cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5031: R-spondin potentiates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in Ewing sarcoma cells.

Proper regulation of Wnt signaling is highly context-dependent and critical for growth and cellular maintenance. It is well-established that dysregulation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway contributes to the development and progression of numerous malignancies. Despite this, there has been little evidence to support a role for canonical Wnt signaling in Ewing sarcoma (ES) pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that when members of the leucine-rich G-protein coupled receptor (LGR) family, namely LGR4 and LGR5, are bound by their ligands, R-spondins, they potentiate Wnt/β-catenin activity. Importantly, recent studies from our lab have shown that some ES tumors and cell lines express high levels of LGR5. In addition, R-spondin is highly expressed in the developing bone, which is the primary site of ES in children. Since ES cells do not exhibit canonical Wnt/β-catenin activity in standard culture conditions, we hypothesized that cues from the tumor microenvironment may be required for activation of this pathway. In particular, we hypothesized that R-spondins would potentiate Wnt activity in LGR-expressing ES cells. To test this hypothesis, ES cells were cultured in the presence of WNT3A and/or R-spondin 2 (Rspo2). Immunocytochemistry was used to determine β-catenin nuclear localization, and Wnt transcriptional activity was determined by flow cytometry and luciferase activity using cell lines transduced with lentiviral 7xTCF-GFP and 7xTCF-luciferase reporters, respectively. qRT-PCR was used to confirm transcription of the Wnt target gene AXIN2. Our results show that exogenous WNT3A induces β-catenin nuclear localization in ES cells and is associated with induction of TCF-mediated transcriptional activity and AXIN2 expression. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin activation is potentiated in the presence of Rspo2, and ES cells lines with the highest expression of LGRs show the strongest potentiation. Interestingly, however, exogenous WNT3A and Rspo2 did not induce Wnt activity in all cells. Together these data confirm that in the presence of exogenous ligand, Wnt/β-catenin signaling can be robustly activated in a subpopulation of ES cells and that signaling is potently enhanced in the presence of Rspo2 and LGRs. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of R-spondins influencing Wnt activity in a non-epithelial cancer. These studies support the concept that R-spondin expression in the tumor microenvironment may contribute to ES pathogenesis by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Citation Format: Elisabeth A. Pedersen, Christopher A. Scannell, Elizabeth R. Lawlor. R-spondin potentiates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in Ewing sarcoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5031. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5031
Feasibility and outcome of re-irradiation in the treatment of multiply recurrent pituitary adenomas

This study evaluates the toxicity and outcomes of re-irradiation to the sella for pituitary adenomas. Patients diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma and treated with two or more courses of radiation treatment (RT) to the sella were retrospectively analyzed for: initial diagnosis, including histological type and functional status; RT modality, technique, dose, and fractionation; treatment with surgery, endocrine agents, and chemotherapy; toxicity of RT including radiation-induced optic neuropathy, radionecrosis, and radiation-induced neoplasms; and outcomes including local control, distant metastasis, biochemical control of functional tumors, and vital status at last follow-up. We identified 15 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (n = 6), Cushing’s disease (CD) (n = 5), acromegaly (n = 3), and prolactinoma (n = 1). Initial RT was delivered using opposed lateral fields in 8 (53 %), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in 4 (27 %), fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) in 1 (6.7 %), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in 2. The median dose was 49.5 Gy for fractionated RT and 15–25 Gy for SRS. Re-irradiation was performed a median of 5.8 years after initial RT, and delivered using lateral opposed beams (n = 1), IMRT (n = 4), linear-accelerator based SRS (n = 3), FSRT (n = 3), gamma knife surgery (n = 2), and yttrium-90 brachytherapy (n = 1). The median dose of re-irradiation was 45 Gy (range 27.9–54 Gy) for fractionated RT and 18 Gy for SRS. Radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RION) was observed in 2 (13.3 %) patients, 6 months and 14 years after re-irradiation; the 5-year rate of RION was 9 %. Temporal lobe necrosis (TLN) occurred in two patients (13.3 %), both of whom had received SRS. The 2- and 5-year rates of TLN were 10 and 28 %. Actuarial local control rates at 2 and 5 years were 80 and 58 %, respectively. Biochemical remission occurred in one of three patients with CD. Four patients (27 %) ultimately developed pituitary carcinoma. Re-irradiation is a feasible treatment option for local control in patients with recalcitrant pituitary adenomas, with acceptable rates of RION and TLN given the lack of options that may be available otherwise. Re-irradiation, however, did not control hormonal hypersecretion.
Improving Local Search with Open Geographic Data

