risk of developing AML (25%) following resolution of TMD and the superior outcome of DS AML patients with cytarabine-based regimens highlight further areas of research interest. Alteration of intracellular redox reaction kinetics secondary to increased expression of chromosome 21-localized genes (e.g. superoxide dismutase) and the associated changes in apoptotic responses in DS tissues, may account for the increased sensitivity of DS myeloblasts to chemotherapy agents. The identification of the pharmacological and molecular basis for the increased sensitivity of DS myeloblasts to cytarabine and daunorubicin based on altered expression of chromosome 21-l...
High-Efficiency Flexible Polymer OLEDs

Flexible polymer OLEDs employing a transparent polymer composite electrode have been fabricated by solution-based processing. The flexible OLEDs exhibit both higher efficiency and high mechanical flexibility including being stretchable by 50% strain.
On the average outage rate and average outage duration of wireless communication systems with multiple cochannel interferers

This paper studies the average outage rate [or average level crossing rate (LCR)] and average outage duration (AOD) of wireless communication systems subject to cochannel interference. In particular, it presents closed-form expressions for the LCR and AOD when a minimum desired signal power requirement is specified for satisfactory reception. The results are quite general and account for systems operating over independent identically distributed Rician and/or Nakagami fading environments. When applicable, these new expressions are compared to those previously reported in the literature dealing with the LCR and AOD of 1) interference-limited systems when both the desired and interfering signals are subject to Rayleigh type of fading and 2) power-limited systems operating over Rician or Nakagami fading channels. Corresponding numerical examples that illustrate applications of the results are also provided and discussed. These results show that specifying a certain minimum desired signal power requirement induces a floor on the AOD. They also show that the AOD is essentially affected by the the maximum Doppler frequencies (or equivalently the speed) of the desired users.
Neural network pattern recognition of thermal-signature spectra for chemical defense.

We treat infrared patterns of absorption or emission by nerve and blister agent compounds (and simulants of this chemical group) as features for the training of neural networks to detect the compounds’ liquid layers on the ground or their vapor plumes during evaporation by external heating. Training of a four-layer network architecture is composed of a backward-error-propagation algorithm and a gradient-descent paradigm. We conduct testing by feed-forwarding preprocessed spectra through the network in a scaled format consistent with the structure of the training-data-set representation. The best-performance weight matrix (spectral filter) evolved from final network training and testing with software simulation trials is electronically transferred to a set of eight artificial intelligence integrated circuits (ICs’) in specific modular form (splitting of weight matrices). This form makes full use of all input–output IC nodes. This neural network computer serves an important real-time detection function when it is integrated into pre- and postprocessing data-handling units of a tactical prototype thermoluminescence sensor now under development at the Edgewood Research, Development, and Engineering Center.
A 1.8-pJ/bit 16×16-Gb/s source synchronous parallel interface in 32nm SOI CMOS with receiver redundancy for link recalibration

A 16×16-Gb/s source-synchronous I/O is reported in 32nm SOI CMOS. The bus-level receiver includes redundant RX lanes to enable lane recalibration with reduced power and area overhead. The I/O also includes an 8:1 TX serializer with 8-phase clocking, and an active-inductor-based RX CTLE whose outputs form current mirrors with the inputs of the RX samplers. A phase rotator based on current-integrating phase interpolator cores is described, with architecture and circuit improvements to performance as compared to prior art. 16-Gb/s link measurements over Megtron-6 traces demonstrate efficiencies of 1.8pJ/bit (0.75" traces) and 1.9pJ/bit (10" traces) with >30% timing margin, with the TX, RX, and PLL operating from 1V supplies.
Stiffness Change as a Nondestructive Damage Measurement

In laboratory specimens, damage growth is generally accompanied by stiffness change. Hence, damage growth can be monitored indirectly through stiffness. Furthermore, stiffness measurements are both nondestructive and easier to apply than most NDI methods that measure damage directly. This paper highlights laboratory applications of stiffness measurement for indirect assessment of damage growth and, in some special cases, for failure prediction. Examples cited are buckling of compressively loaded cylindrical shells, slow stable crack growth in tension-loaded notched coupons, fatigue-crack growth in adhesively bonded materials, and fatigue-damage growth in composite materials.
Extrarenal resistance to atrial natriuretic peptide in rats with experimental nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is associated with resistance to the renal actions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). We performed experiments in anesthetized, acutely nephrectomized rats 21–28 days after inj...
BOOK REVIEW: Ridge, Natasha. (2014). Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. 216 pp., ISBN: 978-0-8077-5561-7.

