cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The frailty of adaptive hypotheses for the origins of organismal complexity

The vast majority of biologists engaged in evolutionary studies interpret virtually every aspect of biodiversity in adaptive terms. This narrow view of evolution has become untenable in light of recent observations from genomic sequencing and population-genetic theory. Numerous aspects of genomic architecture, gene structure, and developmental pathways are difficult to explain without invoking the nonadaptive forces of genetic drift and mutation. In addition, emergent biological features such as complexity, modularity, and evolvability, all of which are current targets of considerable speculation, may be nothing more than indirect by-products of processes operating at lower levels of organization. These issues are examined in the context of the view that the origins of many aspects of biological diversity, from gene-structural embellishments to novelties at the phenotypic level, have roots in nonadaptive processes, with the population-genetic environment imposing strong directionality on the paths that are open to evolutionary exploitation.
Chapter 10 Immunity to cancer: Cytotoxic lymphocytes, interleukin-2, and the tumor necrosis factor superfamily

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses various immunity factors to cancer, such as cytotoxic lymphocytes, interleukin-2, and the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. Cytotoxic lymphocytes (or killer cells) are defined by their ability to destroy other cells, including those infected with microorganisms or that have undergone malignant transformation. Killer cells often possess abundant cytoplasm containing prominent granules, and have therefore, been called large granular lymphocytes. The two major types of cytotoxic lymphocytes are cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. CTLs are usually cluster of differentiation (CD)8 T cells, although, under some circumstances CD4 T cells behave as killer cells. Fully differentiated, active CTLs are not present in an animal that has never previously encountered the foreign antigen that the CTL recognizes. Instead, CTLs are generated from CTL precursors, which are small, agranular, quiescent T lymphocytes. These resting CDS T cells are stimulated by target cells that express foreign antigen complexed with class IMHC antigens. With the assistance of helper T cells, activated CDS T cells differentiate into fully functional CTLs that possess cytotoxic granules and can kill target cells. The cytotoxic activity of CTLs is triggered by the same signals that initiated their differentiation from CTL precursors.
Nexus between polymer support and metal oxide nanoparticles in hybrid nanosorbent materials (HNMs) for sorption/desorption of target ligands

Metal oxide nanoparticles like hydrated ferric oxide (HFO) or hydrated zirconium oxide (HZrO) are excellent sorbents for environmentally significant ligands like phosphate, arsenic, or fluoride, present at trace concentrations. Since the sorption capacity is surface dependent for HFO and HZrO, nanoscale sizes offer significant enhancement in performance. However, due to their miniscule sizes, low attrition resistance, and poor durability they are unable to be used in typical plug-flow column setups. Meanwhile ion exchange resins, which have no specific affinity toward anionic ligands, are durable and chemically stable. By impregnating metal oxide nanoparticles inside a polymer support, with or without functional groups, a hybrid nanosorbent material (HNM) can be prepared. A HNM is durable, mechanically strong, and chemically stable. The functional groups of the polymeric support will affect the overall removal efficiency of the ligands exerted by the Donnan Membrane Effect. For example, the removal of arsenic by HFO or the removal of fluoride by HZrO is enhanced by using anion exchange resins. The HNM can be precisely tuned to remove one type of contaminant over another type. Also, the physical morphology of the support material, spherical bead versus ion exchange fiber, has a significant effect on kinetics of sorption and desorption. HNMs also possess dual sorption sites and are capable of removing multiple contaminants, namely, arsenate and perchlorate, concurrently.
Temperature-dependent thermal conductivity in silicon nanostructured materials studied by the Boltzmann transport equation

Nanostructured materials exhibit low thermal conductivity because of the additional scattering due to phonon-boundary interactions. As these interactions are highly sensitive to the mean free path (MFP) of phonons, MFP distributions in nanostructures can be dramatically distorted relative to bulk. Here we calculate the MFP distribution in periodic nanoporous Si for different temperatures, using the recently developed MFP-dependent Boltzmann transport equation. After analyzing the relative contribution of each phonon branch to thermal transport in nanoporous Si, we find that at room temperature optical phonons contribute $17%$ to heat transport, compared to $5%$ in bulk Si. Interestingly, we observe a constant thermal conductivity over the range $200\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}lTl300\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. We attribute this behavior to the ballistic transport of acoustic phonons with long intrinsic MFP and the temperature dependence of the heat capacity. Our findings, which are in qualitative agreement with the temperature trend of thermal conductivities measured in nanoporous Si-based systems, shed light on the origin of the reduction of thermal conductivity in nanostructured materials and demonstrate the necessity of multiscale heat transport engineering, in which the bulk material and geometry are optimized concurrently.
Rearing the Pale Western Cutworm on Artificial Diet