Local search helps users find certain types of business units (restaurant, gas stations, hospitals, etc.) in the surrounding area. However, some merchants might not have much online content (e.g. customer reviews, business descriptions, opening hours, telephone numbers, etc.). This can pose a problem for traditional local search algorithms such as vector space based approaches. With this difficulty in mind, in this paper we present an approach to local search that incorporates geographic open data. Using the publicly available {\em Yelp} dataset we are able to uncover patterns that link geographic features and user preferences. From this, we propose a model to infer user preferences that integrates geographic parameters. Through this model and estimation of user preference, we develop a new framework for ``local'' (in the sense of geography) search that offsets the absence of contexts regarding physical business units. Our initial analysis points to the meaningful integration of open geographic data in local search and points out several directions for further research.
Enhanced Ionic Conductivity and Power Generation Using Ion-Exchange Resin Beads in a Reverse-Electrodialysis Stack

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising technique for harvesting energy by mixing seawater with river water. The energy production is usually limited by ionic conductivity in dilute compartments of a RED system. Novel tests were conducted in this research, which used ion-exchange resin beads (IERB) to replace nonconductive spacer fabrics in RED compartments with dilute NaCl solution in a modified stack containing Fumasep FKS and Fumasep FAS membranes. We compared the conductivity of an IERB packed bed with that of an inert glass-beads-packed bed as a control to confirm IERB’s effectiveness. When applied in a RED system, IERB decreased the stack resistance by up to 40%. The maximum gross power density improved by 83% in the RED stack compared to that in a regular RED stack at 1.3 cm/s average linear flow velocity. IERB-filled stack resistance was modeled. The model results fit well with experimental data, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the new approach presented here. The net power density is...
Detection and clinical significance of rearrangements of MLL gene and its fusion gene in leukemia

Objective:To study the detection and clinical significance of the rearrangements of MLL gene and its fusion gene in leukemia.Method:Rearrangements of MLL gene of 70 leukemia patients were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) and 6 common MLL fusion genes were detected by nested RT-PCR.Result:9 of 70 leukemic patients were found with rearrangements of MLL gene,the incidence of which was 12.86%.5 of 9 patients were diagnosed as B-ALL.3 patients were diagnosed as AML-M5,1 patient was diagnosed as JMML.Among 5 B-ALL patients,2 patients were confirmed to express MLL/ENL fusion gene,1 patient was confirmed to express MLL/AF4 fusion gene,the other 2 patients did not express the fusion genes.Among 3 AML-M5 patients,2 patients were confirmed to express MLL/MF9 fusion gene,the other 1 patient did not express the fusion gene.The fusion gene of 1 JMML patient with rearrangements of MLL gene was MLL/ENL.Conclusion:Nested RT-PCR is a convenient and effective method to detect the fusion genes resulting from rearrangements of MLL gene.The rearrangements of MLL gene were found in B-ALL,AML-M5 and JMML.It indicates a poor prognosis.
Anesthesia in cosmetic surgery.

Despite its potential safety, the use of local anesthesia has definite risks, many of them avoidable with proper technique and monitoring. Problem areas are excessive amounts of premedication, excessive administration of epinephrine, overadministration of “caine” derivatives, and hypoxia.
Mating Systems, A Brief History of

The term mating system refers to the way that individuals are grouped in relation to mating and the way in which matings are achieved through time in a population. Mating dynamics are highly diverse and have led to a range of mating systems. Biologists aim to categorize and understand such diversity. In this review, the way in which mating systems are categorized and the numerous factors that influence mating systems, including parental care, sex ratios, sexual selection, sex differences, mate availability, and resource availability are discussed.
The chiaroscuro of accountability in the second edition of the Core Competencies for Healthcare Ethics Consultation

"Chiaroscuro" is a art technique that makes use of light and shade to suggest depth and solidity on a flat surface. I argue that the standards regarding accountability in the second edition of the Core Competencies for Healthcare Ethics Consultation (CC2), are chiaroscuro, because, despite the offered lists of competencies, it is very difficult to imagine how consultants might be held accountable to such standards. It is not clear to which of the many suggested standards a consultant should be held accountable, and even if one stipulates that only the tabulated competencies are meant as standards, the vague wording makes it hard to know how a consultant might fail to meet the standards or perform excellently. In addition, because terms such as "ethics" and "ethical" are not defined in the document, we are left with no way to determine whether consultants have made appropriate recommendations.The document is useful as a point of discussion, but not yet ready to serve as a tool for holding practitioners accountable.
Seeing, Knowing, Feeling: Conveying Truth and Emotion through Images

Visual evidence was crucial for the transitional process in Peru. The decade-long government of Alberto Fujimori ended after a media scandal involving the release of videos in which Vladimiro Montesinos, Fujimori’s chief advisor, was seen bribing politicians, judges, generals, businessmen, and owners of TV stations.1 The revelation of the extent and depth of the government’s corruption and its direct involvement in human rights violations led to the fall of Fujimori and Montesinos and to the formation of an interim government presided by Valentin Paniagua.
Dermocystidium sp. Infection in Blue Ridge Sculpin Captured in Maryland