BOOK REVIEW: Ridge, Natasha. (2014). Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. 216 pp., ISBN: 978-0-8077-5561-7. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201502031064
Value and limitations of cross-sectional echocardiography in the diagnosis of myocardial aneurysm

Cross-sectional echocardiography has been proposed as a useful technique for the diagnosis of ventricular aneurysm. To evaluate and compare its ability to differentiate aneurysm from mural scar, echocardiograms and ventriculograms were obtained in 54 patients. Thirty-seven of these patients subsequently underwent cardiac surgery and 17 had resection of a ventricular aneurysm. Diagnosis at surgery of true aneurysm versus mural scar was used to compare the accuracy of the two diagnostic techniques. Ventriculography correctly identified 16 of 17 patients (94%) who proved to have ventricular aneurysm at surgery; false-positive diagnosis was made in 3 of 37 patients (8%). Cross-sectional echocardiography was accurate in 13 of 17 cases of ventricular aneurysm (76%) and in 13 of 15 patients with anteroapical aneurysm (87%). The 2 cases of diaphragmatic ventricular aneurysm were mistaken for mural scar. A false-positive diagnosis was observed in 8%. We conclude that cross-sectional echocardiography is slightly less sensitive than ventriculography in the diagnosis of left ventricular aneurysm; both methods have a similar specificity. Echocardiography may be useful in complementing the angiographic diagnosis.
Radial ridge excision for symptomatic volar tendon subluxation following de Quervain's release.

Traditional surgical release to address de Quervain’s stenosing tenosynovitis can lead to the rare complication of volar tendon subluxation. This study presents a surgical procedure, which entails excision of the radial ridge as an alternative treatment to relieve pain associated with symptomatic vo
Comparison of age of onset of schizophrenia among patients hospitalized in Ranchi, India and in Brockton, U.S.A.

The lack of standardized criteria and methodologies to assess dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease has resulted in inconsistencies and controversies in the literature regarding the incidence and basis of this condition. The authors examined a large group of patients with Parkinson's disease using two standardized sets of criteria for dementia. The neuropsychological data obtained was analyzed using stepwise discriminant analysis, and a brief scale was developed. The results indicated that a regression equation derived from just three neuropsychological procedures (which take only 10 minutes to administer) provides maximum discrimination between patients originally classified as demented or non-demented according to standardized criteria. Cut-off values for the product of the regression equation were calculated to accurately and reliably classify patients using the brief scale.
Organophosphates, Carbamates, and the Immune System

Publisher Summary Because exposure to prevalent cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides is unavoidable, these compounds have been investigated in detail with regard to their toxic potential; however, their potential effects on the immune system are not so well characterized. Concern regarding the immunotoxic potential of chemicals in general is relatively new in the assessment of their safety. Only a few organophosphates (OPs) and carbamates (CMs) have been systematically investigated for their immunotoxic potential; studies have used different protocols and various parameters for measuring toxic outcomes. The immune system is important for defense against a variety of organic insults, and is necessary for the well-being and even survival of host organisms. However, the immune system is highly complex, regulated by multistep control processes, and can be influenced by the status of other body systems and functions. Despite indications that these pesticides possess detrimental effects on various immune responses, information on the effects of these chemicals on the immune system of humans is very limited. It is controversial whether environmental or even occupational exposures to these pesticides are capable of affecting the immune system. In addition to pesticide exposure through environmental or occupational modes, people may also come in contact with cholinesterase inhibitors via therapeutic uses. The developing immune system is considered as susceptible to toxic effects; however, data supporting this assumption is limited.
Traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: current knowledge and future directions

There is growing concern about the late effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This scoping review summarizes clinical research from the past 10 years that evaluates the relationship between TBI and Alzheimer's disease. This review identified five studies that found increased risk for dementia after TBI, two studies that found no increased risk and four studies that found a relationship only under certain conditions or in specified subsamples. Methodological differences across studies preclude direct comparison of results, and discrepant findings elucidate the complex course of post-TBI neurodegeneration. We discuss the factors that influence the strength and direction of the relationship between TBI and Alzheimer's disease, and the implications of this body of research for patient care and future research.
Reaction and Retrenchment

