cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stroke neuroprotection revisited: Intra-arterial verapamil is profoundly neuroprotective in experimental acute ischemic stroke.

While clinical trials have now solidified the role of thrombectomy in emergent large vessel occlusive stroke, additional therapies are needed to optimize patient outcome. Using our previously described experimental ischemic stroke model for evaluating adjunctive intra-arterial drug therapy after vessel recanalization, we studied the potential neuroprotective effects of verapamil. A calcium channel blocker, verapamil is often infused intra-arterially by neurointerventionalists to treat cerebral vasospasm. Such a direct route of administration allows for both focused targeting of stroke-impacted brain tissue and minimizes potential systemic side effects. Intra-arterial administration of verapamil at a flow rate of 2.5 µl/min and injection volume of 10 µl immediately after middle cerebral artery recanalization in C57/Bl6 mice was shown to be profoundly neuroprotective as compared to intra-arterial vehicle-treated stroke controls. Specifically, we noted a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in infarct volume, astrogliosis, and cellular apoptosis as well as a significant increase in neuronal survival and functional outcome over seven days. Furthermore, intra-arterial administration of verapamil was well tolerated with no hemorrhage, systemic side effects, or increased mortality. Thus, verapamil administered intra-arterially immediately following recanalization in experimental ischemic stroke is both safe and neuroprotective and merits further study as a potential therapeutic adjunct to thrombectomy.
Message Compression

Two general classes of operations for the purpose of compressing the output of a message source are considered: (1) Entropy-reducing (ER) transformation, and (2) Information-preserving (IP) transformation (redundancy removal). The type (1) transformation, when acceptable, can yield substantial compression gains in telemetry applications while the type (2) transformation can yield substantial gains for certain types of source statistics. A new concept, adaptive coding, is introduced. It is shown that for quasi-stationary source statistics it is possible to obtain estimates of the statistics and to use these subsequently for efficient coding. A general statistical measure for monitoring the efficiency of the adaptive procedure is presented and a decision rule, based on this statistic, for updating the coding is defined. It is shown that the statistical estimates need not be precise since the coding efficiency remains reasonably insensitive to small errors; hence, only violent changes in the source statistics must be detected. A number of configurations for performing adaptive and non-adaptive compression are discussed in detail. Some of these procedures, such as predictive coding, are well known while others are new. In particular, a practical configuration is presented for compressing the output of many sensors which have the statistical structure; no changes in the signal for relatively long time intervals and very rapid changes for relatively short time intervals. It is concluded that this approach has the advantage over variable rate commutation procedures in that short message bursts can always be detected without increasing the communications channel capacity.
Salmeterol enhances the cardiac response to gene therapy in Pompe disease

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human (rh) acid α-glucosidase (GAA) has prolonged the survival of patients. However, the paucity of cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) in skeletal muscle, where it is needed to take up rhGAA, correlated with a poor response to ERT by muscle in Pompe disease. Clenbuterol, a selective β2 receptor agonist, enhanced the CI-MPR expression in striated muscle through Igf-1 mediated muscle hypertrophy, which correlated with increased CI-MPR (also the Igf-2 receptor) expression. In this study we have evaluated 4 new drugs in GAA knockout (KO) mice in combination with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector encoding human GAA, 3 alternative β2 agonists and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Mice were injected with AAV2/9-CBhGAA (1E+11 vector particles) at a dose that was not effective at clearing glycogen storage from the heart. Heart GAA activity was significantly increased by either salmeterol (p<0.01) or DHEA (p<0.05), in comparison with untreated mice. Furthermore, glycogen content was reduced in the heart by treatment with DHEA (p<0.001), salmeterol (p<0.05), formoterol (p<0.01), or clenbuterol (p<0.01) in combination with the AAV vector, in comparison with untreated GAA-KO mice. Wirehang testing revealed that salmeterol and the AAV vector significantly increased performance, in comparison with the AAV vector alone (p<0.001). Similarly, salmeterol with the vector increased performance significantly more than any of the other drugs. The most effective individual drugs had no significant effect in absence of vector, in comparison with untreated mice. Thus, salmeterol should be further developed as adjunctive therapy in combination with either ERT or gene therapy for Pompe disease.
Copper(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Nanoporous Azo-Linked Polymers: Impact of Textural Properties on Gas Storage and Selective Carbon Dioxide Capture