Raised pale cysts were observed on Blue Ridge Sculpin Cottus caeruleomentum during stream fish community surveys in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland. When examined histologically, preserved sculpin exhibited multiple cysts containing spherical endospores with a refractile central body characteristic of Dermocystidium spp. Cysts were not observed on the gills or internally. The portion of the watershed in which affected sculpin were observed contained lower than expected numbers of sculpin, raising concerns about the population effects of this infection. A nearby stream lacked sculpin even though they are common in this region, further suggesting the possibility of regional effects. This is the first report of a Dermocystidium infecting any fish species in the eastern United States. Received October 16, 2015; accepted February 14, 2016.
Stability Analysis of Switched Linear Systems Defined by Regular Languages

In this work, we study the stability of an autonomous discrete-time linear switched system whose switching sequences are generated by a Muller automaton. This system arises in various engineering problems such as distributed communication and automotive engine control. The asymptotic stability of this system, referred to as regular asymptotic stability (RAS), generalizes two well-known definitions of stability of autonomous discrete-time linear switched systems, namely absolute asymptotic stability (AAS) and shuffle asymptotic stability (SAS). We also extend these stability definitions to robust versions. We show that absolute asymptotic stability, robust absolute asymptotic stability and robust shuffle asymptotic stability are equivalent to exponential stability. In addition, by using the Kronecker product, we prove that a robust regular asymptotic stability problem is equivalent to the conjunction of several robust absolute asymptotic stability problems.
The clinical spectrum and natural history of pure akinesia with gait freezing.

Gait freezing as a presenting and relatively restricted condition is uncommon but a distinctive disorder. This entity was initially defined as “pure akinesia with gait freezing”, and later a neuropathological substrate of progressive supranuclear palsy has been recognized. Limited studies have reported the clinical evolution after presentation, which is important for patient counseling. The objective of this study was to assess the demographic and clinical features, treatment-response, neuroimaging, and evolution of pure akinesia with gait freezing. A retrospective review of patients with this phenotype as previously defined was performed. Patients included had no or minimal limb rigidity and/or bradykinesia and no resting tremor, and all underwent neuroimaging of the brain after onset. Inclusion criteria were met by 30 patients, who were followed up to 21 years after symptom onset. During their course, 28 patients had falls (93 %), 12 patients had dysarthria (40 %), and 13 had handwriting changes (43 %). All patients had progression of their gait disorder over time, but with a variable interval until falls occurred. None of the patients developed vertical gaze palsy or met diagnostic criteria for an alternative parkinsonian disorder. Pure akinesia with gait freezing is a distinctive disorder that can be recognized in the clinic. Despite the previously reported progressive supranuclear palsy-like neuropathology, the clinical course is much less aggressive and disabling than classic Richardson syndrome, although fall risk eventually develops in nearly all patients. Bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity do not develop, distinguishing pure akinesia with gait freezing from Parkinson’s disease and other parkinsonian disorders.
Cadmium Compounds with an [N3C] Atrane Motif: Evidence for the Generation of a Cadmium Hydride Species

Tris(2-pyridylthio)methane ([Tptm]H) has been employed to synthesize a series of cadmium carbatrane compounds that feature an [N3C] coordination environment. Specifically, [Tptm]H reacts with Cd[N(SiMe3)2]2 to afford [Tptm]CdN(SiMe3)2, which thereby provides access to other derivatives. For example, [Tptm]CdN(SiMe3)2 reacts with (i) CO2 to form {[Tptm]Cd(μ-NCO)}2 and (ii) Me3SiOH and Ph3SiOH to form {[κ3-Tptm]Cd(μ-OSiMe3)}2 and [Tptm]CdOSiPh3, respectively. The siloxide compound {[κ3-Tptm]Cd(μ-OSiMe3)}2 reacts with Me3SiX (X = Cl, Br, O2CMe) to give [Tptm]CdX, while the reaction with PhSiH3 in the presence of CO2 generates the formate complex, [Tptm]CdO2CH, thereby providing evidence for the generation of a proposed cadmium hydride intermediate, {[Tptm]CdH}.
Analyzing the characteristics of plants choosing to opt-out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive

Abstract The EU Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD) is a major but largely unstudied environmental regulation. Most of the 1585 large combustion plants in this analysis are electricity supply plants or combined heat and power plants. We find that, controlling for country characteristics and plant size, plants in the electricity supply, combined heat and power, district heating, and paper industries have a higher probability of being opted-out of the emission limit values (ELVs), which necessitates eventual plant closure. Controlling for plant size and industry, increasing the amount of solid fuel or natural gas utilized at a plant is associated with a decreased likelihood of being opted-out of the ELVs.
Frontloading, Class Actions, and a Proposal for a New Rule 23

