cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benchmarking expert surgeons' path for evaluating a trainee surgeon's performance

The affordance of independent learning is one of the most important advantages of computer simulators for surgical training. This advantage can get dull if the simulator does not provide the useful instructional feedback to the user and the instructor has to supervise and tutor the trainee while using the simulator. In fact the continued need of instructor feedback with most existing simulators is often cited as a primary reason for the reluctance of many medical schools to fully embrace simulator technology [Sewell 2007]. Thus the incorporation of relevant, intuitive metrics in a way that it provides a constructive feedback which facilitates independent learning is essential for the development of efficient simulators. Evaluating a trainee surgeon's performance as per trainer surgeon's desire is always a challenging problem in the development of minimal invasive surgery simulators. In this research we have proposed a novel metric for trainee surgeons' performance evaluation using machine learning algorithms.
Involvement of medullary serotonergic groups in multiple system atrophy

We sought to determine whether medullary serotonergic neurons were affected in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Immunostaining for tryptophan hydroxylase was performed on serial 50 microm sections of the medulla of brains obtained at autopsy from six control subjects, eight subjects with clinical diagnosis of MSA, and four with Parkinson's disease. There was a severe depletion of serotonergic neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus, raphe obscurus, raphe pallidus, and ventrolateral medulla in MSA. Depletion of serotonergic neurons may contribute to impaired control of sympathetic outflow and other abnormalities in MSA.
Tensile creep and creep rupture behavior of monolithic and SiC-whisker-reinforced silicon nitride ceramics

The tensile creep and creep rupture behavior of silicon nitride was investigated at 1200° to 1350°C using hotpressed materials with and without SiC whiskers. Stable steady-state creep was observed under low applied stresses at 1200°C. Accelerated creep regimes, which were absent below 1300°C, were identified above that temperature. The appearance of accelerated creep at the higher temperatures is attributable to formation of microcracks throughout a specimen. The whisker-reinforced material exhibited better creep resistance than the monolith at 1200°C; however, the superiority disappeared above 1300°C. Considerably high values, 3 to 5, were obtained for the creep exponent in the overall temperature range. The exponent tended to decrease with decreasing applied stress at 1200°C. The primary creep mechanism was considered cavitationenhanced creep. Specimen lifetimes followed the Monkman–Grant relationship except for fractures with large accelerated creep regimes. The creep rupture behavior is discussed in association with cavity formation and crack coalescence.
Targeted enrichment strategies for next-generation plant biology

 Premise of the study: The dramatic advances offered by modern DNA sequencers continue to redefi ne the limits of what can be accomplished in comparative plant biology. Even with recent achievements, however, plant genomes present obstacles that can make it diffi cult to execute large-scale population and phylogenetic studies on next-generation sequencing platforms. Factors like large genome size, extensive variation in the proportion of organellar DNA in total DNA, polyploidy, and gene number/redundancy contribute to these challenges, and they demand fl exible targeted enrichment strategies to achieve the desired goals.  Methods: In this article, we summarize the many available targeted enrichment strategies that can be used to target partial-tocomplete organellar genomes, as well as known and anonymous nuclear targets. These methods fall under four categories: PCR-based enrichment, hybridization-based enrichment, restriction enzyme-based enrichment, and enrichment of expressed gene sequences.  Key results: Examples of plant-specifi c applications exist for nearly all methods described. While some methods are well established (e.g., transcriptome sequencing), other promising methods are in their infancy (hybridization enrichment). A direct comparison of methods shows that PCR-based enrichment may be a reasonable strategy for accessing small genomic targets (e.g., ≤ 50 kbp), but that hybridization and transcriptome sequencing scale more effi ciently if larger targets are desired.  Conclusions: While the benefi ts of targeted sequencing are greatest in plants with large genomes, nearly all comparative projects can benefi t from the improved throughput offered by targeted multiplex DNA sequencing, particularly as the amount of data produced from a single instrument approaches a trillion bases per run.
Proto‐Athapaskan culture: the use of ethnographic reconstruction

The segmentation of Athapaskan-speaking groups over the past two millennia presents an unusual opportunity to observe culture change from a common base in diachronic perspective. To utilize such a “radiation” model, however, something of the Proto-Athapaskan culture base must be reconstructed. Comparison of ethnographic data provides insights into Proto-Athapaskan concepts of extrasomatic power, femaleness, death, and other cultural features. These can give form to the reconstructed aspects of Proto-Athapaskan culture developed through archaeology, linguistics, and other approaches. [Athapaskan, culture change, ethnographic reconstruction, eschatology, women, ideology]
Policy and Participation on Social Media: The Cases of YouTube, Facebook, and Wikipedia

This article examines media participation in the domain of user policies. I adapt Arnstein's typology of participation as a tool for recognizing specific participatory forms and the levels of power they afford. Applying this tool to user policy documents highlights an important dimension of how social media platforms position user participation and the common policy mechanisms structuring and delimiting participation online. While YouTube and Facebook policies offer minimal participation over site content and governance, Wikipedia offers maximal participation. Moreover, understanding the terms of participation inscribed in user policies facilitates both more informed choices about user involvement in online platforms and advocacy for more equitable usage terms in policy, law, and practice.
Interleukin-1 regulates corticosterone secretion from the rat adrenal gland through a catecholamine-dependent and prostaglandin E2-independent mechanism.