A new facile method for synthesis of porous azo-linked polymers (ALPs) is reported. The synthesis of ALPs was accomplished by homocoupling of aniline-like building units in the presence of copper(I) bromide and pyridine. The resulting ALPs exhibit high surface areas (SABET = 862–1235 m2 g–1), high physiochemical stability, and considerable gas storage capacity especially at high-pressure settings. Under low pressure conditions, ALPs have remarkable CO2 uptake (up to 5.37 mmol g–1 at 273 K and 1 bar), as well as moderate CO2/N2 (29–43) and CO2/CH4 (6–8) selectivity. Low pressure gas uptake experiments were used to calculate the binding affinities of small gas molecules and revealed that ALPs have high heats of adsorption for hydrogen (7.5–8 kJ mol–1), methane (18–21 kJ mol–1), and carbon dioxide (28–30 kJ mol–1). Under high pressure conditions, the best performing polymer, ALP-1, stores significant amounts of H2 (24 g L–1, 77 K/70 bar), CH4 (67 g L–1, 298 K/70 bar), and CO2 (304 g L–1, 298 K/40 bar).
Functional characterization of six aspartate (D) recombinant mojastin mutants (r-Moj): A second aspartate amino acid carboxyl to the RGD in r-Moj-D_ peptides is not sufficient to induce apoptosis of SK-Mel-28 cells.

Disintegrins are small peptides produced in viper venom that act as integrin antagonists. When bound to integrins, disintegrins induce altered cellular behaviors, such as apoptotic induction. Disintegrins with RGDDL or RGDDM motifs induce apoptosis of normal and cancer cells. We hypothesized that a second aspartate (D) carboxyl to the RGD is sufficient to induce apoptosis. Five recombinant mojastin D mutants were produced by site-directed mutagenesis (r-Moj-DA, r-Moj-DG, r-Moj-DL, r-Moj-DN, and r-Moj-DV). Stable αv integrin knockdown and shRNA scrambled control SK-Mel-28 cell lines were produced to test a second hypothesis: r-Moj-D_ peptides bind to αv integrin. Only r-Moj-DL, r-Moj-DM, and r-Moj-DN induced apoptosis of SK-Mel-28 cells (at 29.4%, 25.6%, and 36.2%, respectively). Apoptotic induction was significantly reduced in SK-Mel-28 cells with a stable αv integrin knockdown (to 2%, 17%, and 2%, respectively), but not in SK-Mel-28 cells with a stable scrambled shRNA. All six r-Moj-D_ peptides inhibited cell proliferation; ranging from 49.56% (r-Moj-DN) to 75.6% (r-Moj-DA). Cell proliferation inhibition by r-Moj-D_ peptides was significantly reduced in SK-Mel-28 cells with a stable αv integrin knockdown. All six r-Moj-D_ peptides inhibited SK-Mel-28 cell migration at high levels (69%-100%). As a consequence, rac-1 mRNA expression levels were significantly reduced as early as 1 h after treatment, suggesting that rac-1 is involved in the cell migration activity of SK-Mel-28.
Current status and trend analysis of dust explosion research in utilizing process of oil shale

Under the situation of increasingly intense in oil resources,the development and utilization of oil shale has attached unprecedented attention in China,but people has still not laid enough stress on the hidden hazard of dust explosion in its utilizing process. The literature about dust fire and explosion of oil shale at home and abroad were reviewed. The scholars in Jordan have conducted continuous researches on lower explosion limit,ignition temperature and the impact of inerting dust on the lower explosion limit of oil shale dusts. Most researches in China have been involved in utilization process of oil shale,some of them have been focusing only on the explosion risk of oil shale vapor,and the empirical formulas have been mostly adopted to carry out the analysis,which had larger limitation. Based on the control principles of explosion risk,the fundamental research work required for dust explosion- proof safety of oil shale were put forward,and the importance of enhancing the study on explosion mechanism of miscellaneous mixture by dust and vapor of oil shale was highlighted.
The technique of therapeutic apheresis. Removal of abnormal blood elements may succeed when all else fails.

Therapeutic apheresis is a generic term that refers to removal of abnormal blood cells and plasma constituents. The terms "plasmapheresis," "leukapheresis," and "erythrocytapheresis" describe the specific blood element that is removed. Apheresis therapies can be performed in the ICU to manage a number of neurologic, hematologic, and autoimmune disorders, including myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, sickle-cell disease, and Goodpasture's syndrome. Apheresis procedures generally require two points of contact with the circulation--one for blood withdrawal and one for return; the withdrawal site should sustain a flow rate of at least 50 mL/min. Although apheresis is generally quite safe, hemodynamic instability, hypocalcemia, and dilutional coagulopathy can occur.
Hsp90 as a “Chaperone” of the Epigenome: Insights and Opportunities for Cancer Therapy