Reactions from the political environment outside of the judiciary impact the development of law, including the law defining prisoners’ rights. Congressional creation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the RLUIPA enhanced protections for religious freedom in prisons. By contrast, congressional enactment of the PLRA imposed new procedural obstacles for prisoners seeking to file constitutional rights lawsuits and new limitations on federal judges’ authority to remedy rights violations in prisons. Additional retrenchment effects stemmed from conservatizing changes in the Supreme Court’s composition as Republican presidents appointed 12 of the 16 new justices to join the Court after the end of the Warren Court era in 1969.
A time-varying effect model for examining group differences in trajectories of zero-inflated count outcomes with applications in substance abuse research

This study proposes a time-varying effect model for examining group differences in trajectories of zero-inflated count outcomes. The motivating example demonstrates that this zero-inflated Poisson model allows investigators to study group differences in different aspects of substance use (e.g., the probability of abstinence and the quantity of alcohol use) simultaneously. The simulation study shows that the accuracy of estimation of trajectory functions improves as the sample size increases; the accuracy under equal group sizes is only higher when the sample size is small (100). In terms of the performance of the hypothesis testing, the type I error rates are close to their corresponding significance levels under all settings. Furthermore, the power increases as the alternative hypothesis deviates more from the null hypothesis, and the rate of this increasing trend is higher when the sample size is larger. Moreover, the hypothesis test for the group difference in the zero component tends to be less powerful than the test for the group difference in the Poisson component. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Movement Disorders in the Intensive Care Unit

Movement disorders are common; yet to those without subspecialty experience they can be difficult to recognize, categorize, and manage. Although most frequently encountered in an outpatient setting, patients with movement disorders are commonly hospitalized and often admitted to the intensive care unit, leading to possible confusion about their proper care. In addition, movement disorders can arise in critical care settings for several reasons, including medication side effects, substance withdrawal, or development of a new syndrome. In this review, the authors explore the management of critically ill patients with movement disorders, new or established, including differential diagnosis, work-up, and treatment.
Functional Characterization of Pneumocystis carinii Inositol Transporter 1

ABSTRACT Fungi in the genus Pneumocystis live in the lungs of mammals, where they can cause a fatal pneumonia (PCP [Pneumocystispneumonia]) in hosts with compromised immune systems. The absence of a continuous in vitro culture system for any species of Pneumocystis has led to limited understanding of these fungi, especially for the discovery of new therapies. We recently reported that Pneumocystis carinii, Pneumocystis murina, and most significantly, Pneumocystis jirovecii lack both enzymes necessary for myo-inositol biosynthesis but contain genes with homologies to fungal myo-inositol transporters. Since myo-inositol is essential for eukaryotic viability, the primary transporter, ITR1, was functionally and structurally characterized in P. carinii. The predicted structure of P. carinii ITR1 (PcITR1) contained 12 transmembrane alpha-helices with intracellular C and N termini, consistent with other inositol transporters. The apparent Km was 0.94 ± 0.08 (mean ± standard deviation), suggesting that myo-inositol transport in P. carinii is likely through a low-affinity, highly selective transport system, as no other sugars or inositol stereoisomers were significant competitive inhibitors. Glucose transport was shown to use a different transport system. The myo-inositol transport was distinct from mammalian transporters, as it was not sodium dependent and was cytochalasin B resistant. Inositol transport in these fungi offers an attractive new drug target because of the reliance of the fungi on its transport, clear differences between the mammalian and fungal transporters, and the ability of the host to both synthesize and transport this critical nutrient, predicting low toxicity of potential inhibitors to the fungal transporter. IMPORTANCEmyo-Inositol is a sugarlike nutrient that is essential for life in most organisms. Humans and microbes alike can obtain it by making it, which involves only 2 enzymes, by taking it from the environment by a transport process, or by recycling it from other cellular constituents. Inspection of the genomes of the pathogenic fungi of the genus Pneumocystis showed that these pneumonia-causing parasites could not make myo-inositol, as they lacked the 2 enzymes. Instead, we found evidence of inositol transporters, which would import the sugar from the lungs where the fungi reside. In the present report, we characterized the transport of myo-inositol in the fungus and found that the transporter was highly selective for myo-inositol and did not transport any other molecules. The transport was distinct from that in mammalian cells, and since mammals can both make and transport myo-inositol, while Pneumocystis fungi must transport it, this process offers a potential new drug target.
Decision Tree Regression Algorithm for Mining High-Speed Data Streams

In recent years, advances in hardware technology have facilitated new ways of collecting high speed data continuously. Marvelous and possibly Infinite volumes of data streams are often generated by communication networks, remote sensors and other dynamic environments. Mining these data streams raises new problems in terms of how to mine continuous high speed data items that you can only have one look at. In this paper, we propose algorithm output is a solution for mining high speed data streams. The decision tree algorithm builds regression models in the form of a tree structure. The tree breaks down into smaller subsets while at the same time its associated decision tree is incrementally developed. The final result is a tree with decision nodes and leaf nodes. A decision node has two or more branches each representing values for the attribute tested. Leaf node represents a decision on the numerical target. The topmost decision node in a tree which corresponds to the best predictor called root node. Decision trees can handle both unconditional and numerical data.
When a Wife Says "No": Wife Sexual Refusal as a Factor in Husband-Wife Homicides in Ghana.