Studies from this and other laboratories have shown that interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) stimulates corticosterone and prostaglandin (PG) release from primary cultures of rat adrenal cells. A previous report from our laboratory (1) indicated involvement of the alpha-adrenergic system in IL-1 alpha-stimulated corticosterone secretion from primary cultures of rat adrenal cells. The present experiments were conducted to determine the role of catecholamines and eicosanoids in IL-1-stimulated corticosterone release from primary rat adrenal cells. Primary adrenal cells were incubated for 24 h at 37 C with IL-1 alpha (10 nM), medium, or the appropriate agonist. After incubation, the supernatant was removed and assayed for epinephrine, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and corticosterone concentrations. At this time, untreated adrenal cells were fixed for immunohistochemical staining with a specific antirat tyrosine hydroxylase antibody. The results indicate that the primary adrenal cells contained 3.1 +/- 0.45% tyrosine...
A static optimality transformation with applications to planar point location

In the past ten years, there have been a number of data structures that, given a distribution of planar point location queries, produce a planar point location data structure that is tuned for the provided distribution. These structures all suffer from the requirement that the query distribution be provided in advance. For the problem of point location in a triangulation, a data structure is presented that performs asymptotically as well as these structures, but does not require the distribution to be provided in advance. This result is the 2-d analogue of the jump from the optimum binary search trees of Knuth in 1971 which required that the distribution be provided, to the splay trees of Sleator and Tarjan in 1985 where in the static optimality theorem it was proven that splay trees had the same asymptotic performance of optimum search trees without being provided the probability distribution.
Using temporal causal models to isolate failures in Power System protection devices

Power transmission systems are instrumented with a network of fast-acting protection devices that detect anomalies and arrest the fault propagation, thereby isolating the faulty components to protect the remaining system. However, often a local protection action leads to cascading effects to other regions resulting in blackouts. Also, inherent faults in protection devices such as relays and breakers could lead to failed or misguided protection action. A fault model associated with such a system needs to capture the dynamic behavior of the system as well as protection scheme in both nominal and faulty modes of operation. With an effort to capture the temporal behavior and the fault propagation of the system and its autonomous protection mechanism, we propose a new modeling formalism - the Temporal Causal Diagram (TCD). In this paper, we will describe the TCD modeling formalism and apply it to create fault-models that capture the fault propagation and state evolution of the Power Systems and their autonomous protection units. Further, we showcase simulation models derived from the TCD models and use these to simulate single and multi-fault scenarios in power transmission systems.
Shelterin Protects Chromosome Ends by Compacting Telomeric Chromatin

Telomeres, repetitive DNA sequences at chromosome ends, are shielded against the DNA damage response (DDR) by the shelterin complex. To understand how shelterin protects telomere ends, we investigated the structural organization of telomeric chromatin in human cells using super-resolution microscopy. We found that telomeres form compact globular structures through a complex network of interactions between shelterin subunits and telomeric DNA, but not by DNA methylation, histone deacetylation, or histone trimethylation at telomeres and subtelomeric regions. Mutations that abrogate shelterin assembly or removal of individual subunits from telomeres cause up to a 10-fold increase in telomere volume. Decompacted telomeres accumulate DDR signals and become more accessible to telomere-associated proteins. Recompaction of telomeric chromatin using an orthogonal method displaces DDR signals from telomeres. These results reveal the chromatin remodeling activity of shelterin and demonstrate that shelterin-mediated compaction of telomeric chromatin provides robust protection of chromosome ends against the DDR machinery.
Fetal heart rate, arterial pressure, and blood volume responses to cortisol infusion

The purpose of this study was to determine whether physiological amounts of cortisol affect the fetal cardiovascular system. Cortisol (4 micrograms/min) or the vehicle was infused intravenously for 5 h into six chronically catheterized sheep fetuses at 127-143 days gestation (term = 145-150 days). In the cortisol-infused animals, plasma cortisol concentration increased from 2.0 +/- 0.6 (SE) to 8.3 +/- 0.9 ng/ml. There was a concomitant decrease in fetal heart rate of 38 beats/min (P less than 1 X 10(-6)) and an increase in arterial pressure. Estimated blood volume decreased by 6% in the cortisol-infused fetuses compared with the vehicle-infused animals (P less than 1 X 10(-4]. In addition, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations decreased to 70% of control at the end of the 5-h cortisol infusion, whereas plasma renin concentration decreased to 34% of control. The simultaneous increase in fetal arterial pressure and decrease in estimated blood volume suggest that fetal vascular resistance increased, whereas vascular compliance and/or nonstressed vascular volume decreased. However, this does not appear to be mediated by increases in circulating vasoconstrictor hormone concentrations or increased sympathetic tone. Thus the present study shows that physiological amounts of cortisol have significant effects on the fetal cardiovascular system but the mechanisms are unknown.
Trade Interdependence and the Use of Force: Do Issues Matter?