The cellular functions of Hsp90 have historically been attributed to its ability to chaperone client proteins involved in signal transduction. Although numerous stimuli and the signaling cascades they activate contribute to cancer progression, many of these pathways ultimately require transcriptional effectors to elicit tumor-promoting effects. Despite this obvious connection, the majority of studies evaluating Hsp90 function in malignancy have focused upon its regulation of cytosolic client proteins, and particularly members of receptor and/or kinase families. However, in recent years, Hsp90 has emerged as a pivotal orchestrator of nuclear events. Discovery of an expanding repertoire of Hsp90 clients has illuminated a vital role for Hsp90 in overseeing nuclear events and influencing gene transcription. Hence, this chapter will cast a spotlight upon several regulatory themes involving Hsp90-dependent nuclear functions. Highlighted topics include a summary of chaperone-dependent regulation of key transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic effectors in malignancy, as well as a discussion of how the complex interplay among a subset of these TFs and epigenetic regulators may generate feed-forward loops that further support cancer progression. This chapter will also highlight less recognized indirect mechanisms whereby Hsp90-supported signaling may impinge upon epigenetic regulation. Finally, the relevance of these nuclear events is discussed within the framework of Hsp90's capacity to enable phenotypic variation and drug resistance. These newly acquired insights expanding our understanding of Hsp90 function support the collective notion that nuclear clients are major beneficiaries of Hsp90 action, and their impairment is likely responsible for many of the anticancer effects elicited by Hsp90-targeted approaches.
An Automated Methodology for Worker Path Generation and Safety Assessment in Construction Projects

Collisions between automated moving equipment and human workers in job sites are one of the main sources of fatalities and accidents during the execution of construction projects. In this paper, we present a methodology to identify and assess project plans in terms of hazards before their execution. Our methodology has the following steps: 1) several potential plans are extracted from an initial activity graph; 2) plans are translated from a high-level activity graph to a discrete-event simulation model; 3) trajectories and safety policies are generated that avoid static and moving obstacles using existing motion planning algorithms; 4) safety scores and risk-based heatmaps are calculated based on the trajectories of moving equipment; and 5) managerial implications are provided to select an acceptable plan with the aid of a sensitivity analysis of different factors (cost, resources, and deadlines) that affect the safety of a plan. Finally, we present illustrative case study examples to demonstrate the usefulness of our model. Note to Practitioners —Currently, construction project planning does not explicitly consider safety due to a lack of automated tools that can identify a plan’s safety level before its execution. This paper proposes an automated construction safety assessment tool which is able to evaluate the alternate construction plans and help to choose considering safety, cost, and deadlines. Our methodology uses discrete-event modeling along with motion planning to simulate the motions of workers and equipment, which account for most of the hazards in construction sites. Our method is capable of generating safe motion trajectories and coordination policies for both humans and machines to minimize the number of collisions. We also provide safety heatmaps as a spatiotemporal visual display of construction site to identify risky zones inside the environment throughout the entire timeline of the project. Additionally, a detailed sensitivity analysis helps to choose among plans in terms of safety, cost, and deadlines.
Understanding Global Cancer Disparities: The Role of Social Determinants from System Dynamics Perspective.

Background: In 2012, almost 57% of all cancer cases and 65% of cancer deaths occurred in low-and middle-income countries. If the current trend continues, the burden of cancer will increase to 22 million new cases annually by 2030, with 81% of new cases and almost 88% of mortality occurring in less developed countries. Methods: A qualitative review of the literature was conducted. This included a systematic search of eight electronic databases namely, PubMed, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Applied Social Sciences Index, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane and PsycINFO. The reference list of articles retrieved were also thoroughly searched. Inclusion criteria were studies that addressed global health, cancer disparities and global or economic development. Results: Thirty-one articles were identified that met the eligibility criteria. Results were synthesized in the form of a system dynamics causal loop diagram or map which led to identification of eight major stocks or system variables. These included children and adult population, overall population health, pollution, quality of healthcare delivery, quality of neighborhood and built environment, social and community cohesiveness, healthy and social norms and attitudes, and literacy level. Based on this, a dynamic hypothesis of global health cancer disparities was developed. The causal loop diagram showed the role of multiple interacting feedback mechanisms as explanations for trends in global health cancer disparities and the underlying consequences. Conclusions: Addressing these determinants of health requires an effective dynamic approach to improving global cancer health. Application of a systems thinking methodological approach has the potential to provide new understanding to how global development trends in combination with global health efforts to improve population health could shift cancer disparities and burden associated with the disease.
Duration of Testis Activity of Sturnus Vulgaris in Relation to Type of Illumination