As we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the modern class action Rule — the version adopted in 1966 — the Advisory Committee is working on further revisions of Rule 23, conferences on the topic are proliferating, and the Supreme Court and lower federal courts are trying to navigate the technicalities of the current Rule. Several doctrines in the federal system have generated a frontloading trend, i.e., a trend that pushes the analysis of the merits of the claim to the very outset of the litigation, before discovery has taken place, ultimately resulting in a denial of justice. The current Rule 23 and its proposed amendments seem to follow the same trend. In the article, I unearth the frontloading trend, show how and to what extent Rule 23 and its interpretation is part of it, and propose a new Rule 23, one designed to promote the underlying litigation principles the original Rule was meant to advance. I spent my fall 2016 at the Yale Law School to work on Charles E. Clark’s Papers that are stored in the Yale’s Archives. Clark was the driving force behind the adoption of the Federal Rules. Clark’s Papers contain Clark’s thoughts, notes, sketches, ideas on the federal rules and the federal system he was designing, his philosophy of legal analysis and judicial decisionmaking. Clark’s clear procedural vision has produced Rules that have lasted, almost untouched, for almost 80 years. Inspired by Clark’s vision and ideas, my paper articulates a theory of class actions that is truthful to the design of the original Federal Rules, and proposes a new class action rule that is consistent with that theory and with Clark’s original vision for the rules.
Optimized Driver Placement for Array-Driven Flat-Panel Loudspeakers

The recently demonstrated ‘modal crossover network’ method for flat panel loudspeaker tuning employs an array of force drivers to selectively excite one or more panel bending modes from a spectrum of panel bending modes. A regularly spaced grid of drivers is a logical configuration for a two-dimensional driver array, and although this can be effective for exciting multiple panel modes it will not necessarily exhibit strong coupling to all of the modes within a given band of frequencies. In this paper a method is described to find optimal force driver array layouts to enable control of all the panel bending modes within a given frequency band. The optimization is carried out both for dynamic force actuators, treated as point forces, and for piezoelectric patch actuators. The optimized array layouts achieve similar maximum mode coupling efficiencies in comparison with regularly spaced driver arrays; however, in the optimized arrays all of the modes within a specified frequency band may be independently addressed, which is important for achieving a desired loudspeaker frequency response. Experiments on flat panel loudspeakers with optimized force actuator array layouts show that each of the panel modes within a selected frequency band may be addressed independently and that the inter-modal crosstalk is typically −30 dB or less with non-ideal drivers.
Engaging women with an embodied conversational agent to deliver mindfulness and lifestyle recommendations: A feasibility randomized control trial

Abstract Objective This randomized controlled trial evaluates the feasibility of using an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) to teach lifestyle modifications to urban women. Methods Women were randomized to either 1) an ECA (content included: mindfulness, stress management, physical activity, and healthy eating) or 2) patient education sheets mirroring same content plus a meditation CD/MP3 once a day for one month. General outcome measures included: number of stress management techniques used, physical activity levels, and eating patterns. Results Sixty-one women ages 18 to 50 were enrolled. On average, 51% identified as white, 26% as black, 23% as other races; and 20% as Hispanic. The major stress management techniques reported at baseline were: exercise (69%), listening to music (70%), and social support (66%). After one month, women randomized to the ECA significantly decreased alcohol consumption to reduce stress (p = 0.03) and increased daily fruit consumption by an average of 2 servings compared to the control (p = 0.04). Conclusion It is feasible to use an ECA to promote health behaviors on stress management and healthy eating among diverse urban women. Practice implications Compared to patient information sheets, ECAs provide promise as a way to teach healthy lifestyle behaviors to diverse urban women.
Kinetic Control of Graphene Localization in Co-continuous Polymer Blends via Melt Compounding.

Selective localization of graphene in co-continuous polymer blends is an attractive method for preparing conductive polymer composites. Localization of graphene at the interface between the two polymer phases produces good conductivity at ultra-low concentrations. Although graphene localization is ultimately dependent on thermodynamic factors such as the surface energy of graphene and the two polymer components, kinetics also strongly affects the migration and localization of graphene in polymer blends during melt compounding. However, few studies have systemically investigated the important role of kinetics on graphene localization. Here, we introduced graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in polylactic acid (PLA)/polystyrene (PS) co-continuous polymer blends. Although GNPs in thermal equilibrium prefer the PS phase, we were able to kinetically trap GNPs at the interface of polymer blends via control of melt-compounding sequences, mixing times and shear rates. Utilizing morphological, rheological, and electrical...
Agent-based model of criminal gang formation

Criminal gangs are of major concern at both the local and international levels. Understanding how gangs form and how they impact society is of interest to criminology. This paper presents an Agent-based Model (ABM) to help in developing a theory on how gangs impact society as a whole. The agents live in a social space and are able climb the social hierarchy and gain resources through service. Criminals steal resources from the weak. The results produced two extreme outputs; either all became alternating criminals or all formed a utopia of non-criminals. The extreme results are also seen in the distribution of agents which were either completely spread or all centralized. In either case, all agents prospered at the same rate which we believe is a consequence of any agent to join the criminal gang in the model.
Reliability assessment and capacity credit of variable generation