ABSTRACTIn this project, we investigate the relationship between the use of military force and trade interdependence, suggesting that the influence of trade on militarized conflict varies based on the issue under dispute. For some issues, trade is likely to attenuate the chances that states escalate a dispute to the use of military force, while for others trade can intensify disputes so that military conflict is more likely. Specifically, we hypothesize that greater trade interdependence decreases the probability of military conflict over realpolitik issues like territory. On the other hand, greater trade interdependence increases the probability that states use military force when the issue under dispute concerns the regime, policies, and conditions in the target. To test our hypotheses, we employ new data on dyadic uses of force from the International Military Intervention data set that records the initiator’s reason(s) for using force against the target. The statistical tests support our hypotheses; tr...
Shear rate dependence of the pāhoehoe-to-‘a‘ā transition: Analog experiments

Hawaiian lava flows typically erupt as pahoehoe and transform to 'a'aas they travel away from eruptive vents, although the exact conditions that govern this transformation are not well constrained. Here we describe a set of laboratory experiments that use corn syrup and ellipsoidal rice grains as an analog to lava with crystals to examine the depen- dence of the transition on shear rate and particle concentration. At a particle volume fraction of 0.3, increasing the shear rate produces a sequence of deformation regimes defined by increasing amounts of shear localization. The same regimes may be traversed at constant shear rate by varying the particle concentration. At high shear rates, the onset of nonlaminar deformation corresponds to the percolation threshold, thus providing a link between suspension microstructure and deformation behavior. Together these results high- light the combined importance of shear rate and crystallinity in determining the flow behavior of basaltic lava.
Why Are Handguns So Accessible on Urban Streets

This short essay explains why it is easier for young black men in many poor, urban areas to obtain a handgun than an up-to-date school textbook or a regular job. A chapter of Against the Wall: Poor, Young, Black and Male, edited by Elijah Anderson with other chapters by Cornel West, William Julius Wilson, and Douglas Massey, the analysis focuses on handgun marketing and distribution and addresses the social and political context that yields easy availability of handguns. Under federal law and the laws of most states, any person so inclined can buy huge quantities of cheap, easily concealed handguns and sell them to others indiscriminately, often without violating any law and usually without having to worry much about getting arrested, prosecuted, or convicted. Nor are the identities of owners of handguns, or the persons to whom they transfer ownership, registered or maintained by government, unless state law so provides-and most do not. Convicted felons are not allowed to buy or possess handguns, but the marketing system up to that point is largely legal. The person who sells a handgun to a person with a felony conviction has no meaningful or enforceable responsibility. Though the handgun debate is commonly cast in terms of "illegal guns," the central problem resides in what continues to be legal. Large cities facing declining job opportunities, losses in population and tax revenues, and rising levels of deprivation are being forced to accommodate virtually unregulated handgun markets. The cultural and political identification with guns and the unregulated handgun markets have continuing broad support almost exclusively in rural areas and have been imposed on urban and minority communities. The chapter examines proposed handgun regulations and the political and cultural opposition to them.
Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology

This review discusses the immunological roles of 5 major mushrooms in oncology: Agaricus blazei, Cordyceps sinensis, Grifola frondosa, Ganoderma lucidum, and Trametes versicolor. These mushrooms were selected based on the body of research performed on mushroom immunology in an oncology model. First, this article focuses on how mushrooms modify cytokines within specific cancer models and on how those cytokines affect the disease process. Second, this article examines the direct effect of mushrooms on cancer. Finally, this article presents an analysis of how mushrooms interact with chemotherapeutic agents, including their effects on its efficacy and on the myelosuppression that results from it. For these 5 mushrooms, an abundance of in vitro evidence exists that elucidates the anticancer immunological mechanisms. Preliminary research in humans is also available and is promising for treatment.
Construction of Recombinant Plasmids which Overproduce the nif B, Q, N, E, & X Gene Products