In Ghana, wife sexual refusal is a key factor in uxoricides or husband-to-wife murders. Despite this, there is a dearth of systematic research that examines sexual strife as a precipitant of domest...
Human T-Lymphocyte Subsets and T-T Hybridomas

Unlike B lymphocytes which have a single major function, the secretion of antibody, T lymphocytes mediate a variety of immunologic and nonimmunologic functions. Human T cells can be divided into several distinct cell types or subsets, which interact through cell surface molecules with one another, monocytes, and B cells to generate and regulate immunity. In addition, many T-cell functions appear to be mediated wholly or in part by soluble immunoregulatory factors, or lymphokines, at least as numerous as the subsets from which they are derived. Thus, an understanding of immune function in man depends on a thorough knowledge of the structure and actions both of T-cell surface molecules and T-cell-derived lymphokines.
Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery has become an integral part of surgical treatment owing to extensive benefits for both patients and medical professionals. As technology has continuously progressed, robotic surgery systems have been developed to address limitations in laparoscopic technology in hopes of improving surgeon performance and patient outcomes. Robotic surgery has consequently shown tremendous growth in the past 20 years but has come under scrutiny for adverse events in part related to inadequate surgical skill. Indeed, unlike simulation training for laparoscopic skill acquisition, training in robotic surgery outside the operating room has not been widely integrated. Appropriate training, which ensures surgeon competency, is essential to implement safe surgery. With the aim of standardization in robotic surgery training, a proficiency-based progression curriculum, the Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery (FRS), was developed. FRS is the result of several consensus conferences by over 80 robotic surgery experts and academicians from around the world. This chapter highlights features and advantages of robotic surgery systems and describes the outline of the FRS curriculum.
When Rights and Needs Collide

“The protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential” (UNICEF Convention of the rights of the child) – This simple mission statement from UNICEF in support of The Rights of Children is a crucial and important outcome of global advocacy (Smolin, 2000). The improved outreach and effectiveness of global communication, which has highlighted the differences in the way the world treats its children. The inadequacies of the developing world’s ability to take care of its children appear severe even without taking into consideration the underlying differences between developed and developing societies with respect to political freedoms and equity in access to resources and opportunities.
Introduction to Piezoelastics

In Chapter 4, we discussed the behavior of dielectric material and showed that when it is placed in an electric field, there exists a finite displacement of charges due to the polarization of the electric dipoles. It was discovered that in addition to charge displacement, applied electric field can also cause mechanical stress. This effect is, in fact, bidirectional in that mechanical strain can in turn cause electric displacement. Although most of the time it is hardly measureable, this so-called piezoelectric effect appears in all dielectric material. However, there is a special kind of material called piezoelastic where this effect is very apparent.
Diagnostic histochemistry: A historical perspective

Histochemistry has a history which, in some ways, goes back to ancient times. The desire for humans to understand the workings of their bodies, and the roles that various chemicals have in them, is long-standing. This review considers the evolution of histochemistry and cytochemistry as scientific disciplines, culminating in the pairing of those techniques with basic biochemistry. They have served as the bases for a synthesis of microscopy, chemistry, immunology, and molecular biology, particularly in the practice of anatomic pathology.
Virtual or Immediate Touch: Queer Adaptations of Paradise Lost in Science Fiction and Fantasy