Agrotis orthogonia Morrison was reared successfully on a semi synthetic diet for 11 generations. Eggs incubated at 26.5°C and 80% relative humidity began hatching in 10 days. The 8 larval stages were completed in 35–45 days with 96% of the larvae surviving, but a period of dormancy that occurred after the 8th larval stage resulted in a long and irregular larval period. The pupal stage lasted 21–31 days, with 87% adult emergence.
Adverse Effects of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on the Kidney

The purpose of this article is to outline the reported renal complications associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and to identify those individuals at risk to develop these complications.
An Empirical Study of Howard Becker's Side-Bet Theory

T \his is a report of a study designed to empirically test a theory of commitment developed by Howard Becker.1 Becker contends that commitment occurs through a process of placing side-bets. When an individual has made a side-bet, he has "staked something of value to him, something originally unrelated to his present line of activity."2 In general, Becker contends that the greater the number of side-bets, the greater the commitment of the individual. Two types of commitment were examined in this study: commitment to the organization and commitment to the occupation. Specifical-ly, this study focused on personnel managers. The amount of commitment of personnel managers was ascertained by a series of questions which attempted to determine for what reasons, if any, a person would leave his organization and his occupation. Such an approach was suggested by Becker:
The effects of exercise on balance in persons with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review across the disability spectrum

Background and Purpose:Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects neurophysiologic function, movement abilities, and quality of life (QOL). Research examining the effects of exercise has suggested benefits related to a variety of outcomes; however, no reviews have s
Gardeners, Locavores, Hipsters, and Residents: An Alternative Local Food Market's Potential for "Community" Building

The term community is frequently cited in the mission statements of alternative food projects, though what it signifies in vision and practice is rarely made explicit. This case study examines an alternative food market in a New Orleans neighborhood that operates a market that is modeled after CSA and on-site community gardens. Based on ethnographic observation and interviews with community gardeners, market staff, volunteers, customers, and local residents, this paper explores different views of "community" in relation to the market's practices. Data analysis identified four communities in relation to the organization: community gardeners, conspicuous locavores, hipsters, and local residents. The paper shows how each community has a distinct set of expectations for the organization's role in the community and demonstrates that some of them value enhancement of social connections through their involvement with the organization more than others. The findings do not demonstrate a unified community emerging around this organization; none of the communities has staked a claim yet on the organization. Some missed opportunities for bridging these communities can be attributed to the operational and physical structures of the organization, some of which, ironically, were intended to enhance community involvement. On the basis of these findings, I conclude that the alternative food movement may not necessarily create a unified community with shared goals, but this should not necessarily be considered a failure of community building. I also call for alternative food scholarship and praxis to examine the movement's impact on individuals and groups beyond the core, committed members.
Increase of von Willebrand Factor predicting adverse outcome in patients of acute coronary syndromes with non-ST-segment elevation

Objective To study the predictive value of von Willebrand factor(vWF) in judging non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes(NSTE-ACS). Methods 70 patients with NSTE-ACS were enrolled from Beijing friendship hospital cardiac department.Blood sample were taken and the levels of vWF were measured on admission and after12,48 hours respectively.The efficacy end point was a composite of death,myocardial infarction and recurrent ischemia within 30 days after enrollment.vWF levels were compared between patients with death,myocardial infarction and recurrent ischemia and patients without death,myocardial infarction and recurrent ischemia. Results ①At least one end point took place in 22 cases(31.4%)within 30 days.Increase of vWF during 48 hours was 100±34% in patients with adverse outcomes vs 73±33%(P0.05) in patients with favorable outcomes.②Male ratio was 55% in patients with adverse outcomes vs.75% in patients with favorable outcomes(P0.05).The ratio of multivessel disease was 73% in patients with adverse outcomes vs 50% in patients with favorable outcomes(P0.05). Conclusion Increase of vWF within 48 hours is an independent predictor for the composite end point within 30days.
A RARE CASE OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS WITH COEXISTING MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies are directed against postsynaptic membrane of neuromuscular junction, resulting in muscle weakness and fatigability. We report a rare case of an 11 years old boy who was a known case of myasthenia gravis presented with progressive weakness and wasting of facial and limb musculature and was found to have coexisting muscular dystrophy most like facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
A Study of Possible Correlation Between Fair-Weather Electric Field and Auroral Activity

We have analyzed simultaneous measurements of E and various parameters which relate to auroral activity. The measurements were made at College, Alaska (65° N). Our analysis concentrated on looking for perturbations in the field record associated with riometer 30 MHz absorption events since they relate to ionization in the D region which is enhanced during some auroral substorms. In addition, we looked for possible variations that may be associated with visual auroral activity, magnetic field changes and disturbed ionospheric parameters as deduced from an incoherent-scatter radar.
Agroforestry today : An analysis of the 750 presentations to the 1st world congress of agroforestry, 2004