1. Between January 24th and April 22nd, 32 male starlings, with females, were subjected to ( a ) no added light (controls), ( b ) 1.7 foot candles of filtered red light together with the total light from a General Electric Company's "sunlamp" at about 3 ft. distance, approximating to midsummer mid-day sunlight, and ( c ) 1.7 foot candles of filtered red light, after dark for 6 hours, in addition to a 9½ hours constant daily daylight period (about 18 min. reduction from the daylight period in nature at the beginning of the experiment). 2. Samples from ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) groups were killed for study after 18, 25, 32 and 60 days, and from ( c ) group also at 88 days. 3. Testes of controls ( a ) underwent a slight regression, remained smaller than at the first killing, and did not increase in germ-cell or other gonadal activity. 4. Testes of birds in ( c ) group were slower to reach their maximum size and spermatogenesis (60 days) than were those from ( b ) group (32 days), with their more intense light and approximately double the amount of red rays. Both sets of birds failed to maintain their maximum size and spermatogenesis, though the more slowly reacting ( c ) group maintained it longer than did the ( b ) group. 5. The reaction differences are such as to indicate that differences in light intensity and amount of red rays caused the observed differences in relative length of the phases of the sexual cycle and, particularly, in the length of periods of maximum testis size and activity rather than any specific action of ultra-violet rays or excess of green light. 6. Even on the highly stimulating exposures to light used, the duration of maximum spermatogenic activity was limited and varied with different birds, with different exposures to light, and with different types of light, and the consequent rates of germ-cell activity. The duration of any phase of the sexual cycle bore an inverse relation to the effectiveness of the stimulating exposure to light, which, in turn, depended on the daily period, intensity, wave-length and rate of change of illumination. 7. Alternative modes of causation of these phenomena and the probable mediation of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis in the reactions are discussed. "Studies on the Sexual Cycle in Birds; No. VIII." Aided by grants from the Committee for Research in Problems of Sex and the Committee for Grants-in-Aid of the National Research Council of the U.S.A. for 1930-2, administered by T. H. Bissonnette. Facilities for study were also received from the School of Agriculture and the Laboratory of Experimental Zoology of the University of Cambridge. For all of these aids the authors are very grateful.
Beyond “Sign at the X”: In Pursuit of Comprehension

In “Ethical and Legal Concerns Associated With the Comprehension of Legal Language and Concepts,” Joseph Wszalek (2017) discusses legal-language comprehension in the context of the attorney–client ...
Abstract 235: Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Decreases Myocardial Hydration Potential Without Changing Flow Resistance in the Interstitial Matrix

Interstitial edema is an early response to myocardial ischemia, leading to fibrosis and remodeling in several heart failure conditions. We aimed to clarify whether osmotic, frictional, or mechanical forces drive fluid accumulation. Equilibrium and dynamic interstitial hydration parameters were determined, compared, and analyzed using osmotic stress approaches in explants from ischemic and nonischemic myocardial regions of pig heart. They were isolated after injury induced by ligating 3-4 branches of the left anterior descending coronary artery, for 85 min followed by 3 hours’ reperfusion. Their volume changed (Δ V max ) linearly with colloidosmotic pressure in both ischemic and nonischemic areas, yielding interstitial compliance values of 1.04 ± 0.09 and 1.08 ± 0.05 µl/g/ mmHg , which do not differ significantly, and hydration potentials from the abscissa intercepts at Δ V max = 0, of -121.4 ± 28 and -14.7 ± 7.6 mmHg, which do (mean ± SE, n = 5 , P-value = 0.001). These hydration potential differences manifest ex-vivo influx rates 8.5 ± 2.7- fold slower in ischemic than nonischemic myocardium. Surprisingly, interstitial flow resistance values derived from net-flow rates at an imposed pressure difference of 216 mmHg were 0.23 ± 0.08 and 0.19 ± 0.01 µl -1 . g. min and did not differ significantly between the areas. The similarity in interstitial compliance and fluid resistance indicates that the more negative hydration potential and faster efflux rates in at-risk regions after reperfusion are due to increased hydrostatic pressure rather than decreased osmotic or frictional forces. Tissue distends due to interstitial fluid accumulation against matrix mechanical forces, including elastic recoil of the collagen elastin mesh and fibroblast action, consistent with impaired drainage and persistent diastolic-like conditions during reperfusion of at-risk areas in vivo . These results indicate changes in pressure gradient magnitude and may have clinical and therapeutic implications; for example, reversal of paracrine interstitial flows during early remodeling
The role of land surface versus drainage network characteristics in controlling water quality and quantity in a small urban watershed

The processes that control runoff quantity and quality in urban watersheds are complex and not well understood. While impervious surface coverage has traditionally been used to examine altered hydrologic response in urban watersheds, several studies suggest that other elements of the urban landscape, particularly those associated with urban infrastructure and the drainage system play an equally important role. The relative importance of impervious surfaces, stormwater ponds, expansion of the drainage network, and drainage network structures in controlling hydrologic response was examined in the subwatersheds of the Kromma Kill, an urban watershed located in Albany County, NY. In this study, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to compute geospatial landsurface and drainage network properties of five Kromma Kill subwatersheds. In these same subwatersheds, water quantity (rainfall and runoff) and quality [macroinvertebrates, nitrate (NO3-), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), and non-purgable organic carbon (NPOC)] parameters were measured. Strong and significant correlations were identied between landsurface and drainage network properties and field observations. Causal relationships were then tested using the EPA SWMM stormwater model. Field and model analyses suggest that while percent imperviousness is a dominant control on water quality, drainage density and slope are equally important. However, for water quantity, while imperviousness is positively correlated with increased runoff volumes, drainage network properties and slope are the dominant controls on runoff volumes. Results have important implications for stormwater management plans, especially those aimed at reducing the effective impervious surface coverage of urban watersheds. Reducing the percentage of effective imperviousness in a watershed is not a “one size fits all” solution and can help to meet some management objectives such as reducing nitrogen concentrations and improving water quality, but may not serve as the most effective, and therefore economical, solution for every management objective including reducing runoff volumes.
Determination of Material Parameters of Poroelastic Media

