cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Temporal Course of Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer in the Rat Larynx

Abstract Objective: Polypeptide growth factors have important influences on wound-healing and scar tissue formation. Specific growth factors or their inhibitors may potentially decrease scar tissue formation and prevent subglottic stenosis. Gene transfer using recombinant adenovirus may be an ideal method to mediate endogenous production of growth factors to inhibit fibrosis. Study Design: The study incorporated adenovirus-mediated transduction of normal and stenotic rat larynges and histologic analysis of the sequential expression of a β-galactosidase marker gene over time. Setting: The study was conducted at the animal care facility of an academic children's hospital. Results: We report successful transduction in normal and injured rat larynx with peak expression of β-galactosidase at 2 days after transduction and almost complete disappearance by 7 days. There appeared to be an early inflammatory response to the viral injection, but at 7 and 14 days after injection (transduction) the uninjured rat larynges resumed a normal histologic appearance. All distant sites stained negative for β-galactosidase. Conclusion: Recombinant adenovirus-mediated gene transfer is feasible in the rat larynx with transient duration and limited toxicity. Significance: Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer has the potential to deliver growth factors that modulate wound healing and inflammation in the larynx by inhibiting fibrosis. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;126:281-9.)
Manifold-Kernels Comparison in MKPLS for Visual Speech Recognition

Speech recognition is a challenging problem. Due to the acoustic limitations, using visual information is essential for improving the recognition accuracy in real-life unconstraint situations. One common approach is to model the visual recognition as nonlinear optimization problem. Measuring the distances between visual units is essential for solving this problem. Embedding the visual units on a manifold and using manifold kernels is one way to measure these distances. This work is intended to evaluate the performance of several manifold kernels for solving the problem of visual speech recognition. We show the theory behind each kernel. We apply manifold kernel partial least squares framework to OuluVs and AvLetters databases, and show empirical comparison between all kernels. This framework provides convenient way to explore different kernels.
Design Optimization of Hybrid-Switch Soft-Switching Inverters Using Multiscale Electrothermal Simulation

A multiscale electrothermal simulation approach is presented to optimize the design of a hybrid switch soft-switching inverter using a library of dynamic electrothermal component models parameterized in terms of electrical, structural, and material properties. Individual device area, snubber capacitor, and gate drive timing are used to minimize the total loss of the soft-switching inverter module subject to the design constraints including total device area and minimum on-time consideration. The proposed multiscale electrothermal simulation approach allows for a large number of parametric studies involving multiple design variables to be considered, drastically reducing simulation time. The optimized design is then compared and contrasted with an already existing design from the Virginia Tech Freedom Car Project using the generation II module. It will be shown that the proposed approach improves the baseline design by 16% in loss and reduces the cooling requirements by 42%. Validation of the electrical and thermal device models against measured data is also provided.
Tumor Shrinkage Study in Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia Based on Designed Heating Protocols

Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia has attracted growing attentions recently due to its ability of confining nanoparticle-induced heating in targeted tumor region. Our recent studies have identified an injection strategy to achieve repeatable and controllable nanoparticle deposition patterns in PC3 tumors using microCT scans. Based on the injection strategy, simulation of temperature elevations in tumors is conducted to design heating protocols to induce irreversible thermal damage to the entire tumors. In this study, in vivo heating experiments are performed on PC3 tumors implanted on mice following the designed heating protocols. The tumors in the control group without heating triple their sizes over a period of eight weeks. The tumors in the heating groups are heated for either 25 minutes or 12 minutes, representing that the Arrhenius integral is equal to or larger than 4 or 1 in the entire tumors, respectively. The tumors in the heating group of 25 minutes disappear completely after the 3rd days, and the site maintains the disappearance for over eight weeks. The sizes of the tumors in the heating group of 12 minutes decrease in the first ten days, however, the tumors re-grow afterwards, and by the end of the 8th week, they are approximately 60% larger than their initial size. This study demonstrates the importance of imaging-based design for individualized treatment planning. The success of the designed heating protocol in complete damaging PC3 tumors validates the theoretical models used in planning the heating treatment in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Giving and Responding to Feedback through Visualisations in Design Critiques

AbstractDesigners develop skills and knowledge through experience and feedback – feedback from colleagues, clients, supervisors, users, stakeholders, or the success or failure of a solution and design instructors. However, the design coaches (instructors and industry clients) and design students must negotiate ambiguity in the feedback process. In this article, we investigate visualisation within a design critique setting, where the industrial design instructor and the students are navigating ambiguity while the instructor is providing feedback on the design work. Using a constitutive research approach, we investigate the relationships among visualisation, ambiguity and critique, where each of these components offers a lens into understanding how designers use the tensions within ambiguity and clarity to achieve designs that fulfil assignments or other purposes. As part of this process, we characterise differences between the ways the instructor and the student interact with the human and non-human agents...
Continuous Microwave-Assisted Gas–Liquid Segmented Flow Reactor for Controlled Nucleation and Growth of Nanocrystals