The developmental stage of a discipline can be gauged by the nature of its publications. Major themes of the 750 presentations at the 1st World Congress of Agroforestry, Orlando, Florida, 2004, were biological and ecological (28%); communication and knowledge integration (24%); and economics, marketing, and social issues (23%). The presentations related mostly (88% of total) to the tropics. About 55% of the authors came from educational institutions, 21% represented governments, and 13% represented nongovernmental organizations. The presentations showed that sustainability continued to be a major conceptual foundation of agroforestry, but there was considerable tropical-temperate contrast in efforts to attain sustainability. Although issues such as poverty alleviation, food security, and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals dominate the research and development agenda in the tropics, the focus in the temperate region is on environmental services such as carbon sequestration, water quality enhancement, and biodiversity conservation. The nature, diversity, and distribution of presentations as well as the current trends in agroforestry research suggest that agroforestry is maturing as a robust discipline.
Well-posedness of the Cahn–Hilliard equation with fractional free energy and its Fourier Galerkin approximation

Abstract We study the well-posedness of the Cahn–Hilliard equation in which the gradient term in the free energy is replaced by a fractional derivative. We begin by establishing the existence and uniqueness of a Fourier-Galerkin approximation and then derive a number of priori estimates for the Fourier-Galerkin scheme. Compactness arguments are then used to deduce the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the fractional Cahn–Hilliard equation. An estimate for the rate of convergence of the Fourier-Galerkin approximation is then obtained. Finally, we present some numerical illustrations of typical solutions to the fractional Cahn–Hilliard equation and how they vary with the fractional order β and the parameter e. In particular, we show how the width τ of the diffuse interface depends on e and β, and derive the scaling law τ = O ( ɛ 1 / β ) which is verified numerically.
Abstract 17788: Association of Left Atrial Function and Left Atrial Fibrosis in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: a Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with left atrial (LA) electrical, structural, and contractile remodeling. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and feature tracking are capable of noninvasive quantification of LA fibrosis and myocardial motion, respectively. Hypothesis: Increased LA fibrosis measured with LGE is associated with worsening of the phasic LA function measured with feature tracking CMR. Methods: The cohort included 90 patients (age 61 ± 10 years, 76% male) with symptomatic drug-resistant AF referred for ablation. Peak global longitudinal LA strain (PLAS), LA systolic strain rate (SR-s), and early (SR-ed) and late diastolic (SR-ld) strain rates were measured using cine-CMR images acquired during sinus rhythm. The degree of LGE was quantified using normalized image intensity. Results: Compared to patients with paroxysmal AF (60% of cohort), those with persistent AF had larger maximum LA volume index (LAVImax, 56 ± 17ml/m2 versus 49 ± 13ml/m2 p=0.036), and increased LGE (27.1± 11.7% versus 36.8 ± 14.8% p Conclusions: Increased LA fibrosis is associated with decreased LA reservoir, conduit, and booster pump functions. Phasic measurement of LA function using feature-tracking CMR is feasible and may add important information regarding the physiological importance of LA fibrosis.
Opposition, Imitation, and the Spread of Victimhood

Campbell and Manning discuss how new moral cultures spread, focusing on the dynamics involved in the spread of victimhood culture. These include changes in childhood socialization, such as higher degrees of adult supervision and protection in the form of helicopter parenting. Campbell and Manning argue that victimhood culture is most developed among social elites, and this makes it a potentially valuable form of cultural capital for those seeking upward mobility, causing it to spread downward in the status structure. The spread of victimhood is strenuously opposed by many, but opposition can turn into imitation as critics of campus culture adopt the language and tactics of their adversaries. Campbell and Manning discuss the phenomenon of competitive victimhood, and how it can aid the spread of victimhood culture, but also produce purity spirals that limit the effectiveness of victimhood activists.
Scalable Test Generation for Trojan Detection Using Side Channel Analysis

Hardware Trojan detection has emerged as a critical challenge to ensure security and trustworthiness of integrated circuits. A vast majority of research efforts in this area has utilized side-channel analysis for Trojan detection. Functional test generation for logic testing is a promising alternative but it may not be helpful if a Trojan cannot be fully activated or the Trojan effect cannot be propagated to the observable outputs. Side-channel analysis, on the other hand, can achieve significantly higher detection coverage for Trojans of all types/sizes, since it does not require activation/propagation of an unknown Trojan. However, they have often limited effectiveness due to poor detection sensitivity under large process variations and small Trojan footprint in side-channel signature. In this paper, we address this critical problem through a novel side-channel-aware test generation approach, based on a concept of multiple excitation of rare switching (MERS), that can significantly increase Trojan detection sensitivity. This paper makes several important contributions: 1) it presents in detail a scalable statistical test generation method, which can generate high-quality test set for creating high relative activity in arbitrary Trojan instances; 2) it analyzes the effectiveness of generated test set in terms of Trojan coverage; and 3) it describes two judicious reordering methods that can further tune the test set and greatly improve the side channel sensitivity. Simulation results demonstrate that the tests generated by MERS can significantly increase the Trojans sensitivity, thereby making Trojan detection effective using side-channel analysis.
The Brain as a Learner/Inquirer/Creator: Some Implications of Its Organization for Individual and Social Well Being