The aim of this work is to determine the structure and synthetic pathway of the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) of nitrogenase. In order to study the functions of the genes implicated In synthesis and/or insertion of FeMo-co (nif B, nif E, nif N, nif N, nif V and possibly nif Q and nif X)1,2,3, we are currently constructing recombinant plasmids which overproduce the proteins coded for by these genes and, subsequently, will purify these gene products. Overproduction is necessary because there are no known assays for these gene products, and so their purification will have to be monitored by polyacrylamide gel electro phoresis, therefore requiring easy visibility of protein bands.
Henoch-Schönlein Purpura with Adalimumab Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibitor therapy has signified an important milestone in the fight against many rheumatological disorders and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Cutaneous adverse events caused by this class of medications are well known but relatively uncommon. Most reactions are mild and rarely warrant treatment withdrawal. Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a disease with cutaneous vasculitis, arthritis, and gastrointestinal and renal involvement that is usually seen in children, though the worst complications are typically seen in adults. We present a case of HSP complicating adalimumab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis who had achieved endoscopic remission. We review similar cases reported in the literature and discuss the consequences of these autoimmune diseases.
Cyclic GMP Phosphodiesterases

Cyclic nucleotide (cN) phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are phosphohydrolases that cleave the cyclic phosphodiester bond of 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) or 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to the respective 5′-nucleotides, thereby inactivating these signaling molecules. There are two major classes of PDEs (class I and class II) that are evolutionarily unrelated; all mammalian PDEs are class I PDEs, whereas both classes are found in some lower forms. In mammals, PDEs are largely responsible for lowering intracellular cN content, and the activities and concentrations of these enzymes are rigorously regulated. Some PDEs are highly specific for either cAMP or cGMP, but others, that is, dual-specificity PDEs, hydrolyze both. In a cellular setting, all types of PDEs could contribute importantly to modulation of cGMP-signaling pathways because the competition of cGMP and cAMP for hydrolysis by dual-specificity PDEs can influence the level of each of the cNs, thereby altering the signaling in the respective pathways. PDEs are integral components in cN-signaling pathways from Paramecia through mammals, and in humans these enzymes are the pharmacological targets for treatment of a number of medical problems including hypertension, male erectile dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma.
501. Radioiodinated Adeno-Associated Virus: A Promising New Approach for Monitoring Gene Therapy

Late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL) is a form of Batten disease that is caused by mutations in the CLN2 gene. These defects cause widespread neurodegeneration resulting in death by the age of 10-12 years. One treatment for LINCL that has shown promise in animal and clinical studies is gene therapy using adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vehicle to deliver the CLN2 gene throughout the brain. This is currently accomplished by direct infusion, but there is no way to measure the spatial distribution of administered vector. Iodine-124 labeling of the viral capsid may offer a means for non-invasive determination of spatial distribution using MicroPET imaging. The production of AAVrh.10CLN2 under GMP conditions met endotoxin, mycoplasma, sterility and transgene expression release criteria. Purified AAVrh.10CLN2 was concentrated to 1013 gene copies/ml. Labeling with Na124I was carried out at 2-5 0C under mild oxidizing conditions in pH 7.5 buffer. Following radiolabeling, the product mixture was purified using an anion exchange cartridge and centrifugal filtration. Purified I124-AAVrh.10CLN2 was formulated in a pH 7.4 PBS buffer. The sterile formulation was injected (2 ml at 2.5 μCi/ml) intraparenchymally to the striatum in the murine brain and imaged on a Siemens Inveon MicroPET scanner. Thirty minute PET scans were acquired for each mouse (n=3). For the control group, we performed the same procedure using free Na 124I alone (n=3). The radiolabeling efficiency of AAV was in the range of 12-14%. PET/CT imaging clearly demonstrated the spatial distribution of vector over a ten day period, with minimal 124I uptake in the unblocked thyroid. In contrast, free iodide was rapidly cleared from the brain within 2 days (Figure 1). In conclusion, adeno-associated virus was successfully labeled with 124I and its distribution in the mouse brain was observed. This radiolabeling approach has the potential for wide application in gene therapy trials. View Large Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
A natural language processing algorithm to measure quality prostate cancer care.

232Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) are a widely adopted but underutilized source of data for systematic assessment of healthcare quality. Barriers for use of this data source include its vast complexity, lack of structure, and the lack of use of standardized vocabulary and terminology by clinicians. This project aims to develop generalizable algorithms to extract useful knowledge regarding prostate cancer quality metrics from EHRs. Methods: We used EHR ICD-9/10 codes to identify prostate cancer patients receiving care at our academic medical center. Patients were confirmed in the California Cancer Registry (CCR), which provided data on tumor characteristics, treatment data, treatment outcomes and survival. We focused on three potential pretreatment process quality measures, which included documentation within 6 months prior to initial treatment of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal exam (DRE) performance, and Gleason score. Each quality metric was defined using target terms and c...
Mindfulness: What Should Teachers of Psychology Know?