This paper addresses the interpretation and determination of the material coefficients appearing in Biot’s formulations of the equations of poroelastic media. Experimental methods suggested by Biot and Willis as well as those employed by the author and their results for a variety of material systems are discussed.
Spectrum Splitting Micro-Concentrator Assembly for Laterally-arrayed Multi-Junction Photovoltaic Module

We demonstrate a novel spectrum-splitting module for integration with laterally-arrayed multi-bandgap micro-scale solar cells. The high-efficiency, low-cost, and low-profile design potentially enables significant improvement on solar module performance and reduction of energy production costs.
Associations between prenatal and childhood PBDE exposure and early adolescent visual, verbal and working memory

Abstract Background Prenatal and childhood exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants has been inversely associated with cognitive performance, however, few studies have measured PBDE concentrations in samples collected during both prenatal and postnatal periods. Methods We examined prenatal (cord) and childhood (ages 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 years) plasma PBDE concentrations in relation to memory outcomes assessed between the ages of 9 and 14 years. The study sample includes a subset ( n = 212) of the African American and Dominican children enrolled in the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health Mothers and Newborns birth cohort. We used multivariable linear regression to examine associations between continuous log 10 -transformed PBDE concentrations and performance on tests of visual, verbal and working memory in age-stratified models. We additionally used latent class growth analysis to estimate trajectories of exposure across early life, which we analyzed as a categorical variable in relation to memory outcomes. We examined interactions between PBDE exposure and sex using cross-product terms. Results Associations between prenatal exposure and working memory significantly varied by sex ( p-interaction = 0.02), with inverse relations observed only among girls (i.e. β BDE-47 = −7.55, 95% CI: −13.84, −1.24). Children with sustained high concentrations of BDEs-47, 99 or 100 across childhood scored approximately 5–8 standard score points lower on tests of visual memory. Children with PBDE plasma concentrations that peaked during toddler years performed better on verbal domains, however, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions Exposure to PBDEs during both prenatal and postnatal periods may disrupt memory domains in early adolescence. These findings contribute to a substantial body of evidence supporting the developmental neurotoxicity of PBDEs and underscore the need to reduce exposure among pregnant women and children.
A Phase 3 Comparison of a Novel Liquid Glucagon Autoinjector to Glucagon Emergency Kit for the Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia

Objective: To prevent medical complications and serious sequalae of severe hypoglycemic emergencies, prompt and reliable rescue intervention is critically important. A novel ready-to-use stable liquid glucagon autoinjector (GAI; Xeris Pharmaceuticals) was evaluated for the rescue treatment of severe hypoglycemia. Research Design and Methods: A randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was conducted in 80 adults with T1D (mean age 43.6 years) to compare subcutaneous 1 mg doses of GAI vs. Glucagon Emergency Kit (GEK; Eli Lilly) for the treatment of insulin-induced severe hypoglycemia. Efficacy was evaluated as either an increase in plasma glucose to ≥70 mg/dL or an increase in plasma glucose ≥20 mg/dL from a baseline glucose Results: On an intent-to-treat basis, efficacy was comparable between the groups (97.4% GAI, 100% GEK, p=NS), and all subjects were rescued from severe hypoglycemia without additional measures. GAI was similar to GEK in terms of glucose Cmax, Tmax, and AUC (0-90 min). The incidence of AEs was low in both groups; the most commonly reported AE was nausea [GAI (20.5%), GEK (12.7%); p=NS], followed by vomiting and headache. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that GAI is an effective, safe, and well tolerated rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia and is a viable alternative to GEK. Disclosure M.P. Christiansen: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Abbott, Novo Nordisk Inc., Senseonics, REMD Biotherapeutics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. M.J. Cummins: Employee; Self; Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. S.J. Prestrelski: Employee; Self; Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. P. Strange: Other Relationship; Self; AstraZeneca. Consultant; Self; Valeritas, Inc.. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Valeritas, Inc..
Studying Cognitive Performance in the Elderly

The concept of a biopsychosocial model of human health and illness has been known intuitively to clinicians and researchers since the times of the earliest shamans and was explicated more recently by Engel (1977) in a more formal manner. This approach conceptualizes the person in health and illness as a part of a network of systems, from the molecular to the societal. Proper understanding of health or illness can thus come only with understanding of the role played by each level of organization in the day-to-day (or minute-to-minute or year-to-year) functioning of the organism.
Unusual Skull Based Tumors Addressed with Single Dose or Fractionated Shaped Beam Stereotactic Radiation