At its best, empirical research opens new and fruitful directions for exploring what it means to be human. In this essay. I will describe several aspects of research on the brain that seem to me to have this character, suggesting that we can and should think of ourselves, individually and collectively, as active creators and revisers of meaning, for ourselves and for the world we find ourselves in. I will conclude with several social policy recommendations that follow from this perspective.
Ancient DNA Extraction from Plants

A variety of protocols for DNA extraction from archaeological and paleobotanical plant specimens have been proposed. This is not surprising given the range of taxa and tissue types that may be preserved and the variety of conditions in which that preservation may take place. Commercially available DNA extraction kits can be used to recover ancient plant DNA, but modifications to standard approaches are often necessary to improve yield. In this chapter, I describe two protocols for extracting DNA from small amounts of ancient plant tissue. The CTAB protocol, which I recommend for use with single seeds, utilizes an incubation period in extraction buffer and subsequent chloroform extraction followed by DNA purification and suspension. The PTB protocol, which I recommend for use with gourd rind and similar tissues, utilizes an overnight incubation of pulverized tissue in extraction buffer, removal of the tissue by centrifugation, and DNA extraction from the buffer using commercial plant DNA extraction kits.
Estimation of tumor volume in radical prostatectomy specimens in routine clinical practice.

Tumor volume may be an independent prognostic factor in prostatic adenocarcinoma but is too difficult, expensive, and time consuming to measure in routine clinical practice. We sought to evaluate several simple estimates of tumor volume in radical prostatectomy specimens. Specimens from 86 radical prostatectomies were completely sectioned, and the true tumor was volume calculated using a computer-assisted image analysis technique. True tumor volume was then compared with the results of several estimation techniques. True tumor volume ranged from 0.004 to 9.74 cc (mean, 1.59 cc). The Pearson correlation coefficient of the length of the maximum dimension of tumor as measured from the slide with true tumor volume had an r 2 of 0.688. However, 15 (75%) of 20 tumors less than 0.5 cc had a single maximum diameter of less than 10 mm, and only 3 (4%) of 66 tumors with volumes greater than 0.5 cc had a maximum diameter of less than 10 mm. Fifteen (68%) of 22 tumors with true tumor volumes greater than 2 cc had a maximum dimension greater than 20 mm, and only 2 (3%) of 64 tumors with volumes less than 2 cc had a maximum dimension greater than 20 mm. Increasing correlation with true tumor volume could be obtained from the largest single tumor area (r 2 = 0.749), the sum of the largest dimensions of two separate tumor foci (r 2 = 0.759), and the sum of the two largest areas (r 2 = 0.859). For tumors with true volumes less than 0.5 cc, only 1 (5%) of 20 cases had a sum of the two largest areas greater than 65 mm 2 , and no tumor larger than 0.5 cc had a sum of less than 65 mm 2 . For tumors larger than 2 cc, 19 (86%) of 22 tumors had a sum of the two largest areas greater than 250 mm 2 , and only 1 (2%) of 64 cases with a true tumor volume less than 2 cc had an area greater than 250 mm 2 . We conclude that tumors in radical prostatectomy specimens can be stratified by size based on simple measurements obtainable during routine pathology practice.
Structural Coefficients in Recursive Models

This chapter discusses the concept of structural coefficients in recursive models. There are some advantages of a four-variable recursive model formulated in terms of standardized variables. (1) Sewall Wright's rule for expressing correlations in terms of path coefficients can be applied without modification. (2) Continuity is maintained with the earlier literature on path analysis and causal models in sociology. (3) It shows how an investigator whose data are available only in the form of a correlation matrix can, nevertheless, make use of a clearly specified model in interpreting those correlations. Despite these advantages, it would probably be helpful if the variables are expressed in the standard form. The standardization tends to obscure the distinction between the structural coefficients of the model and the several variances and co-variances that describe the joint distribution of the variables in a certain population. The four-variable recursive model avoids the stipulation that all variables have unit variance. It has been assumed that all variables have zero expectation; unlike standardization, this achieves a useful simplification without significant loss of generality or confusion of issues.
Memory, Critical Theory and the Argument from History.