In “Virtual or Immediate Touch: Queer Adaptations of Paradise Lost in Science Fiction and Fantasy,” Lara Dodds argues that adaptation itself, and science fictional adaptation in particular, represents a critical tool for queer theory. Taking as her starting point Adam and Raphael’s discussion of angelic sexuality in Book 8 of Paradise Lost, Dodds shows that much critical conversation around this exchange has been shaped by presumptive knowledge. Exploring fantasy and science fiction as genres for queer adaptation, Dodds explicates adaptations of Adam and Raphael’s colloquy in two late-twentieth-century works: Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series and Raphael Carter’s cyberpunk novel The Fortunate Fall. Although these representations have their own limitations, they exemplify the kinds of salient queer interpretive frameworks available in fantasy and science fiction.
Evaluation of heating effects on the morphology and membrane structure of Escherichia coli using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Abstract Bacterial cell characteristics, such as size, morphology, and membrane integrity, are affected by environmental conditions. Thermal treatment results in related structural changes, extent of which is determined by the microorganism's survival skills and inactivation kinetics. The objective of this study was to characterize changes in cell structure of Escherichia coli during heating using the combined analysis of dynamic light scattering (DLS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The size of E. coli cells increased from 2.3 μm to 3.0 μm with heating up to 50 °C followed by a shrinkage with further heating up to 70 °C. The morphological changes were verified using transmission electron microscopy. Related changes in membrane integrity was quantified via the mobility of 16-doxylstearic acid (16-DSA) spin probe using EPR spectroscopy. Two order parameters S1 and S2 defined on x- and y-axes, respectively, decreased with increasing temperature indicating loss of membrane integrity. The combined techniques as in this study can be used to further understand factors that play role in survival behavior of microorganisms.
Choosing the “Best” surgical techniques for mitral valve repair: Lessons from the literature

Mitral valve (MV) repair is the procedure of choice to correct mitral regurgitation caused by degenerative MV disease, due to its well-documented superiority over MV replacement. Repair of the MV is feasible in more than 95% of such patients and restores valve function and preserve ventricular function. Surgeons choose from a wide variety of mitral repair techniques, with the ultimate procedure based upon the pathology and the particular surgeon's personal preference. As a result, there is considerable controversy concerning choice of repair techniques and prostheses (ie, annuloplasty device). This targeted review of available data concerning repair of the degenerative valve will inform surgeon decision-making in MV repair.
A Mathematical Model of Stochastic Engraftment by Non-Interacting Single Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) Grafts Predicts Accelerated Engraftment Using Multiple UCB Grafts.

Background: The use of UCB transplants is limited by the difficulty of finding units with sufficient cells to provide reliable engraftment, and the slower kinetics of hematopoietic engraftment compared to other hematopoietic progenitor cell grafts. Grafts consisting of two unrelated UCB result in accelerated engraftment compared to single unit UCB transplants, but the mechanism for enhanced engraftment is unknown. Methods: We extracted data from published studies on myeloid engraftment following transplantation of single (9 studies, 1542 engrafted patients) or double (4 studies, 94 engrafted patients) UCB units (Table). A weighted average of median days (and estimated SD) to engraft for single and double UCB transplants was calculated. The cumulative incidence of myeloid engraftment for single or double UCB transplants was modeled based the assumption that the time to engraft was described by a normal distribution. For double and triple UCB transplants, the probability of myeloid engraftment at any time post-transplant was calculated as 1 minus the probability of non-engraftment for a single UCB unit squared or cubed, respectively. Results: The weighted average percentage for myeloid engraftment following single UCB transplants was 89%, with a median day of engraftment of 26.4 days. The weighted average for the rate of myeloid engraftment following double UCB transplants was 96%, with a median day of engraftment of 22 days. The calculated median days to engraft from single or double UCB transplants, using the assumption of normal distributions, were 22 and 26 days, respectively. Applying the mathematical model, the predicted cumulative engraftment for a double UCB graft is 99%, with a the curve for cumulative engraftment kinetics quite similar to the observed engraftment in Barker 2005 and the calculated curve for double UCB transplants based upon analysis of extracted data (Figure). Conclusion: UCB units do not appear to facilitate engraftment in grafts containing multiple units. A stochastic statistical model, in which different UCB grafts engraft independently, appears to account for the observed 4-day decrease in the median time to achieve myeloid engraftment following a double versus single UCB transplant. The use of a triple UCB graft is predicted to shorten the median time to achieve neutrophil engraftment to a median of 20 days.
Patient Demographics Influencing Vestibular Schwannoma Size and Initial Management Plans.