Mindfulness, which is best understood as nonjudgmental, present-centered awareness, originated in ancient Eastern traditions but has been adapted for use in Western, secular settings. The present a...
The life-cycle dynamics of exporters and multinational firms

This paper studies the life-cycle dynamics of exporters and multinational enterprises (MNEs). We present a dynamic model of trade and MNE activity in which the mode of serving a market depends on the well-known proximity-concentration tradeoff. We show that the option of performing MNE activities in the model produces life-cycle patterns for exporters that differ from those in an export-only model. Calibrating our model to rich firm-level data from France and Norway, our main quantitative finding is that a reduction in trade costs triggers much larger responses in growth rates and exit rates, for young exporters, in the model with MNEs than in the model without MNEs. We also show that the model is largely consistent with a set of new facts on the joint life-cycle dynamic behavior of exporters and MNEs.
Supporting Accurate Interpretation of Self-Administered Medical Test Results for Mobile Health: Assessment of Design, Demographics, and Health Condition.

Background: Technological advances in personal informatics allow people to track their own health in a variety of ways, representing a dramatic change in individuals’ control of their own wellness. However, research regarding patient interpretation of traditional medical tests highlights the risks in making complex medical data available to a general audience. Objective: This study aimed to explore how people interpret medical test results, examined in the context of a mobile blood testing system developed to enable self-care and health management. Methods: In a preliminary investigation and main study, we presented 27 and 303 adults, respectively, with hypothetical results from several blood tests via one of the several mobile interface designs: a number representing the raw measurement of the tested biomarker, natural language text indicating whether the biomarker’s level was low or high, or a one-dimensional chart illustrating this level along a low-healthy axis. We measured respondents’ correctness in evaluating these results and their confidence in their interpretations. Participants also told us about any follow-up actions they would take based on the result and how they envisioned, generally, using our proposed personal health system. Results: We find that a majority of participants (242/328, 73.8%) were accurate in their interpretations of their diagnostic results. However, 135 of 328 participants (41.1%) expressed uncertainty and confusion about their ability to correctly interpret these results. We also find that demographics and interface design can impact interpretation accuracy, including false confidence, which we define as a respondent having above average confidence despite interpreting a result inaccurately. Specifically, participants who saw a natural language design were the least likely (421.47 times, P=.02) to exhibit false confidence, and women who saw a graph design were less likely (8.67 times, P=.04) to have false confidence. On the other hand, false confidence was more likely among participants who self-identified as Asian (25.30 times, P=.02), white (13.99 times, P=.01), and Hispanic (6.19 times, P=.04). Finally, with the natural language design, participants who were more educated were, for each one-unit increase in education level, more likely (3.06 times, P=.02) to have false confidence. Conclusions: Our findings illustrate both promises and challenges of interpreting medical data outside of a clinical setting and suggest instances where personal informatics may be inappropriate. In surfacing these tensions, we outline concrete interface design strategies that are more sensitive to users’ capabilities and conditions. [JMIR Hum Factors 2018;5(1):e9]
FOAMA or … You Make Me Feel the Way Gasoline Looks on Water

Throughout Interrogating the Anthropocene, the reader will come across a series of watercolors that I have created in recent years. They were made in response to my time spent in the field researching concepts that relate to the origin and extraction of organic and synthetic materials, my relationship to these materials within my sculpture studio practice and the hyper vast lifespan of such materials as related to the transformation of landscapes and climate, petrochemicals, and speculative futures. These are all interconnected in the potential doom that they harbor.
Laminations, Foliations, and Trees

In this chapter, we discuss several essentially mathematical concepts: Geodesic currents with zero self-intersection. Measured foliations. Measured geodesic laminations. Trajectories of holomorphic quadratic differentials. Measured train tracks. Generalized interval exchange transformations. Small actions of surface groups on metric trees. There is yet another point of view on measured geodesic laminations [Hat88], which will not be discussed here. In this section, we describe spaces of measured foliations and geodesic laminations on the 2-torus S, how they compactify the Teichmuller space of S, and how elements of the mapping class group of S act on this compactification. It is helpful to keep in mind this description since it is the simplest version of what we will do in the case of hyperbolic surfaces.
Pitfalls of the lateral retinacular release.

The lateral retinacular release has become a popular procedure for a variety of patellofemoral disorders; however, the results can be variable and the importance of a concerted effort at nonoperative treatment must not be overlooked. Using stringent criteria, the intermediate-term follow-up (2 to 10 years) by these authors demonstrated only 52 per cent acceptable results unless poor-risk patients are identified. Most factors associated with poor results can be determined before surgery, and most complications can be avoided. An organized and detailed approach to the patient with a failed lateral retinacular release is presented.
Construction of Spinors via Witt Decomposition and Primitive Idempotents: A Review