Hot-injection techniques are currently the state-of-the-art method for the synthesis of high-quality colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) but have typically been limited to small batch reactors. The nature of this method leads to local fluctuations in temperature and concentration where inhomogeneity due to mixing makes precise control of reaction conditions very challenging at a large scale. Therefore, development of methods to produce high-quality colloidal NCs with high-throughput is necessary for many technological applications. Herein, we report a high-quality and high-throughput NC synthesis method via a continuous microwave-assisted flow reactor where separation of nucleation and growth is demonstrated. A significant issue of microwave heating in a single-phase continuous flow microwave reactor is the deposition of in situ generated NCs on the inner wall of the reactor in the microwave zone. This deposited material leads to significantly enhanced microwave absorption and rapid heating and can result in spa...
‘Indian drum in the house’: A critical discourse analysis of an apology for Canadian residential schools and the public’s response

This article investigates the production and consumption of Canadian Prime Minister Harper’s 2008 apology to the victims of residential schools. The apology used contextual elements and linguistic devices to construct a particular reality of both the government’s role in residential schools and the nature of Canadian diversity. By comparing themes from Harper’s speech to responses on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s website, the article seeks to understand whether Canadians reaffirm or contest the prime minister’s message. The analysis reveals that although the majority felt the apology was appropriate and important, many contested the discourse that suggested that the attitudes that led to the schools have ‘no place’ in modern-day Canada. Instead the intercultural audience offered competing discourses of genocide and colonialism suggesting that Canada’s identity as it relates to its Aboriginal peoples is still a site of struggle.
The Tietze Extension Theorem and the Open Mapping Theorem

(1986). The Tietze Extension Theorem and the Open Mapping Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 93, No. 3, pp. 190-191.
Prevention of complications during electric hys teromyometomy uterus under hysteroscope

In this paper,the author summaries the prevention of complications during electric hysteromyometomy and nursing.The complications in clude air embolism,hyponatremia,perforation of uterus,electric burns.The prevent ive measures lowered significantly the occurrence of complications,improved nurs ing quality at operation under hysteroscope and enhanced rescue ability at first aid and awareness of severe diseases.
Heilongjiang Province Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Financing Pattern Innovation Research

Heilongjiang provincial small and medium-sized enterprises have nine financing patterns. They are very difficult in receiving money, due to high non-performing loans so banks reluctant to lend. Enterprises should innovate the financing pattern. Government and banks should cooperate to innovate financial market system, play insurance intermediation function of capital to breakthrough finance bottleneck.
High-resolution electrocardiography.

Since the advent of computer-based electrocardiographic systems, it was recognized that these devices could add many features to analyze the electrocardiogram (ECG) that were beyond an individual's ability in making standard measurements from the paper version of the 12-lead ECG. These features have included the development of noise reduction techniques, such as signal averaging, and spectral measurements of frequency content using Fourier analysis. Both of these methods reveal electrocardiographic features that cannot be normally visualized or hand measured. Thus the field of high-resolution electrocardiography is defined as recording cardiac signals from the body surface that are not visible or apparent from the standard ECG. It most often implies a computer-based approach for processing the ECG. The signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) is the most common form of the high-resolution ECG but should be considered as only one approach for producing a high-resolution ECG.
Anticipation in Complex Systems: Potential Implications for Improving Safety and Quality in Healthcare

The theoretical biologist, Robert Rosen, proposed that a capacity for anticipatory change is a fundamental characteristic of most complex systems, including all living systems. As defined in his Anticipatory Systems: Philosophic, Mathematic, and Methodological Foundations, an anticipatory system contains “a predictive model of itself and/or its environment, which allows it to change state at an instant in accord with the model’s prediction pertaining to a later instant”. In Rosen’s view, two key features which differentiate anticipatory complex systems from “simple” mechanistic systems are: (1) no single formal model or finite set of models are capable of capturing all of the information in a complex system, and (2) anticipatory complex systems are capable of change in the present based on their imperfect models of the future. Change in simple, mechanistic systems occurs only due to forces acting iteratively on the system’s current state, while change in anticipatory complex systems occurs through both iterative state transitions and from the system’s capacity to respond to anticipatory models. If Rosen’s anticipatory theory of complex systems is correct, implications for improving safety in healthcare organizations are likely to include the following: (1) Greater congruence between the models of the current situation and anticipatory models of future states among clinical team members, and among the clinical team, patient, and family increases the likelihood of attaining preferred outcomes; (2) Inputs from the anticipatory models of clinical team members, patients, and families may be useful for identifying and real time mitigation of some clinical situations in which there is an increased risk of a future serious adverse outcome; (3) Significantly discrepant present-state or anticipatory mental models between clinical team members or between team and patients/families may indicate an increased risk for an adverse outcome; (4) Clinical teams that recognize that disagreements regarding the appropriate care of a patient may indicate an increased risk of an adverse outcome may be able to create better shared present-state and anticipatory mental modes which could help mitigate future risks; and (5) Optimal team functioning should encourage anticipatory inputs from all clinical team members and should include encourage identifying significantly discrepant current state and anticipatory models among clinical team members and between clinical team and patients/families, especially in high-risk situations.
What has light ever done for chemistry