This essay explores the function of memory in Critical Theory, particularly in the work of Herbert Marcuse, as the basis for a critical argumentation. Marcuse viewed memory as a dialectical force w...
Education Reform and Language Politics in the Coroico Municipality of the Nor Yungas of Bolivia

Aymara, one of four national national languages in Bolivia, has become endangered within the past generation in the Coroico municipality. Top-down education reforms implemented in 1994 have adopted a language-as-resource orientation to alleviate the degradation of Bolivia’s indigenous languages. Bottom-up grassroots movements nationwide reveal a tenuous shift away from colonial-era language attitudes. The gap between the language policy of Bolivia, as enacted by the Education Reform, and the practice of that policy at the grassroots level characterizes the contentious and shifting social atmosphere of Bolivian sociolinguistic culture. My focus centers on historical legislation and language attitudes against multilingualism, as well as legislation and language attitudes promoting multilingualism. This case study exemplifies efforts to curb language abandonment in the face of globalization and the growth of world languages.
The Rationality of Science and the Science of Rationality: Critique of Subjectivism

Is science rational? What does its rationality consist of? Does it consist, for example, of the effectiveness of its method? Does it consist of something peculiar to science and demarcating it from other cognitive activities, or does it consist essentially of a special case of general cognitive rationality? Three types of answers are possible to such questions. One may say that science is rational insofar as it evolves and develops in a way that can be understood and explained, or insofar as one can show that the changes that it undergoes are changes for the better, or insofar as it is the result of individuals thinking reasonably and acting with good reasons. The rationality of science is reduced to the explicability of scientific change in the first approach, to the provability of scientific progress in the second, and to the rationality of scientists in the third.
New Transition Metal Halides and Oxides with Extended Metal—Metal Bonding

In the last fifteen years or so, synthetic studies in metal-rich systems involving the chalcogenides or halides of approximately the first half of the transition metals have led to some remarkable discoveries of new types of strong, extended metal—metal bonding [1]. The lower dimensional members of this family will be the subject of this article, thus excluding the equally remarkable but more isotropically bonded Chevrel phases M x Mo6Ch8 (Ch = S, Se, Te) which otherwise logically relate to the phases to be described. In addition, although compounds containing the one-dimensional finite and infinite chain members \(({\rm Mo}_{3}{\rm Ch}_{3})_{n}{\rm Ch}_{2}^{m-}\) and \(({\rm Mo}_{3}{\rm Ch}_{3}^{-})\), respectively, are appropriate members of the family of compounds under discussion, these are described separately in this volume [2] as well as elsewhere [3]. Subsets of the present article have appeared elsewhere [4–8].
Adult skeletal muscle deletion of Mitofusin 1 and 2 impedes exercise performance and training capacity.

This study is the first to utilize an adult-inducible skeletal muscle-specific knockout model for Mitofusin (Mfn)1 and Mfn2 to assess exercise capacity. Our findings reveal a progressive decrease i...
Supervised learning via smoothed Polya trees

We propose a generative classification model that extends Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) (Cox in J R Stat Soc Ser B (Methodol) 20:215–242, 1958) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) (Fisher in Ann Eugen 7:179–188, 1936; Rao in J R Stat Soc Ser B 10:159–203, 1948) to the Bayesian nonparametric setting, providing a competitor to MclustDA (Fraley and Raftery in Am Stat Assoc 97:611–631, 2002). This approach models the data distribution for each class using a multivariate Polya tree and realizes impressive results in simulations and real data analyses. The flexibility gained from further relaxing the distributional assumptions of QDA can greatly improve the ability to correctly classify new observations for models with severe deviations from parametric distributional assumptions, while still performing well when the assumptions hold. The proposed method is quite fast compared to other supervised classifiers and very simple to implement as there are no kernel tricks or initialization steps perhaps making it one of the more user-friendly approaches to supervised learning. This highlights a significant feature of the proposed methodology as suboptimal tuning can greatly hamper classification performance; e.g., SVMs fit with non-optimal kernels perform significantly worse.
Parent- and Sibling-Directed Aggression in Children of Domestic Violence Victims.

This study examines the nature of parent- and sibling-directed aggression and involvement in other victimization among children living with female caregivers in a domestic violence shelter. Caregivers were interviewed about their children's (N = 79; M age = 9.0 years) parent- and sibling-directed aggression. Physical and verbal aggression and emotional blackmail were the most common forms of aggression against caregivers. Physical and verbal aggression were most common against siblings. No age or gender differences in aggression characteristics were found. A large minority of children displayed both parent- and sibling-directed aggression. Children exhibiting parent- or sibling-directed aggression were significantly more likely to be victimized. Findings highlight the importance of incorporating parent- and sibling-directed aggression into definitions of family violence and recognizing children can be victims and victimizers.
Role of Molecular Disorder on the Reactivity of RDX

Shock initiation of heterogeneous high-energy materials is often preceded by the loss of crystalline order around hotspots where mechanical energy is localized and chemical reactions start. We use ...
Smart Prosthesis System: Continuous Automatic Prosthesis Fitting Adjustment and Real-time Stress Visualization