In this tribute dedicated to Albert Crumeyrolle’s contributions to Clifford algebras and spinors, we review two constructions of spinor spaces. One, favored by Crumeyrolle, relies on Witt decomposition of the underlying quadratic space into maximal totally isotropic subspaces. The other, results in one-sided minimal ideals of Clifford algebras generated by primitive idempotents.
Converting a tumor from checkpoint blockade-resistant to checkpoint blockade-sensitive: Immunotransplant for aggressive lymphoma.

e14538Background: Lymphomas comprise the 5thmost common cancers in the U.S. and the majority of these are incurable with standard chemo-immunotherapy, thus, novel, mechanistically distinct therapie...
Educating Believers: Lessons from School Choice Research

“Religion is the recognition of all our duties as divine commands” (Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason, 1788).As Jonathan Haidt (2012) argues in The Righteous Mind a sense of sanctity, aki...
Chemical composition, sensory properties and application of Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum genus)

Abstract This review summarized the composition of volatile and nonvolatile compounds, the sensory mechanism and the application of Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum genus) as a spice and multifunctional food, such as antibacterial, inhibition of inflammation, and antioxidant among others. The aim is to provide a better understanding and potential future in-depth research and application of Sichuan pepper.
Reframing Our Future

People, when confronted with the reality of unemployment or the inability to pay rent, are unlikely to devote mental energy to the climate change debate and the fundamental changes that may lie ahead. We have to frame these issues in ways that make sense to a beleaguered public; in other words, we need to project the kind of society we want, in which life would be better for everyone.
Prognostic value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in patients with advanced solid tumors treated with PD-1 inhibitors.

e14132Background: The use of PD-1 inhibitors (PD1) has been limited due to the lack of prognostic markers of response. Previous studies have suggested that indirect inflammatory markers such as neu...
Pulmonary type-2 innate lymphoid cells in paediatric severe asthma: phenotype and response to steroids

Children with severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA) have poor control despite maximal treatment, while those with difficult asthma (DA) have poor control from failure to implement basic management, including adherence to therapy. Although recognised as clinically distinct, the airway molecular phenotype, including the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and their response to steroids in DA and STRA is unknown.Immunophenotyping of sputum and blood ILCs and T-cells from STRA, DA and non-asthmatic controls was undertaken. Leukocytes were analysed longitudinally pre- and post-intramuscular triamcinolone in children with STRA. Cultured ILCs were evaluated to assess steroid responsiveness in vitroAirway eosinophils, type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells and ILC2s were significantly higher in STRA patients compared to DA and disease controls, while IL-17+ lymphoid cells were similar. ILC2s and Th2 cells were significantly reduced in vivo following intramuscular triamcinolone and in vitro with steroids. Furthermore, asthma attacks and symptoms reduced after systemic steroids despite persistence of steroid-resistant IL-17+ cells and eosinophils.Paediatric STRA and DA have distinct airway molecular phenotypes with STRA characterised by elevated type-2 cells. Systemic corticosteroids, but not maintenance inhaled steroids resulted in improved symptom control and exacerbations concomitant with a reduction in functional ILC2s despite persistently elevated IL-17+ lymphoid cells.
Outcomes of palliative‐intent surgery in retroperitoneal sarcoma—Results from the US Sarcoma Collaborative

Background and objectives Outcomes of palliative-intent surgery in retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) are not well understood. This study aims to define indications for and outcomes after palliative-intent RPS resection. Methods Using a retrospective 8-institution database, patients undergoing resection of primary/recurrent RPS with palliative intent were identified. Logistic regression and Cox-proportional hazards models were constructed to analyze factors associated with postoperative complications and overall survival (OS). Results Of 3088 patients, 70 underwent 87 palliative-intent procedures. Most common indications were pain (26%) and bowel obstruction (21%). Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (n = 17, 24%), leiomyosarcoma (n = 13, 19%) were predominant subtypes. Median OS was 10.69 months (IQR, 3.91-23.23). R2 resection (OR, 8.60; CI, 1.42-52.15; P = .019), larger tumors (OR, 10.87; CI, 1.44-82.11; P = .021) and low preoperative albumin (OR, 0.14; CI, 0.04-0.57; P = .006) were associated with postoperative complications. Postoperative complications (HR, 1.95; CI, 1.02-3.71; P = .043) and high-grade histology (HR, 6.56; CI, 1.72-25.05; P = .006) rather than resection status were associated with reduced OS. However, in R2-resected patients, development of postoperative complications significantly reduced survival (P = .042). Conclusions Postoperative complications and high-grade histology rather than resection status impacts survival in palliative-intent RPS resections. Given the higher incidence of postoperative complications which may diminish survival, palliative-intent R2 resection should be offered only after cautious consideration.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Pregnancy