Ksenija Glusac takes us on a journey through some of the most important light-driven reactions upon which nature and chemists rely.
Quantum coherence in superlattices under electric fields

Using optical spectroscopy in GaAs/GaAlAs superlattices under electric fields, we provided what we believe to be the first experimental demonstration of the formation of the Stark ladder and a direct observation of the coherence of the superlattice electronic wave functions.1
Non-Linear Effects of Information Systems Innovation

This study investigates the impact of innovation on users of an evolving Information Systems (IS) product. Building on two different streams of research, Levitts (1980) Total Product Concept and the Three Factor theory (Kano. 1984) this study identifies three types of innovation: Basic, Expected and Augmented. The impact of introducing these innovations on user satisfaction was found to be dependent on the level of user satisfaction (performance) before the innovations were introduced and the type of innovation. Basic innovations impacted user satisfaction positively when the current level of performance of the IS product was low but not when the current level of performance was high. Expected and Augmented innovations impacted user satisfaction when the current level of performance was high but not when the current level of performance was low. This finding has interesting implications for practice and future research.
The Influence of Positive and Negative Affectivity on Attitude Change Toward Organizations

This study tests hypothesized differences in pre-post (product-harm) crisis attitude change toward an organization for positively and negatively oriented individuals. Contrary to theoretical predictions, there was not a strong differential attitude change between positively and negatively oriented individuals. The results suggest a possible boundary condition for the influence of positive and negative affectivity on attitude change. Two explanations are offered for these findings: (1) that the vividness of the situation might override affectivity and (2) that affectivity might not be a strong predictor of attitude change for nonpersonalized attitudes.
A review of measles control in Kenya, with focus on recent innovations

Despite the existence of a highly effective measles vaccine and the decrease in worldwide deaths from measles by more than 79% from the 2000 baseline levels, measles today remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths in the world. The African region is a key player in the global fight against measles. Africa has made tremendous progress in its effort to immunize children and to control the disease, increasing its regional measles vaccination coverage from 56% in 2001 to 85% in 2010. The Republic of Kenya has been a strong follower of the World Health Assembly and Measles Elimination 2020 resolutions, which aims to eliminate measles from the country. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Kenya has faced many challenges, but also aid, in the form of new innovations, in their fight against measles. In 2002, Kenya started its first SIA using A-D syringes, and from 2003-2005, GAVI funded injection safety support (INS) to Kenya, as an effort to scale-up safe injection in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, the Kenya introduced Measles-Rubella (MR) combined vaccine in its nationwide SIA campaign, after recognizing that rubella is a disease that must be controlled along with measles. In 2009 and 2012 SIAs, Red Cross volunteers conducted H2H visits to promote immunization as well as document information from the community with regards to immunization, including the current coverage, to campaign management levels. Case-based surveillance, using real-time PCR, measles-specific IgM detection and Epi-link were used to confirm and map measles infection during outbreaks. Alternative serosurveys such as Dried Blood Spot and Urine sample surveys were also tested in Kenya. In 2013 and 2016, two studies were also conducted in Kenya on the use of SMS reminder system for routine immunization. These studies, which showed SMS to significantly improve the vaccination coverage, paved way for use of SMS in a larger scale in Kenya.
A Practical Approach to Fixed-Asset Policy

The literature on capital investment management describes administrative procedures for preparing and implementing capital budgets, project authorization, and post-audits. By and large, this literature is concerned less with management of fixed assets at the firm level than with project-oriented decisions about fixed-asset investments. This paper therefore addresses both theoretical and practical issues of fixed asset management from the practical view point of a manager at the firm level.
Genetic modification of smoking-related colorectal cancer: Results from the Singapore Chinese Health Study