Prosthetic devices have significantly improved mobility and quality of life for amputees. Significant engineering advancements have been made in artificial limb biomechanics, joint control systems, and light-weight materials. Amputees report that the primary problem they face with their artificial limbs is a poor fitting socket. In this paper, we propose a smart prosthesis system, in which we measure the real-time force distributions within a prothetic socket and dynamically visualize the results in a mobile application. A major part of the overall proposed system, a wireless pressure sensing system and a force visualization method, are evaluated at current stage. Finally, corresponding works for fully completing this smart prosthesis system are discussed as well.
Thyroid Hormone (Triiodothyronine) Therapy in Children After Congenital Heart Surgery: A Meta-Analysis

Thyroid hormone modifies metabolic, immune and cardiovascular functions and has been administered perioperatively to treat a relative reduction of thyroid function in children following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for correction of congenital heart disease. However, it remains unclear whether its use is associated with improved outcomes. We performed a meta-analysis of studies that evaluated the impact of thyroid hormone supplementation on clinical outcomes in children undergoing repair of congenital heart disease using CPB. A systematic review of published trials was conducted to identify studies of children randomized to thyroid hormone supplementation or placebo undergoing congenital heart surgery. A meta-analysis was then conducted to determine the clinical impact of thyroid hormone replacement on cardiac function and postoperative characteristics. The following outcomes were included for the study: duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, duration of postoperative hospital stay, inotrope score, cardiac index at 24 hours postoperatively, and inpatient mortality. A total of 9 studies with 711 patients were included in the analyses. All included studies were prospective and patients were randomized to either thyroid hormone or placebo. There was wide variation in thyroid hormone dosing, ranging from 0.4 μg/kg up to 5 μg/kg over a 24-hour period, and duration of therapy, ranging from a single dose after cessation of CPB to continued thyroid hormone for the duration of the ICU stay. There was a significant difference in the mean inotrope score between the 2 groups of −1.249 (95% confidence interval −1.570 to −0.929, P
Radioimmunoassay of secretin.

Several sensitive radioimmunoassay systems for secretin have been developed and reported1–6. The development of these assay systems depended upon the generation of a specific secretin antiserum and the iodination of secretin (natural porcine secretin, synthetic secretin or a tyrosyl derivative of secretin). This manuscript reports the results of studies conducted in our laboratory to validate a secretin radioimmunoassay.
Assessing internationalized education: a content analysis of final student presentations from USC chan’s summer OT immersion program

Date Presented 04/05/19 Primary Author and Speaker: Rebecca Aldrich Additional Authors and Speakers: Brianne Tabios, Natasha Strickland, Vidhisha Nair, Daniel Park
A Knock on Knick’s Revival of Federal Takings Litigation

In Knick v. Township of Scott, the Supreme Court held that a landowner who claimed to have suffered a taking at the hands of state or local officials could seek redress in federal court without the need to first seek compensation through state proceedings. This holding rests first on the implicit assumption that states separate powers among branches of government in the same way the federal government does. It also relies on a second assumption: that relegating taking claims to state court makes them unique. Neither is true. Beyond the opinion’s shaky theoretical foundation, Knick will require federal courts to determine precisely when an alleged “taking” is in fact complete and final—an issue they have heretofore been spared. Moreover, nothing in the Court’s opinion limits its scope to regulatory takings. The opinion simply does not deal with the host of ways in which state and local government can interfere with private property rights. These include taking actions on adjacent property that have adverse impacts on a landowner’s parcel (like sewage backups or flooding), and explicitly exercising the eminent domain power. Unless the Court narrows its opinion, the Court’s conceptual separation of takings from just compensation threatens to open the doors of federal courts to a variety of claims that the Court does not appear to have anticipated, and that federal courts are ill-equipped to address—including but not limited to claims for valuation of property taken through exercise of the eminent domain power.
Early Elementary Trajectories of Classroom Behavior Self-Regulation: Prediction by Student Characteristics and Malleable Contextual Factors.

Self-regulation is a critical component of school readiness and success. Practices for supporting self-regulation may be advanced by a better understanding of factors characterizing children at ris...
Multiple Thrombectomies in the Same Patient within One Month: Case Report of a Patient with Trousseau Syndrome and Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Importance: Since Trousseau’s initial publication, the development of thromboembolic events related to malignancy has been well established. The pathophysiology of this is understood to be through activation of the coagulation cascade through neoplastic cells themselves or the therapy initiated (chemotherapy or surgery). To date, there have been a variety of studies, such as the OASIS-CANCER trial, which highlight the relationship of hypercoagulability to ischemic stroke. Despite these efforts, clear evidence is lacking for the utilization of antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy in the secondary prevention of stroke following mechanical thrombectomy in patients with suspected or confirmed malignancy. Clinical Presentation: A 71-year-old female with a history of immune thrombocytopenia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension who was undergoing an evaluation for a lung nodule, later determined to be adenocarcinoma of the lung, underwent three successful mechanical thrombectomies for acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion over a one month period. This patient had improved National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores following each of her thrombectomies. However, her history of immune thrombocytopenia and underlying malignancy complicated her discharge medication regimen following each of her thrombectomies and may have contributed to her repeat strokes. Conclusion: Clear guidance is lacking regarding the utilization of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy in patients with suspected or confirmed malignancy following mechanical thrombectomy. Review of the literature suggests that controlling a patient’s hypercoagulability may lead to improved clinical outcomes, but further clinical trials are warranted.
A Comparison of Supine Versus Stand-on Bioimpedance Devices to Assess Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Background: While supine bioimpedance devices are used to evaluate for lymphedema (LE), stand-on devices are gaining popularity. Because research on differences in bioimpedance values between the t...
Flexible Semiconductor Device Technologies