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AD) is a hereditary condition characterized by low levels of circulating alpha-antitrypsin (AAT) in plasma. It is the best understood genetic risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The diagnosis of A1AD is under-recognized. While there is a significant heterogeneity in disease presentation in relation to the severity of symptoms and prognosis, it is not uncommon for young individuals, including pregnant women to already have moderate to advanced lung disease at the time of diagnosis. Reductions in AAT levels may have unique implications for a gravid patient beyond that of lung disease. Care of the pregnant A1AD patient with chronic lung disease follows the principles of care for the management of airways disease in general with control of symptoms and reduction in exacerbation risk the main tenets of treatment. The effect of A1AD and augmentation in pregnancy has not been studied and thus care is reliant on expert opinion and clinical experience. Providers caring for pregnant patients with A1AD should consider referral to health care systems and providers with specific expertise in A1AD. Ultimately the decision is left to the individual patient and their physician to weigh the risk benefit of cessation or continuation of therapies. In this review, we present the perinatal course of a woman with A1AD and review the available literature pertaining to AAT and pregnancy and discuss the clinical implications.
Type I interferon potentiates metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and accelerated aging in mtDNA mutator mice

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key driver of inflammatory responses in human disease. However, it remains unclear whether alterations in mitochondria-innate immune crosstalk contribute to the pathobiology of mitochondrial disorders and aging. Using the polymerase gamma (POLG) mutator model of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instability, we report that aberrant activation of the type I interferon (IFN-I) innate immune axis potentiates immunometabolic dysfunction, reduces healthspan, and accelerates aging in mutator mice. Mechanistically, elevated IFN-I signaling suppresses activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which increases oxidative stress, enhances pro-inflammatory cytokine responses, and accelerates metabolic dysfunction. Ablation of IFN-I signaling attenuates hyper-inflammatory phenotypes by restoring Nrf2 activity and reducing aerobic glycolysis, which combine to lessen cardiovascular and myeloid dysfunction in aged mutator mice. These findings further advance our knowledge of how mitochondrial dysfunction shapes innate immune responses and provide a framework for understanding mitochondria-driven immunopathology in POLG-related diseases and aging.
Investigating environmental awareness of citizens of Azerbaijan: a survey on ecological footprint

The adverse effects of humans on the environment are growing every day. "Ecological footprint" (EF) is related to the Sustainable Environment and measures the impact of human activities on the environment. The reduction of EF has become a critical issue. This research aims to determine the EF awareness of consumers. The research sample consists of 404 consumers residing in the Ganja province of Azerbaijan. The “ecological footprint awareness survey” has been used as a data collection tool. The collected data were analysed with the SPSS 24.0 package program. The variables of the research were gender, educational status, place of residence, occupation, and income. Research has shown that the highest consumer awareness of EF was in food and transportation, and the lowest awareness was in water consumption. There was no statistically significant difference by gender. When the resident effect was examined, EF water consumption awareness was significantly higher among those living in the town than those living in the city. Consumers with middle school and university degrees were more conscious of their energy consumption levels. By profession, civil servants, farmers and housewives exerted higher environmental awareness than other groups examined. Finally, the income variable showed that higher-income consumers were more aware of the food, energy, and water consumption related matters.
A socio-technological model of search information divide in US cities

The purpose of the current study is to theorize and apply a socio-technological model – the powerful influence of social determinants in conditioning the effects of information attention on social outcomes. Fundamentally, this study is motivated by the idea that the social determinants of information flow can be used as a predictive tool to inform public socio-policy decisions.,This study draws upon digital disparity literature and uses publicly available Google search queries in exploring online information attention and its relationships to the HIV/AIDS diffusion in US cities. This study’s secondary data collected from extant sources is used to draw attention to a holistic urban ecology under which online search attention represents the variation of information access at the aggregate level.,The main finding shows that online information attention, as indicated by search trend, is far from being a simple predictor, but operates in complex interactions with existing social environments. A bivariate correlation between AIDS information search and AIDS diffusion rate was found to be significant. However, predictive multivariate models displayed robust effects of social contextual variables, such as income level and racial composition of cities, in moderating the effect of online search information flow.,The importance of these insights is discussed for reducing socio-health disparities at the macro-social level, and policymakers and health administrators are recommended to incubate supportive online infrastructure as an effective preventive measure at the time of a crisis.,The unique contribution of this study is the premise that looks at the aggregate-ecological contour of cities within which the potential benefits of information occur, instead of examining the isolated function of mediated information per se. In this vein, online information search, in lieu of the exposure to mass media message that is often measured via self-reported items, is a particularly unique and fruitful area of future inquiry that this study promotes.
The Use of Physostigmine in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anticholinergic Toxicity After Olanzapine Overdose: Literature Review and Case Report.