1902 Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) are colorectal carcinogens found in both cigarette smoke and certain types of charred meat. While a consistent association between cigarette smoking and colorectal carcinoma has been established, the role of GST polymorphisms as modifiers of this relationship remains unclear. Conflicting data on the role of GSTs in colorectal carcinogenesis may stem from the complex patterns of exposure to HAA from both diet and smoking among Western populations. In contrast, it has recently been shown that among the Singaporese there is limited HAA exposure through diet, while exposure to the HAA carcinogen 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC) through cigarette smoking remains high. Using this unique population with relatively simple HAA exposure we have assessed GST modification of smoking related colorectal cancer. There was a significant dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and colorectal carcinoma among those with an at-risk GST profile (p for trend
Sociology of Knowledge

The sociology of knowledge is the subfield of sociology devoted to the interplay between social conditions and ideas. The subfield has traced the many ways that social factors, such as military funding, public controversy, generational experience, and personal rivalry, have helped to shape the ideas that scholars and intellectuals produce. The entry describes the early development of the sociology of knowledge, with reference to Max Scheler, Karl Mannheim, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx, and more recent contributions from Robert K. Merton, the sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK), and science and technology studies (STS). Influential approaches to the sociology of intellectual life from the last few decades are surveyed. The potential for media and communication theory to inform the sociology of knowledge, and vice versa, is taken up in conclusion. Keywords: class (social); social constructivism; sociology of culture and media
Conservation of the endemic species of the Albertine Rift under future climate change

Abstract The Albertine Rift region of Africa is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, with more threatened and endemic vertebrates than elsewhere on the continent. Many of the endemic species are confined to montane forest or alpine areas. We assessed impacts of loss of habitat to agriculture and predicted impacts from niche modelling of climate change to the endemic species of the Albertine Rift. Modelling species distributions for 162 endemic terrestrial vertebrates and plants, we estimated the average percentage of habitat already lost to agriculture at 38% across all species. However, of the remaining suitable habitat the average percentage protected is currently 46%, greatly increased by the recent establishment of Itombwe, Kabobo and Ngandja Reserves in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo from 30%. Species ranges in 2080 were estimated using climate models and predicted to lead to an average loss of an additional 75% of remaining suitable habitat across all species. An estimated 34 endemic species were predicted to lose >90% of their current remaining suitable habitat. The percentage of the total suitable habitat protected in parks or reserves increases under future climate change to 56% because as ranges contract more of the remaining area occurs within existing protected areas. This indicates that the protected area coverage is reasonably well located for future climate change. Based on these data we estimate that 46% of the endemic species we assessed would qualify for threatened status on the global Red List.
Widespread and precise reprogramming of yeast protein-genome interactions in response to heat shock

Gene expression is controlled by a variety of proteins that interact with the genome. Their precise organization and mechanism of action at every promoter remains to be worked out. To better understand the physical interplay among genome-interacting proteins, we examined the temporal binding of a functionally diverse subset of these proteins: nucleosomes (H3), H2AZ (Htz1), SWR (Swr1), RSC (Rsc1, Rsc3, Rsc58, Rsc6, Rsc9, Sth1), SAGA (Spt3, Spt7, Ubp8, Sgf11), Hsf1, TFIID (Spt15/TBP and Taf1), TFIIB (Sua7), TFIIH (Ssl2), FACT (Spt16), Pol II (Rpb3), and Pol II carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) phosphorylation at serines 2, 5, and 7. They were examined under normal and acute heat shock conditions, using the ultrahigh resolution genome-wide ChIP-exo assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Our findings reveal a precise positional organization of proteins bound at most genes, some of which rapidly reorganize within minutes of heat shock. This includes more precise positional transitions of Pol II CTD phosphorylation along the 5' ends of genes than previously seen. Reorganization upon heat shock includes colocalization of SAGA with promoter-bound Hsf1, a change in RSC subunit enrichment from gene bodies to promoters, and Pol II accumulation within promoter/+1 nucleosome regions. Most of these events are widespread and not necessarily coupled to changes in gene expression. Together, these findings reveal protein-genome interactions that are robustly reprogrammed in precise and uniform ways far beyond what is elicited by changes in gene expression.
Laser Lateral Crystallization of Thin Au and Cu Films on SiO 2

Rapid lateral solidification via excimer laser melt processing is demonstrated in 200 nm thick pure Cu and Au films, encapsulated above and below by amorphous SiO2. Mask projection irradiation is used to selectively melt lines 3 to 30 m wide in the metal films, with lateral solidification proceeding transversely from the edge to the middle of the line. Encapsulation with the SiO2 overlayer and control of the fluence are found to be crucial parameters necessary to prevent dewetting while the films are molten. Transmission electron microscopy reveals large columnar grains with twin structures and other defects typical of rapid solidification.
Cultural Understandings of Mental health: The Role of Language and Ethnic Identity