Flexible electronic devices operating in the GHz range is critical for applications like wireless communication and radars. GaN-based transistors have been extensively studied in rigid microwave electronics for high-frequency and high-power applications due to their superior properties of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure. Here, we review our recent research on flexible microwave electronics based on GaN HEMT, including high-performance flexible GaN HEMTs on conventional plastic substrates, biodegradable cellulose nanofibril substrates, and GaN HEMT-based flexible microwave circuits.
Transformational Leadership and Performance Across Criteria and Levels: A Meta-Analytic Review of 25 Years of Research

Although transformational leadership has been studied extensively, the magnitude of the relationship between transformational leadership and follower performance across criterion types and levels of analysis remains unclear. Based on 117 independent samples over 113 primary studies, the current metaanalytic study showed that transformational leadership was positively related to individual-level follower performance across criterion types, with a stronger relationship for contextual performance than for task performance across most study settings. In addition, transformational leadership was positively related to performance at the team and organization levels. Moreover, both meta-analytic regression and relative importance analyses consistently showed that transformational leadership had an augmentation effect over transactional leadership (contingent reward) in predicting individual-level contextual performance and team-level performance. Contrary to our expectation, however, no augmentation effect of transformational leadership over contingent reward was found in predicting individual-level task performance. Instead, contingent reward explained incremental variance in individual-level task performance beyond that explained by transformational leadership.
Biliary Strictures: Etiologies and Medical Management

Biliary strictures have several etiologies that can broadly be classified into benign and malignant causes. The clinical presentation is variable with strictures identified incidentally on imaging or during the evaluation of routine laboratory abnormalities. Symptoms and cholangitis lead to imaging that can diagnose biliary strictures. The diagnosis and medical management of biliary strictures will be discussed in this article.
Electron probe analysis of human teeth, Ca-P ratios in incipient carious lesions.

Abstract The electron probe has been used to study the distribution of calcium and phosphorus in incipient carious lesions in human teeth. The findings indicate that the outer surface layer of natural white spot lesions of enamel may contain either greater or lesser amounts of mineral than the outer surface of adjacent non-carious enamel. The average Ca P ratio over the entire lesion was found to be essentially normal. There appears to be a redistribution of calcium and phosphorus in the subsurface zone of decalcification with extreme losses adjacent to hypermineralized areas. The Ca P ratio was always lower than normal in the hypermineralized areas because of excess phosphorus, whereas in the hypomineralized areas the Ca P ratio was high because of low phosphorus.
Assessing ethics education needs in the MBA program

A methodology for assessing ethics educationneeds in a Masters of Business Administration(MBA) program is proposed and applied at oneinstitution by comparing the ethical judgmentof MBA and MPA (Masters of PublicAdministration) students over a variety ofbusiness scenarios. Implications are discussedfor ethics education and its assessment in thisand other MBA programs. MPAs were chosen asthe comparison group because their education,organizational knowledge, and work experienceare expected to promote reasonable judgments. They were also selected because future negativeconsequences are likely from an ethics gapbetween MBA and MPA graduates. MBAs were lesscritical in the current study, and were alsomore likely to report reliance on egoism, aprinciple strongly associated with greatertolerance of the practices described. Anadditional factor, however, appeared tocontribute to the MBAs' less critical judgment. Ethical decision-making models suggest thisfactor was ethical perception. Suggestions aremade for modifying ethical principles andperceptions where indicated. Decision makersare urged to assess ethics education needs intheir own MBA programs, particularly if theyhave not added significant ethical content totheir curricula.
Evolving mean shift with adaptive bandwidth: a fast and noise robust approach

This paper presents a novel nonparametric clustering algorithm called evolving mean shift (EMS) algorithm. The algorithm iteratively shrinks a dataset and generates well formed clusters in just a couple of iterations. An energy function is defined to characterize the compactness of a dataset and we prove that the energy converges to zero at an exponential rate. The EMS is insensitive to noise as it automatically handles noisy data at an early stage. The single but critical user parameter, i.e., the kernel bandwidth, of the mean shift clustering family is adaptively updated to accommodate the evolving data density and alleviate the contradiction between global and local features. The algorithm has been applied and tested with image segmentation and neural spike sorting, where the improved accuracy can be obtained at a much faster performance, as demonstrated both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Peroxisome Proliferator Activator Receptor-γ Ligands, 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2 and Ciglitazone, Reduce Systemic Inflammation in Polymicrobial Sepsis by Modulation of Signal Transduction Pathways

Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor that controls the expression of several genes involved in metabolic homeostasis. We investigated the role of PPARgamma during the inflammatory response in sepsis by the use of the PPARgamma ligands, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) and ciglitazone. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in rats and was associated with hypotension, multiple organ failure, and 50% mortality. PPARgamma expression was markedly reduced in lung and thoracic aorta after sepsis. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining for nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase in thoracic aortas. Plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 were increased. Elevated activity of myeloperoxidase was found in lung, colon, and liver, indicating a massive infiltration of neutrophils. These events were preceded by degradation of inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha), activation of IkappaB kinase complex, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase and, subsequently, activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in the lung. In vivo treatment with ciglitazone or 15d-PGJ(2) ameliorated hypotension and survival, blunted cytokine production, and reduced neutrophil infiltration in lung, colon, and liver. These beneficial effects of the PPARgamma ligands were associated with the reduction of IkappaB kinase complex and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activation and the reduction of NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding in the lung. Furthermore, treatment with ciglitazone or 15d-PGJ(2) up-regulated the expression of PPARgamma in lung and thoracic aorta and abolished nitrotyrosine formation and poly(ADP-ribose) expression in aorta. Our data suggest that PPARgamma ligands attenuate the inflammatory response in sepsis through regulation of the NF-kappaB and AP-1 pathways.
Students as Learners and Teachers: Taking Responsibility, Transforming Education, and Redefining Accountability

As has been the case throughout the history of education in the United States, the current structures and practices of U.S. schools and colleges are informed by particular ideals regarding the pote...
Review of L’amica geniale: infanzia, adolescenza (Rome: Edizioni e/o, 2011), by Elena Ferrante

James Wood, in a 2013 article in the New Yorker, called Elena Ferrante “one of Italy’s best-known least-known contemporary writers.” Meghan O’Rourke, in 2014 in The Guardian, similarly referred to her as “the global literary sensation nobody knows.” These comments refer to both the excitement that her works have generated among her reading public and to the reclusiveness she cultivates by hiding her identity behind a pseudonym and assiduously avoiding the public eye. It was Wood’s description of Ferrante’s “remarkable, lucid, austerely honest novels” that led me to read L’amica geniale (2011) and to seek out as well her earlier works. Soon I too was hooked. [...]
Neotropical Segregates from Sida L. (Malvaceae)

Three genera are segregated out ofSida as natural units,viz. Sidastrum E. G. Baker, enlarged from one species to seven,Krapovickasia nom. nov. including four species, andRhynchosida gen. nov. including two species, one described as new from Bolivia,R. kearneyi. Mericarp and calyx morphology are emphasized in delimiting these genera and in defining the residual genusSida, which now assumes a more natural character.
Reclassification of the Caliciviridae into Five Genera † 688

Background Currently, Caliciviridae include one genus Calicivirus containing strains with distinct structural and genomic features. Our recent phylogenetic analyses of caliciviruses (CVs) revealed five distinct genetic clusters (genogroups) within Caliciviridae corresponding to differences in genome organization. Aim To determine whether these genetic clusters correspond to differences at the genus, family, or other taxonomic level. MethodsCaliciviridae and Picornaviridae are members of the same virus superfamily and genera within Picornaviridae are well characterized. Available genomic sequences of CVs and of prototypes representing different picornavirus genera were collected. Corresponding regions of the genomes were submitted to sequence analyses. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were aligned using CLUSTAL V. After alignments were optimized, they were bootstrapped for phylogenetic analyses (N=1,000). The phylogenetic package PHYLIP v3.5 utilizing parsimony, distance and maximum likelihood methods was used to estimate the phylogenetic relationships among strains. Results Utilizing conserved genomic sequences for the analyses, only major groups of CVs were separated with confidence (≥0.95 probability), including human small round-structured viruses (SRSVs), hepatitis E virus (HEV), animal CVs (AnCVs) and Sapporo-like human CVs. Among Picornaviridae, genera were separated. Analysis of the most variable genomic region revealed greater details of relationships among CVs. The five main genetic clusters (SRSVs, Sapporo-like HuCVs, HEV, vesicular exanthem of swine virus-, and rabbit-like AnCVs) showed distances corresponding to those observed among picornavirus genera. Conclusion Our findings support a reclassification of the genus Calicivirus in the Caliciviridae into five distinct genera. This conclusion is supported by observed differences in virion morphology, genome organization, and amino acid motifs at the sequence level. These results have implications for host and other ecologic relationships isolating the genera.