Stereotactic radiation is a reasonable approach for a multitude of rare tumors of the skull base. These tumors are infrequently resected completely without substantial morbidity. Examples of such tumors are paragangliomas, recurrent cancer of the nasopharynx, esthesioneuroblastoma, recurrent salivary gland carcinoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma in the orbit. Due to their rarity, there are no large series of tumors treated with shaped beam radiosurgery presented herein.
A Family Grows

When I first became a mother, I wrote a “baby book” for my daughter, titled “A Family Grows.” When we think about growth, we often feel as if it follows a predictable path. My Labrador puppy’s future appearance will be similar to her parents and most other labs. A plant seed will (unless my black thumbs thwart it!) become a mature plant with predictable characteristics. However, humans and their families take their own wandering paths. Let me tell you a bit about mine.
A Atuação dos(as) Secretários(as) na Gestão dos Programas de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu do Sul do Brasil

The article discusses the work of secretariat professionals in the context of the management of Graduate Studies Programs ( stricto sensu ) in education in the Southern Region of Brazil. The research aims to investigate the professional performance of the secretaries of Graduate Studies Programs in Education in the Southern Region of Brazil in order to gather information that could give visibility to the action of these Secretariat professionals. Likewise, it seeks to subsidize a reflection of these professionals and the programs in which they act concerning these Secretariat professionals´ labor practices aiming at the improvement of management processes and practices within the scope of the masters and doctoral degress in education from the Secretariat's perspective. The methodology consisted of an exploratory-descriptive survey. This work is justified because the lack of analysis about the management of human resources dedicated to the production of research in the context of graduate studies in relation to Secretaries´ competencies. We present and discuss an initial list of the main activities carried out by these professionals considering the Sucupira Platform requirements, which is the basis for the graduation studies program evaluation system in education in Brazil.
Isolation of mitochondrial subpopulations from skeletal muscle: Optimizing recovery and preserving integrity.

AIM The subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM) mitochondria in skeletal muscle appear to have distinct biochemical properties affecting metabolism in health and disease. The isolation of mitochondrial subpopulations has been a long-time challenge while the presence of a continuous mitochondrial reticulum challenges the view of distinctive SSM and IFM bioenergetics. Here, a comprehensive approach is developed to identify the best conditions to separate mitochondrial fractions. METHODS The main modifications to the protocol to isolate SSM and IFM from rat skeletal muscle were: (a) decreased dispase content and homogenization speed; (b) trypsin treatment of SSM fractions; (c) recentrifugation of mitochondrial fractions at low speed to remove subcellular components. To identify the conditions preserving mitochondrial function, integrity, and maximizing their recovery, microscopy (light and electron) were used to monitor effectiveness and efficiency in separating mitochondrial subpopulations while respiratory and enzyme activities were employed to evaluate function, recovery, and integrity. RESULTS With the modifications described, the total mitochondrial yield increased with a recovery of 80% of mitochondria contained in the original skeletal muscle sample. The difference between SSM and IFM oxidative capacity (10%) with complex-I substrate was significant only with a saturated ADP concentration. The inner and outer membrane damage for both subpopulations was <1% and 8%, respectively, while the respiratory control ratio was 16. CONCLUSION Using a multidisciplinary approach, conditions were identified to maximize SSM and IFM recovery while preserving mitochondrial integrity, biochemistry, and morphology. High quality and recovery of mitochondrial subpopulations allow to study the relationship between these organelles and disease.
Challenges to Family Unity and Opportunities for Promoting Child Welfare in an Increasingly Punitive Immigration Landscape

This paper describes specific challenges to family unity and child welfare among children in immigrant families resulting from immigration enforcement. Surges in immigration activity over the past decade have resulted in family economic hardship, psychological trauma to children, and difficulty accessing social services. Children whose parents are detained/deported are at risk of unnecessarily entering the child welfare system, and encounter significant barriers to family reunification. In recent months, the scope of enforcement priorities that previously safeguarded many parents now target a much larger group of immigrants for deportation, increasingly disregarding the needs of children. Immigration raids have terrorized communities across the country, and repercussions are being felt by the child welfare system and social service providers. Within an anti-immigrant political climate, there is a desperate need for social workers to lead initiatives to respond to immigrants’ needs. Strategies include: (1) development of social work expertise in working with immigrants; (2) cross-systems and cross-disciplinary collaborations; (3) leveraging existing resources and supports; (4) documentation/collection of data; and (5) focused advocacy efforts.
Real and complex valued geometrical optics inverse ray-tracing for inline field calculations