Mexican Americans interviewed in Spanish (vs. English) tend to have worse self-rated health despite their low morbidity and mortality. This project tests whether this language-of-interview effect also exists in the realm of mental health, and whether this pattern is due to Spanish-language interviewees’ lower acculturation to the United States. Analyses rely on secondary data from 865 Mexican Americans from the National Latino and Asian Americans Study. Multinomial logistic regressions are conducted to test whether the language of the interview is associated with the dissonance between self-rated mental health (SRMH) and diagnostic criteria for any of the most common psychiatric disorders. Acculturation measures are added to the model to explore its role. Results show that respondents interviewed in Spanish have higher risk of worse SRMH despite not having psychiatric disorders. Acculturation measures explain the association between interview language and SRMH without psychiatric disorders. Specifically, language proficiency and ethnic identity (acculturation measures) appear to be the main drivers of this change. Consistent with the physical health literature, Spanish-language interviewees tend to have worse SRMH without psychiatric disorders (dissonant outcomes), compared to English-language interviewees. Results also suggest that lower acculturation to the United States among Spanish-language interviewees explains these patterns. Research on the relationship between acculturation measures and understandings of mental health among Mexican Americans can provide insights about their help-seeking behaviors and treatment. Implications for other cases of international migration are also discussed.
Detection of inorganic phosphor in environmental water samples using a lanthanide and nanoparticle chemosensor based on Fӧrster resonance energy transfer.

Abstract A novel chemosensor is presented for the detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in environmental water samples. The sensing solution is comprised of terbium (Tb3+) chelated to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Upon mixing, Tb-EDTA and Au NPs undergo Fӧrster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in which the luminescence from the lanthanide ion is quenched. Upon the addition of Pi, Au NPs aggregate and precipitate out of solution. The aggregation of Au NPs results in the restoration of the Tb-EDTA luminescence signal, which correlates linearly to the Pi concentration in the matrix of analysis. The limit of detection (LOD) of the luminescence sensor (83 ng·mL−1) is within the range of LODs previously reported for on-site monitoring of Pi. Quantitative analysis carried out via the multiple standard additions method provides accurate determination of Pi concentrations in heavily contaminated environmental waters.
Community at a Distance: Employing a Community of Practice Framework in Online Learning for Rural Students.

Library and information science education today must prepare future professionals to leverage various technologies and develop professional networks that will propel them into future careers. Incre...
Emergent Reversal of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Permitting Neurosurgical Intervention for Nonhemorrhagic Pathology

Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are becoming the medication of choice for the management of venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation because of simplified dosing, a more predictive pharmacokinetic profile, and better clinical outcomes when compared with traditional vitamin K antagonists. Recently, reversal agents for DOACs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in managing life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding; however, for acute nonhemorrhagic conditions requiring surgical intervention, such as acute hydrocephalus requiring ventriculostomy, there is little evidence to help guide appropriate management for patients on DOACs. Case Description We report the use of andexanet alfa to counteract rivaroxaban treatment in a 28-year-old woman who developed herniation syndrome and acute hydrocephalus from a cerebellar tumor. Conclusions We describe how appropriate timing of administration of the DOAC reversal agent may permit urgent neurosurgical intervention.
Exchange rate volatility and Turkey–EU commodity trade: an asymmetry analysis

Previous studies that assessed the impact of exchange rate volatility on Turkey’s trade flows, assumed that the effects are symmetric. We change that assumption by assessing the possibility of asymmetric effects of the real lira-euro GARCH-based volatility on trade flows of 62 2-digit industries that trade between Turkey and EU. Like previous research when we assumed symmetric effects and estimated a linear model for each industry, we found short-run effects of volatility on 26 Turkish exporting industries to EU and on 40 EU exporting industries to Turkey. These short-run effects lasted into the long run only in 11 Turkish and 19 EU exporting industries. However, when we estimated a nonlinear model, we found short-run asymmetric effects of volatility on 38 Turkish and 49 EU exporting industries. Short-run asymmetric effects translated into long-run asymmetric effects in 19 industries in both groups.
Utilization of Resources by Patients Who Are Morbid and Super Obese Admitted to a Tertiary Care Center.