A reliability assessment and capacity credit evaluation are presented in this study. The Probabilistic Production Costing Method (PPC) is used to assess the impact of variable generation (VG) on the overall reliability using metrics such as (1) Loss of Load Probability (LOLP) and (2) Expected Unserved Energy (EUE) indices. We also define capacity credit of VG in probabilistic terms and provide a computational method based on the PPC method. The PPC method is based on probabilistic simulation of generation system using the Baleriaux, et al method. The effects of different penetrations of VG are modeled as net load applied to the dispatchable generating units. A test system with five substations and various penetrations of VG is used to demonstrate the method. This study aims to evaluate the generation adequacy in presence of different combinations of VG with maximum penetration of 30%. The results of different cases are presented and discussed in terms of reliability and cost. Moreover, the capacity credit of VG is examined when VG is compared with dispatchable generation with selected forced outage rate (FOR).
Nonmarket Failure in Government Training Programs

What is the rationale for the public to finance and provide job training and retraining? This question may seem out of place in light of this country’s 30-year history of federal support for training and retraining programs. Yet, the checkered history of these programs--reflected by their changing purposes, shifting organizational structures, and at best mixed results--leaves a residue of concern about them. This concern is heightened by what appear to be mounting political pressures to expand federal training programs. These pressures stem from increased attention to the collective good attributes of training and renewed emphasis on the social costs of worker displacement. For these reasons, the rationale for public support of training and retraining programs needs to be clarified.
The diet of free-ranging male Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the eastern Bering Sea: a retrospective analysis based on stomach contents of an endangered pinniped

This study illuminates historical diet and foraging locations of endangered western U.S. stock Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776)). Prey were identified from stomachs of 22 male...
The effect of salinity and alkalinity on growth and the accumulation of copper and zinc in the Chlorophyta Ulva fasciata

Abstract Copper and zinc accumulation in macroalgae is a complex issue. While these metals exist as micronutrients and can serve to add nutritional value to the macroalgae when consumed by both plants and animals, elevated levels of the metals can reduce growth or even kill the algae. Many water parameters can influence the toxicity of the metals, though past studies have rarely isolated individual water parameters. This study aimed to independently determine the effects that salinity and alkalinity have on the growth and accumulation of these two metals on the macroalgae Ulva fasciata, distinguishing the effects of salinity and alkalinity as whole parameters from the collective effects of the water different constituents. The effect of salinity was determined using sodium chloride additions rather than seawater dilution, as performed in past studies, while alkalinity was tested using sodium bicarbonate additions to artificial seawater. The results of the study reinforce previous findings that copper is very toxic to macroalgae, even at low concentrations (50 µg L−1) though the effects of zinc remain inconclusive at 50 µg L−1, since the experiment was conducted over only a two-week trial period. The research suggests that salinity and alkalinity have no significant effect on the toxicity of copper to the growth of the macroalgae, but alkalinity significantly reduced copper and increased zinc accumulation in U. fasciata. The results of this study warrant further research in the field to investigate which other components of seawater and macroalgae reduce metal toxicity in the macroalgae. Additionally, these findings suggest the need for further refinement of toxicity models when adapted to macroalgae.
Simplified approach to stress-first nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging: implementation of Choosing Wisely recommendations.

Nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a robust tool for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) and for cardiovascular risk assessment. The radiation from MPI may marginally increase the patient’s risk of a malignancy in the future. Patient-centred risk mitigation strategies such as individualised radiotracer dosing and stress-first imaging are recommended by both clinical practice guidelines and the Choosing Wisely campaign.1–3 Implementation of stress-first imaging may be impaired by inadequate staffing, concerns about safety or perceived disruptions to workflow. We sought to address these perceived barriers and determine if a simplified, stress-first protocol would be feasible at our facility. We adopted a stress-first imaging protocol for all patients undergoing MPI at our facility in which no pretest screening was performed and all patients were considered eligible for stress-first MPI. In preparation for adoption, we sought input from all members of the nuclear cardiology team. Nurses, technologists, housestaff and faculty all provided their opinions about possible barriers to success. One of the most prominent concerns was availability of a physician who could review stress-first studies throughout the day on short notice in order to make the decision about performing rest imaging. This duty was assigned to our advanced cardiovascular imaging fellow who was, in turn, responsible for securing adequate physician staffing if he was not going to be available. The stress-first protocol was to inject 0.4 mg of regadenoson followed by 9–13 millicuries (mCi) of Tc-99m*-tetrofosmin. CT attenuation correction was used for all studies and prone imaging was acquired …
Solomon Asch: Scientist and Humanist