A 3-D ray based model for computing laser fields in dissipative and amplifying media is presented. The eikonal equation is solved using inverse ray-tracing on a dedicated nonstructured 3-D mesh. Inverse ray-tracing opens the possibility of using Complex Geometrical Optics (CGO), for which we propose a propagation formalism in a finite element mesh. Divergent fields at caustics are corrected using an etalon integral method for fold-type caustics. This method is successfully applied in dissipative media by modifying the ray-ordering and root selection rules, thereby allowing one to reconstruct the field in the entire caustic region. In addition, we demonstrate how caustics in the CGO framework can disappear entirely for sufficiently dissipative media, making the complex ray approach valid in the entire medium. CGO is shown to offer a more precise modeling of laser refraction and absorption in a dissipative medium when compared to Geometrical Optics (GO). In the framework of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), this occurs mostly at intermediate temperatures or at high temperatures close to the critical density. Additionally, GO is invalid at low temperatures if an approximated expression of the permittivity is used. The inverse ray-tracing algorithm for GO and CGO is implemented in the IFRIIT code, in the framework of a dielectric permittivity described in 3-D using a piecewise linear approximation in tetrahedrons. Fields computed using GO and CGO are compared to results from the electromagnetic wave solver Laser Plasma Simulation Environment. Excellent agreement is obtained in 1-D linear and nonlinear permittivity profiles. Good agreement is also obtained for ICF-like Gaussian density profiles in 2-D. Finally, we demonstrate how the model reproduces Gaussian beam diffraction using CGO. The IFRIIT code will be interfaced inline to 3-D radiative hydrodynamic codes to describe the nonlinear laser plasma interaction in ICF and high-energy-density plasmas.
Predicting Cognitive Load in Future Code Puzzles

Code puzzles are an increasingly popular way to introduce youth to programming. Yet our knowledge about how to maximize learning from puzzles is incomplete. We conducted a data collection study and trained a model that predicts cognitive load, the mental effort necessary to complete a task, on a future puzzle. Controlling cognitive load can lead to more effective learning. Our model suggests that it is possible to predict Cognitive Load on future problems; the model could correctly distinguish the more difficult puzzle within a pair 71%-79% of the time. Further, studying the model itself provides new insights into the sources of puzzle difficulty, the factors that contribute to Cognitive Load, and their inter-relationships. Finally, the ability to predict Cognitive Load on a future puzzle is an important step towards the creation of adaptive code puzzle systems.
Peer Sympathy for Bullied Youth: Individual and Classroom Considerations

Abstract Sympathetic bystanders are necessary for helping to create a positive antibullying climate. The purpose of the current study is to better understand both individual and classroom factors t...
Neutrophil‐like HL‐60 cells expressing only GFP‐tagged β‐actin exhibit nearly normal motility

Observations of actin dynamics in living cells using fluorescence microscopy have been foundational in the exploration of the mechanisms underlying cell migration. We used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to generate neutrophil-like HL-60 cell lines expressing GFP-β-actin from the endogenous locus (ACTB). In light of many previous reports outlining functional deficiencies of labeled actin, we anticipated that HL-60 cells would only tolerate a monoallelic edit, as biallelic edited cells would produce no normal β-actin. Surprisingly, we recovered viable monoallelic GFP-β-actin cells as well as biallelic edited GFP-β-actin cells, in which one copy of the ACTB gene is silenced and the other contains the GFP tag. Furthermore, the edited cells migrate with similar speeds and persistence as unmodified cells in a variety of motility assays, and have nearly normal cell shapes. These results might partially be explained by our observation that GFP-β-actin incorporates into the F-actin network in biallelic edited cells at similar efficiencies as normal β-actin in unedited cells. Additionally, the edited cells significantly upregulate γ-actin, perhaps helping to compensate for the loss of normal β-actin. Interestingly, biallelic edited cells have only modest changes in global gene expression relative to the monoallelic line, as measured by RNA sequencing. While monoallelic edited cells downregulate expression of the tagged allele and are thus only weakly fluorescent, biallelic edited cells are quite bright and well-suited for live cell microscopy. The nondisruptive phenotype and direct interpretability of this fluorescent tagging approach make it a promising tool for studying actin dynamics in these rapidly migrating and highly phagocytic cells.
Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strikes and Working-Class Politics

A review of Eric Blanc's Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strikes and Working-Class Politics. NY: Verso, 2019.
Political economy perspectives on intergovernmental fiscal system design and implementation in Asia

Although fiscal decentralisation has been a popular reform for decades, including in Asia, success with operationalising reform frameworks and the realisation of expected results have often been elusive, particularly in middle and lower-income countries. Progress occurs in many cases, but unevenly and not always sustainably. A common mantra in the literature is that decentralisation reform is context specific, but beyond some basic points, there is limited clarity about which aspects of context are important for good performance and how they matter. This chapter argues that context has been addressed in relatively superficial ways and that more nuanced diagnosis of context, particularly political economy realities, is essential for improved performance. Equally important, fiscal decentralisation policy makers have privileged the design phase of reform. Design is critical, and more can be done to better contextualise it, but many significant obstacles to better performance arise during the implementation process, and there is too little adaptation when potentially correctable issues emerge. There is no universal remedy for increasing the effectiveness of fiscal decentralisation, but better diagnostics and more strategic and flexible approaches to implementation have the potential to improve on the status quo.
Prevalence and charges of opioid-related visits to U.S. emergency departments