OBJECTIVES Data regarding the characteristics of patients who are morbidly and super obese, and the resources they use in nonbariatric hospital settings are limited. The aims of our study were to explore the frequency of inpatient admissions of patients who are morbid (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m) and super obese (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m), their specific characteristics, and to identify their utilization of hospital services and resources, 30-day readmission rates, safe patient handling equipment, and patient clinical outcomes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients hospitalized at our institution (n = 1670) who are morbidly obese or super obese. We collected and compared data regarding the characteristics of patients, the services and resources used, the use of any special handling equipment, and patient clinical outcomes. RESULTS After accounting for confounding variables, wound care and occupational therapy services were more likely to be required for the patients who are super obese (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49, P = 0.04) than for those who are morbidly obese (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, P = 0.02). Use of safe patient handling devices was twice as likely for the super obese group (OR = 2.09, P < 0.01). There was no difference in mortality rates between the two patient groups (P = 0.81); patients who are super obese had higher odds of prolonged hospital stay by 32% (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS This study provides an understanding of the characteristics of patients with BMI of 40 kg/m or greater who are admitted to the hospital, the resources and services use, and their clinical outcomes. There is also a need to develop an organizational protocol to ensure safe handling using the right devices and activation of appropriate consult services.
Management of Patient with Acromegaly

A 49-year-old man presents for endonasal transphenoidal resection of a pituitary mass. His PMHx is significant for acromegaly, hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and C3–5 cervical spine stenosis. He is 72″ and 102 kg with a Grade 4 Mallampati score and an otherwise reassuring airway and physical exam. The patient reports having a good exercise tolerance.
Evaluating The Believability of Sequential Arguments

Earlier research points out that sequential causal arguments judged as technically correct may still be unpersuasive. The current research examines a possible reason for this: the framework an indi...
Entrenchment: effects of multiple red herrings on memory blocks in word fragment completion.

Two experiments examined blocking and entrenchment using a word fragment completion task. After incidental priming tasks in which varying numbers of red herring stimuli (i.e., wrong answers to subs...
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists for Hypertension Management in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: BLOCK-CKD Trial.

Spironolactone, a steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, is recommended as add-on therapy for treatment-resistant/uncontrolled hypertension. However, caution is advised in patients with a...
The problem of perception and the no-miracles principle

The problem of perception is the problem of explaining how perceptual knowledge is possible. The skeptic has a simple solution: it is not possible. I analyze the weaknesses of one type of skeptical reasoning by making explicit a dynamic (or diachronic) epistemic principle from dynamic epistemic logic that is implicitly used in debating the problem, with the aim of offering a novel diagnosis to this skeptical argument. I argue (i) that prominent modest foundationalist responses to perceptual skepticism can be understood as rejecting the dynamic assumption made by the skeptic, (ii) that there are independent reasons to doubt the truth of such a principle in the context of skeptical reasoning, and (iii) that making the dynamic principle explicit allows for a better understanding of at least one objection to modest foundationalism.
Skin tapes and tissue adhesive vs. either method alone for laceration repair in a porcine model.

Abstract Study objective To determine whether the combination of skin tapes and tissue adhesive is superior to either method alone for laceration repair. Methods This was a prospective, longitudinal experiment on six anesthetized swine. Thirty-six full-thickness linear wounds were created using a metal template, then closed using one of three methods: skin tapes over benzoin, tissue adhesive, or a combination of both. The study was done in two parts. Group 1 (immediate excision) animals were euthanized at day zero for skin excision and tensile strength testing following wound repair. Group 2 (delayed excision) had initial wound repair; animals were euthanized at day 35 for skin excision and tensile strength testing. Results In Group 1, the combination of skin tapes and tissue adhesive provided the strongest immediate wound closure. Average mean force for disruption immediately after wound repair was 19.9 lbs. for the tapes and tissue adhesive group compared to 9.6 lbs. for adhesive alone and 8.9 lbs. for tapes alone. The difference in mean force for combination repair vs. tapes alone was 10.3 lbs. (95% CI 4.1, 16.7), and combination vs. adhesive alone was 10.9 lbs. (95% CI 4.7, 17.3). In Group 2, the mean force required for laceration disruption for those repaired with both tape and tissue adhesive was 188.9 lbs. The mean force until wound disruption for tape only was 165.6 lbs., and the mean force until wound disruption for tissue adhesive alone was 118.9 lbs. The difference in mean force required for wound disruption for those repaired with adhesive alone vs. combination repair is 66.5 lbs. (95% CI 21.2, 111.9). The difference in mean force required for wound disruption between the other two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the combination of skin tapes and tissue adhesive provides superior immediate wound closure strength to either of these methods alone in a porcine model.
Identification of Most Relevant Breast Cancer miRNA using Machine Learning Algorithms

Day by day, biological data is increasing and researchers face various problems to extract informative data from a large scale of dataset. Cancer has been identified as most common and unexpected disease worldwide. In our proposed model, we build a combined Machine Learning model using some efficient feature selection algorithm and then analyses it through ANN and high performance classification algorithms. We also implement ensemble methods for building our model more accurate. For verifying our model we implement breast cancer miRNA data. Chi Squared Test gives the minimum relevant features where we get 99.23% accuracy from SVM. We use 10 fold cross validation to test the dataset. The result is promising and encouraging. With the processing of the data, our system model able to identify most relevant features responsible for breast cancer.
Blockade of alcohol excessive and “relapse” drinking in male mice by pharmacological cryptochrome (CRY) activation