Objective To explore patient demographics as to predicting vestibular schwannoma (VS) size and treatment plan within a single institution. Methods Using a large tertiary referral skull base center database, all patients with sporadic VS who presented to the center between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed. Results A total of 816 patients with VS over 18 years of age were included. The median age was 56.8 years (range: 18.6–90.9 years). The median tumor diameter at diagnosis was 11.9 mm (range: 0.6–51.1 mm). With multivariate analysis, older age was associated with decreased tumor size (0.23 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17–0.29), whereas married patients had larger tumors (2.5 mm, 95% CI: 0.92–4.09). When comparing observation, radiation, or surgery, older patients are more likely to pursue observation as compared with surgery and radiation (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.06–1.10 and OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08–1.33), respectively. Married patients were less likely to pursue observation as compared with surgery (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.82). Each additional mile a patient lives farther from the center increases his or her odds of pursuing treatment (OR: 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001–1.003). Conclusions Older age is associated with smaller tumors, whereas married patients have larger tumors at diagnosis as compared with nonmarried patients. Furthermore, married patients are more likely to pursue treatment, specifically surgery, as compared with nonmarried patients, whereas patients who live farther from the center are more likely to pursue treatment.
Identifying heterogeneous factors for driver injury severity variations in snow-related rural single-vehicle crashes

Snowy weather is consistently considered as a hazardous factor due to its potential leading to severe fatal crashes. A seven-year crash dataset including rural highway single vehicle crashes from 2010 to 2016 in Washington State is applied in the present study. Pseudo elasticity analysis is conducted to investigate significant impact factors and the temporal stability of model specifications is tested via a likelihood ratio test. The proposed model based on the seven-year dataset is able to capture the individual-specific heterogeneity across crash records for four significant factors, i.e., surface ice, male, and airbag combine deployment for minor injury, and male for serious injury and fatality. Their estimated parameters were found to be normal distribution instead of fixed value over the observations. Other significant impact factors with fixed effects are: inroad object, animal, overturn, surface wet, surface snow, unusual horizontal design, medium and high speed limits, driver age, impaired condition, no belt usage, vehicle type, airbag deployment. Especially, when compared to significant factors for crashes under other weather conditions, male indicator and impaired condition show significant higher effects in snow-related crashes. The results of temporal stability test show that the model specification is generally not temporally stable for driver injury severity model based on the years of crash data that were used, especially for longer period (more than 3-year dataset). Models that allow the explanatory variables to track temporal heterogeneity, are of great interest and can be explored in future research.
Remembering the King: Understanding strategic management of and participation in Elvis’ Death Week:

This exploratory qualitative study looks at Death Week, the annual commemoration of Elvis Presley’s death at Graceland in Memphis, TN, as a uniquely important part of tourism-based strategic public...
Alternative splicing and cancer: insights, opportunities, and challenges from an expanding view of the transcriptome

Over the past decade there has been increased awareness of the potential role of alternative splicing in the etiology of cancer. In particular, advances in RNA-Sequencing technology and analysis has led to a wave of discoveries in the last few years regarding the causes and functional relevance of alternative splicing in cancer. Here we discuss the current understanding of the connections between splicing and cancer, with a focus on the most recent findings. We also discuss remaining questions and challenges that must be addressed in order to use our knowledge of splicing to guide the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Ungulate herbivores reduce fruit production of shrubs in dry conifer forests of the interior Pacific Northwest, USA

Abstract Ungulate herbivores can affect food webs by reducing fruit production of browsed plants. In this study, we evaluated the effects of herbivory by large mammalian herbivores (cattle, elk, and mule deer) on fruit production of three common, widely distributed shrub species, Amelanchier alnifolia, Ribes cereum and Rosa woodsii that produce fleshy fruit consumed by wildlife in dry conifer forests of eastern Oregon, U.S.A. Specifically, we evaluated herbivory effects on fruit count, shrub height and fruit density in stands exposed to ungulates and in adjacent stands where ungulates have been excluded for 15 years. We measured shrub height, density and fruit production within each herbivore treatment using belt transects. Data was collected for two years for A. alnifolia, and one year for R. cereum and R. woodsii. For A. alnifolia, herbivory decreased the probability that an individual shrub would produce fruit by 80%. Herbivory reduced overall fruit set of A. alnifolia by ~90%; there was weak evidence of a decline in R. woodsii fruit set by ~31%; and we found no significant herbivore effect on R. cereum. Reduced fruit production in combination with herbivore impacts on shrub density resulted in large differences in estimated fruit density across treatments, with the greatest effects found for A. alnifolia; estimated fruit production per hectare was 97–99% lower when exposed to herbivores as compared to the control treatment. Results support the hypothesis that ungulate herbivores influence standing fruit crops of at least some browsed shrubs within this forest ecosystem. This has implications for food webs because forest understory shrubs are a primary provider of fleshy fruits that are consumed by a wide range of insects, mammals, and birds in these forest systems.