Abstract Objective An overwhelming responsibility for responding to the opioid epidemic falls on hospital emergency departments (ED). We sought to examine the overall prevalence rate and associated charges of opioid-related diagnoses and overdoses. Although charge data do not necessarily represent cost, they are proxy indicators of resource utilization and burden. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) dataset, the largest all-payer ED database in the United States. We queried using specific relevant ICD-10 codes to estimate the number of adult ED visits for both opioid poisonings and other opioid-related diagnoses during 2016 and 2017, which was the most recent publicly available data. Prevalence rates and financial charges were calculated by year and odds ratios were used to examine differences. Results Of approximately 234 million adult visits to EDs across 2016 and 2017, 2.88 million (1.23%) were related to opioids, with overdoses comprising nearly 27.5% and visits for other opioid-related diagnoses totaling 72.5%. As the primary diagnosis, opioids were responsible for 37% of all ED visits across both years. Total opioid-related visits for the two years accounted for $9.57 billion in ED charges, or $4.78 billion annually, with Medicaid and Medicare responsible for 66% of all charges. Conclusion and relevance Approximately one of every 80 visits to the ED were opioid-related, leading to financial charges approaching $5 billion per year. Since both prevalence and the economic burden of opioid-related visits are high, targeted interventions to address this epidemic’s impact on healthcare systems should be a national priority.
Accessing behavioral health care during COVID: rapid transition from in-person to teleconferencing medical group visits

Background and aim:Effective and safe behavioral health interventions in primary care are critical during pandemic and other disaster situations. California shelter-in-place orders necessitated rap...
Expert Witness Testimony

Expert witnesses play a variety of roles in the medical malpractice process, including reviewing cases outside of the courtroom and playing an important part during trial. Furthermore, testimony may play a peripheral role in cases proceeding to trial or can represent a profoundly important endeavor that will impact an outcome. In this chapter, we explore considerations specific to Otolaryngology as well as applicable lessons relating to testimony from other specialties. Surgical societies often provide professional guidelines detailing the appropriate manner in which to provide ethical testimony, with some organizations offering more details than others. It is important to understand that all testimony may be included in the public record, hence, testimony can impact one’s reputation within their specialty. With regard to surgical experts who choose to testify frequently, many more of these repeat “hired guns” tend to testify on behalf of plaintiffs than defendants.
Estimating Treatment Effects with Big Data When Take-up is Low: An Application to Financial Education

Low take-up of interventions is a common problem faced by evaluations of development programs. A leading case is financial education programs, which are increasingly offered by governments, nonprof...
Phase 1 study combining alisertib with nab-paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Abstract Aim Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is a pleiotropic serine/threonine kinase that orchestrates mitotic progression. Paclitaxel stabilises microtubules and disrupts mitotic spindle assembly. The combination of AURKA inhibitor (alisertib) plus paclitaxel may be synergistic in rapidly proliferative cancers. We evaluated the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of alisertib in combination with nab-paclitaxel and its preliminary efficacy in patients with refractory high-grade neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Method This is a two-part, Phase 1 study. In Part A (dose escalation), a standard 3 + 3 design was used to determine MTD. In Part B (dose expansion), patients with predominantly refractory high-grade NETs were enrolled. Results In total, 31 patients were enrolled and treated (16 in Part A and 15 in Part B). The MTD of alisertib was 40 mg BID on D1-3 per week and nab-paclitaxel 100mg/m2 weekly: 3 weeks, 1 week off. Dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia, and other common side-effects included fatigue, mucositis, and diarrhoea. In Part A, a patient with small-cell lung cancer with partial response (PR) was treated for more than 2 years, whereas four other patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (one patient), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (two patients), or high-grade NET (one patient) achieved stable disease (SD). In Part B, 13 of 15 enrolled patients had high-grade NETs. Of these, one had PR, and four had SD for more than 10 months. Conclusions The combination of alisertib and nab-paclitaxel has manageable side-effect profile and showed promising preliminary efficacy in high-grade NETs, warranting further testing. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01677559 .
Competition in College Athletics

(1910). Competition in College Athletics. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 98-110.
Beyond the Planck Length

In the previous chapters, we have treated string theory as primarily a way in which to analyze perturbative, low-energy phenomena at everyday energies. In this regard, string theory not only gives us a way of renormalizing graviton interactions, but it also gives us constraints on what the low-energy symmetries should be. The success of this perturbative approach is that, with rather mild assumptions, one can effortlessly reproduce certain features of the our low-energy world that are quite difficult to duplicate using standard GUTs.
Advances in Measurement systems integration

Two major goals of the Auto Body Consortiwn(ABC) are to increase precision of automobile bodies and improve the agility of automotive manufacturing plants. To address the agility issues, ABC has targeted specific processes in automotive manufacturing to facilitate the information integration and exchange among manufacturing entities. These processes, in conjunction with new technology, provide overall quality improvement in the automotive assembly, while reducing the amount of time to develop a new product.