Background Second-generation antipsychotic agents are commonly used by clinicians for the treatment of various psychiatric and medical conditions. Despite their presumed safety, an overdose with olanzapine may lead to the development of anticholinergic toxicity. The anticholinergic toxidrome is characterized by both central and peripheral physical findings. Central anticholinergic syndrome, a term used to describe the symptoms that arise from reduced cholinergic activity in the central nervous system, is characterized primarily by signs and symptoms consistent with hyperactive delirium. Signs of peripheral anticholinergia include mydriasis and blurred vision, tremors, ataxia, fever/hyperthermia, flushed and dry skin, dry oral mucosa, decreased bowel sounds, constipation, and urinary retention, among other symptoms. In extreme cases, central anticholinergic syndrome can be associated with seizures, coma, respiratory failure, and cardiovascular collapse. Objective To provide scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of physostigmine use in cases of anticholinergic toxicity. Methods We conducted a comprehensive review of the published literature on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of anticholinergic toxicity. Results Currently the recommended treatment for olanzapine overdose, as is the case of most severe anticholinergic toxicity cases, involves supportive care, along with cardiac, neurological, and respiratory status monitoring. In addition, we detail the symptoms characteristic of anticholinergic toxicity, using the case of a patient experiencing central anticholinergic syndrome after an overdose with olanzapine. Conclusion Physostigmine, a tertiary acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, can be used to assist in the both the diagnosis and management of severe anticholinergic toxicity associated with an olanzapine overdose, which might be applicable to the antimuscarinic toxidrome associated with the ingestion of agents with significant anticholinergic activity.
A Case Using the Process Model of Multicultural Counseling Competence

This article presents a hypothetical counseling case that demonstrates the use of the process model of multicultural counseling competence. The counselor is an African American woman at a universit...
Digital era bullying: An examination of adolescent judgments about bystander intervention online

Abstract Adolescents are increasingly exposed to online bullying, yet little is known about how to promote bystander intervention in response to cyberbullying. This study examines the influence of personal, family, and societal factors on adolescents' moral judgments and expected bystander responses to cyberbullying with 6th (N = 425, Mageinyears = 11.31, SD = 0.62), and 9th (N = 403, Mageinyears = 14.31, SD = 0.52) grade public school students. Hierarchical regressions demonstrated that sympathy and family management were related to ratings of cyberbullying as less acceptable. Participants who reported experiencing more racial discrimination judged cyberbullying as more acceptable. Additionally higher levels of empathy, secure attachment, and family management were related to higher intentions to intervene. Our findings suggest that family, societal and personal factors are all relevant to adolescents' evaluations of and responses to cyberbullying. These findings can guide future anti-bullying interventions to encourage bystander intervention in online settings.
Determining Impact of Irrigation on Ground Water

Agriclture in arid and subarid regions comprising some 22% of the world's arable land, depends on supplemental irrigation. Irrigation eventually may lead to salinity problems and has led to the theory that a civilization cannot long endure when dependent on irrigated agriculture. However, effective planning and management could delay or perhaps avert the ultimate destruction of the irrigated system. It may be too late for an effective action if the symptoms of salinization have already begun. A simple inexpensive modeling procedure is described here which may be used to determine the long term effects of irrigation and agricultural practices on the system. Pauma subbasin in Southern California is used to demonstrate the application of the model.
TO END GERRYMANDERING: THE CANADIAN MODEL FOR REFORMING THE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES

In the 2012 Congressional elections, Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives carried 1.3 million more votes nationwide than Republican candidates did. Nevertheless, Republicans captured control of the House by a margin of 234 seats to 201. The undemocratic outcome of the House elections resulted directly from America’s system of redistricting and reapportionment. Partisan politics, not principles of good government, dictate the congressional redistricting process in the vast majority of states.Congressional apportionment law exacerbates the problem. In particular, the statutory limit on the size of the House of Representatives magnifies gerrymandering’s effects more than ever before. As the population gap between large and small states and urban and rural areas continues to increase, redistricting disparities will only worsen in the years ahead. Accordingly, this article proposes that Congress look to Canada as a model for making U.S. House elections more reflective of the electorate’s will. A nation strikingly similar to the United States in many important respects, Canada rejected partisan gerrymandering half a century ago. Adopting the Canadian approach would involve two significant reforms: first, the nationwide establishment of non-partisan independent redistricting commissions, and, second, the restoration of decennial increases in the total number of seats in the House of Representatives to reflect the growing population of the United States. This article explains the current law of Congressional redistricting and reapportionment, assesses the main critiques of the American system, analyzes the Parliamentary redistribution process in Canada, and proposes how the United States can apply the best features of the Canadian system to Congressional redistricting and reapportionment.
Ibn Khaldun: Life and Times

Acknowledgements Preface Map: Ibn Khaldun's Mediterranean Timeline 1. Historian meets History 2. Ibn Khaldun's Early Life 3. Ibn Khaldun the Statesman 4. Egypt 5. Ibn Khaldun's Method 6. Modernity 7. On being Ibn Khaldun Bibliography Index.