Metabolic dysfunction, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders are associated with disruptions in circadian rhythm and circadian clock gene machinery. While the effects of alcohol on several core components of the clock genes have been described in rodent models, pharmacological activation or inhibition of clock gene functions has not been studied on alcohol drinking behaviors. We investigated whether cryptochrome (CRY1/2) activator KL001 altered alcohol intake in mice in excessive and relapse-like alcohol drinking models. Mice, subjected to 3 weeks of chronic intermittent alcohol drinking (IAD) (two-bottle choice, 24-h access every other day) developed excessive alcohol intake and high preference. We evaluated the pharmacological effects of KL001 after either 1-day acute withdrawal from IAD or 1-week chronic withdrawal using the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) model. Single pretreatment with KL001 at 1–4 mg kg−1 reduced alcohol intake and preference after acute withdrawal in a dose-related manner. The effect of KL001 on reducing excessive alcohol consumption seems alcohol specific, as the compound does not alter sucrose (caloric reinforcer) or saccharin (noncaloric reinforcer) consumption in mice. Both single- and multiple-dosing regimens with an effective dose of KL001 (4 mg kg−1) prevented the ADE after chronic withdrawal, with no tolerance development after the multi-dosing regimen. Pretreatment with KL001 (a CRY1/2 activator) reduces excessive and “relapse” alcohol drinking in mice. Our in vivo results with a CRY activator suggest a possible novel target for alcohol treatment intervention.
Inhibition of T-Type Voltage Sensitive Calcium Channel Reduces Load-Induced OA in Mice and Suppresses the Catabolic Effect of Bone Mechanical Stress on Chondrocytes

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) regulate cellular calcium influx, one of the earliest responses to mechanical stimulation in osteoblasts. Here, we postulate that T-type VSCCs play an essential role in bone mechanical response to load and participate in events leading to the pathology of load-induced OA. Repetitive mechanical insult was used to induce OA in Cav3.2 T-VSCC null and wild-type control mouse knees. Osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) and chondrocytes were treated with a selective T-VSCC inhibitor and subjected to fluid shear stress to determine how blocking of T-VSCCs alters the expression profile of each cell type upon mechanical stimulation. Conditioned-media (CM) obtained from static and sheared MC3T3-E1 was used to assess the effect of osteoblast-derived factors on the chondrocyte phenotype. T-VSCC null knees exhibited significantly lower focal articular cartilage damage than age-matched controls. In vitro inhibition of T-VSCC significantly reduced the expression of both early and late mechanoresponsive genes in osteoblasts but had no effect on gene expression in chondrocytes. Furthermore, treatment of chondrocytes with CM obtained from sheared osteoblasts induced expression of markers of hypertrophy in chondrocytes and this was nearly abolished when osteoblasts were pre-treated with the T-VSCC-specific inhibitor. These results indicate that T-VSCC plays a role in signaling events associated with induction of OA and is essential to the release of osteoblast-derived factors that promote an early OA phenotype in chondrocytes. Further, these findings suggest that local inhibition of T-VSCC may serve as a therapy for blocking load-induced bone formation that results in cartilage degeneration.
On randomly interleaved memories

The authors analyze and identify a basic deficiency of a class of random interleaving schemes (LINEAR), which use linear transformation techniques to achieve randomization. Since all bank addresses generated by these methods are random, constrained only by the bijective property, more conflicts tend to occur than in the more common MODULO method. Also LINEAR lacks the capability of MODULO to move several conflicting vector streams to a conflict-free steady state. To correct these deficiencies, a new class of random interleaving schemes called RANDOM-H that hash only the higher-order address bits is proposed. Unlike LINEAR, the RANDOM-H schemes randomize selectively, while retaining some of the advantages of MODULO. It is shown that RANDOM-H has a higher probability of accessing a vector without conflict than LINEAR. An an example of RANDOM-H, a method called MASH is presented that combines module interleaving with a multiplicative hashing function for randomization.
Summary: Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance of the Skin

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health crisis that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely persist beyond it. While there were improvements in infection-related deaths during the twentieth century due to public health developments, vaccines, and antimicrobials, this progress is now at risk of being lost. The growth of AMR and recent emergence of novel infectious diseases have been exacerbated by antimicrobial overuse in humans, livestock, and agriculture. The possible overuse of antimicrobials due to the COVID-19 pandemic is also a cause for concern. Dermatologists, in particular, treat many skin conditions that warrant the utilization of antimicrobials. Consequently, dermatologists should be aware of local resistance development patterns and lower the risk of AMR by using directed therapy for the appropriate microbe, adjusting drug dosages to an effective level, prescribing antimicrobials judiciously, and providing education on AMR. It is imperative that dermatologists have an understanding of emerging infectious diseases and resistance development to effectively treat patients and combat AMR that has emerged in recent years.
The effects of active and non-active virtual reality games on experimentally induced pain in young, healthy adults