Perhaps the easiest way to introduce Solomon Asch is to say that he had a dedication to psychology as a natural science and a talent for arresting experiments, joined with the cultural knowledge and sensitivity of William James (chap. 2, Pioneers I ). James was long gone by the time Asch came into psychology, and the complex humanity of Jamesian psychology was largely forgotten. Asch lived and worked in a mid-20th-century psychology dominated by behaviorist paradigms that were a reaction against the speculative excesses of psychoanalysis and Titchener’s (chap. 7, Pioneers I ) structuralism. For Asch, the behaviorists and the Freudians were alike in their reductionism. Asch aimed instead to represent the scope and depth of Homo sapiens in a Gestalt psychology that focused on context and relationships.
Long-Term Outcomes of Pituitary Gland Preservation in Pituitary Macroadenoma Apoplexy: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Introduction For patients presenting with neurological changes from pituitary tumor apoplexy, urgent surgical intervention is commonly performed for diagnosis, tumor resection, and optic apparatus decompression. Although identification and preservation of the pituitary gland during the time of surgery can be challenging, it may lead to improve endocrine outcomes. Methods A retrospective case series of all patients with macroadenomas presenting with apoplexy at Loyola University Medical Center from 2016 to 2018 was studied. Demographic, radiographic, and intraoperative characteristics were collected including age, gender, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, preoperative size of pituitary adenoma, Knosp's grade, Hardy's grade, identification and/or preservation of the gland, pre- and postoperative hormonal levels, intraoperative and/or postoperative complications, and follow-up time. Results A total of 68 patients underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery for resection of a macroadenoma. Among them, seven (10.2%) presented with apoplexy; five patients were male and two were female and presenting symptoms and signs included headache (100%), endocrinopathies (57%), visual acuity deficit (71%), visual field deficit (71%), and oculomotor palsy (57%). A gross-total resection rate was achieved in 86% of patients. Among them, 71% of patients obtained complete symptomatic neurological improvement. A statistically significant difference between gender and endocrine function was found, as no females and all males required some form of postoperative hormonal supplementation (p = 0.047). Conclusion Endoscopic endonasal resection of macroadenomas with sparing of the pituitary gland in the setting of apoplexy is safe and effective. Preservation of the normal gland led to no posterior pituitary dysfunction, and a statistically significant difference between gender and postoperative endocrinopathy was identified. Further studies with larger samples sizes are warranted.
Sustaining improved nutritional support for very low birthweight infants

Background Postnatal growth failure (PGF) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants is a result of factors such as prematurity, acute illness and suboptimal nutritional support. Before this project began, 84% of appropriately grown VLBW infants in our neonatal intensive care unit experienced PGF. The aims of this quality improvement project were to reduce the percentage of infants discharged with PGF to less than 50% within 2 years and to maintain a rate of PGF under 50%. Methods All inborn VLBW infants were eligible for this study. Infants with congenital anomalies were excluded. We determined key drivers for optimal nutrition and identified potentially better practices (process measures) based on a review of the literature, which included more rapid initiation of starter total parenteral nutrition (TPN), aggressive use and advancement of regular TPN, and fortification of human milk when the volume of intake reached 80 mL/kg/day. Three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were tested. Results Time to initiation of starter TPN was significantly reduced from 5.5 hours to under 3 hours. Regular TPN provided the goals for amino acids and lipids at increased frequency after the first two PDSA cycles. The proportion of infants whose milk was fortified at 80 mL/kg/day increased after the third PDSA cycle. Conclusions We found a sustained decrease in the percentage of infants discharged with PGF from 84% at baseline to fewer than 50% beginning in 2010–2011 through 2016, with 23.1% of infants experiencing PGF in 2016. We have achieved improved nutritional support for VLBW infants using the model for improvement.
Engineering stable Zn-MnO2 batteries by synergistic stabilization between the carbon nanofiber core and birnessite-MnO2 nanosheets shell

Abstract Aqueous Zn/MnO2 batteries have attracted considerable attention for large-scale energy storage application owing to their low cost, high safety and environmental friendliness. However, MnO2 cathodes still suffer from the inferior utilization and deficient cyclability at a wide range of current densities. Integrating MnO2 with conductive carbon is promising to overcome the challenges. Unfortunately, the required use of strongly oxidative acids or expensive plasma to functionalize the inherently hydrophobic carbon makes it an obstacle for scalable production. Herein, the hierarchical core-shell carbon nanofiber(CNF)@MnO2 (MOC) nanowires were synthesized by using a facile, controllable and scalable approach combining simple grinding and low-temperature wet-chemical reaction. A synergistic effect was demonstrated for the MOC cathode in Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs). The conductive CNF backbone significantly boosts the electron transfer kinetics, while ultrathin MnO2 nanosheets provide large electrode/electrolyte interfacial contact areas and facilitate the ionic diffusion. Additionally, the intimate contact between CNFs and MnO2 synergistically renders an interconnected network with high electronic and ionic conductivity and flexibility to minimize structural collapse and strain of volume variation upon cycling. The favorable synergistic effect ensures the high capacity, long shelf life, enhanced rate capability and extraordinary cycling stability of MOC. It shows a high capacity of 221 mAh g−1 after 700 cycles at 200 mA g−1. Even at 3000 mA g−1, it still maintains 130 mAh g−1 after 2750 cycles without obvious capacity decay. Featuring the exceptional electrochemical performance, rational design for synergy and low-cost manufacturing, the developed MOC cathode is promising for cost-efficient and high-performance ZIBs.
Characteristics of criminal cases against physicians charged with opioid-related offenses reported in the US news media, 1995-2019

Pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors are intensely scrutinized in numerous lawsuits for their role in instigating the opioid epidemic. Many individual physicians have also been held accountable for activities related to prescribing opioid medications. The purpose of this study was to examine the epidemiologic patterns of criminal cases against physicians charged with opioid-related offenses reported in the US news media. We searched the Nexis Uni® database for news media reports on physicians who had been arrested, indicted or criminally charged for illegally prescribing opioids between January 1995 and December 2019. Data collected from the news media reports include defendant’s age, sex, clinical specialty, type of crime and legal consequences. The annual number of criminal cases against physicians charged with opioid-related offenses reported in the US news media increased from 0 in 1995 to 42 in 2019. Of the 372 physician defendants in these criminal cases, 90.1% were male, 27.4% were 65 years and older, and 23.4% were charged in Florida. Of the 358 physician defendants with known clinical specialty, 245 (68.4%) practiced in internal medicine, family medicine, or pain management. Drug trafficking was the most commonly convicted crime (accounting for 54.2% of all convicted cases), followed by fraud (19.1%), money laundering (11.0%) and manslaughter (5.6%). Of the 244 convicted physicians with known sentences, 85.0% were sentenced to prison with an average prison term of 127.3 ± 120.3 months. The US news media has reported on an increasing number of opioid-related criminal cases against physicians from a wide variety of clinical specialties. The most commonly convicted crime in these cases is drug trafficking, followed by fraud, money laundering, and manslaughter.
Work, Love, and the Family Involvement of African American Men

Considerable variation exists in African American men’s involvement in family life. In-depth interviews were conducted with forty-five Black fathers of young children regarding their life histories and self-reported contribution to the division of housework. This article examines the impact of men’s job experiences and love relationships on their family involvement. Paternal involvement is both a function of structural constraints and of men’s interpretations and actions about them. Of paramount importance are how men construe their experiences on the job market and how they feel about the breadwinning ethic. In addition, women affect men’s behavior by mediating their connections with their children, either as former lovers or as current partners. For those who lived with women, their participation in housework is also related to their partners’ employment status.
Encountering transgenerational trauma through analytical music therapy

Introduction: Transgenerational trauma is a theory asserting that traumatic experiences, including grief and loss, can be transferred from the initial generation of survivors to subsequent generati...
Sabor, gusto y poesía: gastronomía y signo alimentario en la obra literaria de Narcís Comadira

Estas paginas prestan atencion a las representaciones de la comida en la obra de Narcis Comadira. A la luz de la gastrocritica, se analiza la gastronomia como hilo conductor de sus constantes tematicas y simbolicas, incluyendo el estudio del signo alimentario, los usos tropologicos en el discurso literario y la complementariedad intergenerica de sus papeles gastroculturales con sus libros de viaje y poemarios. Posteriormente, se intentan dilucidar los modos de subversion expuestos en dos de sus obras de teatro contra toda una serie de normas, gustos y practicas de clase de unos personajes obligados a sentarse alrededor de una mesa.
Una crítica marxista relacional del posthumanismo en arqueología

In archaeology, a Posthumanism has arisen from the ashes of post-modernism and declared that Marxism is dead in archaeology. Archaeological advocates of the posthumanist theory of Symmetrical Archaeology cherry-pick ideas to dismiss Marxism out of hand without considering the depth and nuances of different Marxist theories. They misrepresent the relational dialectic as oppositional thinking and ignore the fundamental dualism of their own polemic. They equate humans and things by arguing that they share a common ontology. A relational Marxism resolves the dualistic nature of their polemic and shows that things, animals and people may be studied relationally while still recognizing ontological differences. Marxism lives.
Feedback Control Design for the Distributed Model for Mixed Sensitivity

This chapter presents the feedback control design of an isolated ramp metering problem where we use the distributed model of the ramp system with the control designed not only to keep the flow on the highway at a critical value but also to keep the queue length on the ramp small. We show the stability properties of the closed-loop system that is obtained by the application of the feedback control law on the ramp system. We verify the effectiveness of the feedback control law by running some simulation experiments using the designed feedback control law on the isolated ramp system.
OCCLUSION IN DYNAMIC SCENE ANALYSIS

This paper presents several fundamental concepts necessary for the successful analysis of dynamic scenes containing occluding objects by discussing various systems which have been developed to perform this analysis. The dynamic scenes are represented by time ordered sequences of images. Data must be extracted from each of these images and then integrated into coherent information about the sequence as a whole.
Damage modeling of metal matrix composite laminates with cracked oxide surface layers