Separately, both physical activity and virtual reality (VR) have the ability to attenuate pain sensitivity in healthy adults. What is not known is whether VR combined with physical activity could have a greater pain reducing effect compared to non-active VR distraction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether playing active VR games would have a greater hypoalgesic effect than non-active VR games. Participants (n=36) played three different active VR games (Beat Saber, Holopoint, and Hot Squat) and one non-active VR game (Relax Walk VR) for 15 minutes on four different visits. During gameplay, participants wore accelerometers on the thigh, wrist, and waist to measure the intensity and quantity of movement. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were measured on the forearm and thigh toward the beginning of the session (familiarization PPT's), immediately prior to gameplay (pretest), and immediately following each gaming bout (posttest). Results showed no significant changes in PPT's from the familiarization PPT trials to the pretest PPT trials. However, the repeated measures ANOVA revealed an overall hypoalgesic effect of the VR games on the forearm, regardless of game type. Results also showed a significant hypoalgesic effect on the thigh following VR gameplay for Hot Squat, Holopoint, and Relax Walk VR. The magnitude of pain reduction was significantly greater during Hot Squat compared to the other games. Analysis of the accelerometer data indicated that Hot Squat elicited greater whole-body and lower body moderate to vigorous physical activity compared to the other games. In conclusion, VR gameplay exerted a hypoalgesic effect on experimental pressure pain. Additionally, the data provided evidence of a potential additive hypoalgesic effect of VR and whole-body physical activity on pressure pain sensitivity.
Cost Analysis of Intravitreal Aflibercept vs Vitrectomy With Panretinal Photocoagulation for Vitreous Hemorrhage From Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

This economic evaluation study compares the costs of intravitreal injections of aflibercept, 2 mg, vs pars plana vitrectomy plus panretinal photocoagulation for nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Backward Design of Chemistry Laboratories: A Primer

Backward Design is a well-known method for curricular development in which an instructor first identifies desired learning ends and then “works backwards” to determine the necessary means to these ends. Unfortunately, its use in the design of undergraduate chemistry curricular components is not necessarily widespread. This paper will provide a primer on how to use Backward Design to develop chemistry laboratory curricula including learning objectives that go beyond chemistry content. In addition to the foundational steps of Backward Design, curricular considerations will be discussed that address aspects of teaching and learning that are unique to the field of chemistry and facilitate a more inclusive, scaffolded, and intentional curriculum. A “Backward Design of Chemistry Laboratories Quick Guide” is provided in the Supporting Information for this paper to assist faculty in the use of the Backward Design curriculum development method.
Chemoprevention by 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones through induction of NQO1 and other phase 2 enzymes.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on chemoprevention by 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones through induction of NQO1 and other phase 2 enzymes. Cancer chemoprotection can be achieved by diverse classes of molecules with different biological effects including anti-mutagenic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. One effective strategy of chemoprevention is the modulation of the metabolism of carcinogenic chemicals. Altered biotransformation of carcinogens can result in decreased activation of procarcinogens to reactive intermediates and enhanced elimination of reactive intermediates from the body. The broad-based protective effects of dithiolethiones have been largely associated with the induction of a battery of genes that encode phase 2 and antioxidant enzymes involved in the detoxification of exogenous and endogenous carcinogens. Induction of NQO1 by chemopreventive dithiolethiones and a role of NRF2 in the induction of NQO1 in mice are explained in this chapter. An overview of NQO1 enzyme activity following oltipraz treatment in wild-type and nrf2-knockout mic is presented. Microarray analysis of dithiolethione-inducible genes in mouse liver and effect of nrf2 genotype is explained in the chapter. Cytotoxicity by menadione in MEF cells is also explained in the chapter.
Empirical calculations : Pertaining to the optically active aromatic chromophore in rigid systems

Abstract An empirical approach to the calculation of ORD and CD curves of the Amaryllis alkaloids crinine and crinane is presented. Utilization of UV and ORD data allows calculation of CD maxima which afford insight into the degree of overlap of ORD “tails”. The calculated A1g → B2u transition of these compounds allows the contribution of the allylic moiety to be evaluated. The amplitude and sign of the Cotton effects due to functional groups affording transitions which cannot be directly observed can be estimated from these calculations. These can be correlated with stereochemistry.