Abstract The present study investigates the oxidation effects on surface crack development of oxidized Ti-15-3 and β-21S Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) unidirectional laminates under applied mechanical loading. To investigate the mechanical behavior of the oxidized MMC with a distribution of cracks in the oxide layer, an approximate mechanical model is established and a stress analysis under axial loading is performed, assuming a periodic distribution of surface cracks. The critical value of an applied mechanical load, which is necessary for the formation of new cracks as a function of crack density, is calculated for given oxide layer thickness. The effective stiffness reduction, caused by cracks during the oxidation process, is also evaluated. Finally, the effect of oxidation induced eigenstrains is taken into account in the mechanical analysis, and the evolution of crack density for different eigenstrains is estimated as a function of the applied loading.
Nonlinear Waves on Stochastic Support: Calcium Waves in Astrocyte Syncytia

Astrocyte-signaling has been observed in cell cultures and brain slices in the form of calcium waves. Their functional relevance for neuronal communication, brain functions and diseases is, however, not understood. In this paper, the propagation of intercellular calcium waves is modeled in terms of waves in excitable media on a stochastic support. We utilize a novel method to decompose the spatiotemporal patterns into space-time clusters (wave fragments). Based on this cluster decomposition, a statistical description of wave patterns is developed.
Complexity: An Emerging Trend in Social Sciences

The social sciences have had a good run with linear models, in which effects are proportionate to their causes. Nearly all of our theoretical models, in fields as diverse as microeconomics and evolutionary game theory, are equilibrium theories, which examine the properties of various fixed points and analyze the conditions under which they are selected. In contrast, “complexity” uses different mathematical tools to investigate nonlinear processes. But linear models have the advantages of simplicity and power. Is there a real need to import the theoretical apparatus of “complexity” into the social sciences? Or might it be merely the latest example of Fashionable Nonsense? As it turns out, one need not seek very far to discover nonlinear dynamics in the social world. And if more than one attractor exists, the resulting variation in dynamical behavior will be mistaken for noise if one assumes linearity. In the past two or three decades, interest in complexity has burgeoned across the social sciences. Under the banner of complexity, researchers have investigated questions as dissimilar as the causes of the Maya collapse, the spread of disease, the origins of syntax, the structural properties of cities, and the evolution of culture. Presently, the mathematical tools needed to analyze complexity present an entry barrier for many social scientists. But generation time in graduate schools is short, and the physicists who have taken the lead in the application of complexity to social science are beginning to have their elbows jostled by social scientists with a new set of skills. As for the likely impact, it is still early days. But one change that is already visible on the horizon has to do with history, which plays no role in equilibrium analysis, but is intrinsic to many of the questions and methods developed to study complex systems. Keywords: complexity; critical transitions; resilience; irrigation; positivist dispute; Daisyworld model; Dictator Game; cities; Green Revolution; networks; self-organized criticality
Trapping lithium polysulfides of a Li–S battery by forming lithium bonds in a polymer matrix

Despite great interest in a Li–S battery, soluble polysulfides as charge/discharge intermediates pose an important challenge to realize commercial Li–S batteries. For building physical barriers to reduce a diffusional loss of those species, chemical surface-trap-sites have been proposed, but experimental evidence about the trapping interaction hasn't been reported. Here, highly crosslinked polymer-electrolyte coating layers with electron-donating groups were designed to bind lithium polysulfides. An ester group with a high spatial density was shown to be a strong candidate to bind lithium polysulfides. Spectroscopic evidence for the presence of lithium bonds between the lithium polysulfides and the electron-donating groups is reported for the first time. An electrochemical charge/discharge model is also proposed, which can explain the electrochemical behavior within the insulating polymer layer.
Review of Animal Models in Carotenoid Research

Foods containing provitamin A carotenoids are the primary source of vitamin A in many countries, despite the poor bioavailability of carotenoids. In addition, epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary intake of carotenoids influences the risk for certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. Although it would be ideal to use humans directly to answer critical questions regarding carotenoid absorption, metabolism and effects on disease progression, appropriate animal models offer many advantages. This paper will review recent progress in the development of animal models with which to study this class of nutrients. Each potential model has strengths and weaknesses. Like humans, gerbils, ferrets and preruminant calves all absorb beta-carotene (betaC) intact, but only gerbils and calves convert betaC to vitamin A with efficiency similar to that of humans. Mice and rats efficiently convert betaC to vitamin A but absorb carotenoids intact only when they are provided in the diet at supraphysiologic levels. Mice, rats and ferrets can be used to study cancer, whereas primates and gerbils are probably more appropriate for studies on biomarkers of heart disease. No one animal model completely mimics human absorption and metabolism of carotenoids; thus the best model must be chosen with consideration of the specific application being studied, characteristics of the model, and the available funding and facilities.