cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Year-round Student Organic Farm and Organic Farming Curriculum at Michigan State University

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. community supported agriculture, experiential under- graduate education, organic curricula SUMMARY. How do you teach community supported agriculture (CSA) principles, small-scale organic farming, and local food issues at a major land grant univer- sity and develop related small-scale farming research and outreach? You create a place and opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to work together with the soil and plants to raise food in a non-classroom farm setting. After several years of discussion and obtaining funding, the Michigan State University (MSU) Student Organic Farm (SOF) CSA started in May 2003 with 25 memberships and increased to 50 after 1 year. The farm allows experiential learning of CSA management, crop selection, scheduling, maintenance, harvest, and organic farming methods. The CSA helps many MSU students and faculty see the value of supporting local organic food systems. With more than 3 years of experi- ence working with students to run the SOF and the CSA, we are in the process of developing an organic farming certifi cate program. A total of 40 credits will include 12 months on campus plus a 16-week on-farm internship. The program has three major components: 1) organic farming courses with seven one-credit courses; 2) horticultural crop production courses with eight courses for a total of 15 credits; and 3) approximately 20 credits of experiential course work combined with classroom and independent learning.
Two distinct calcium-activated potassium currents in a rat anterior pituitary cell line.

1. The single ‘giga-seal’ patch-electrode technique (Hamill, Marty, Neher, Sakmann & Sigworth, 1981) was used to record whole-cell currents in the GH3 rat anterior pituitary cell line. 2. GH3 cells have a rapidly inactivating, voltage-dependent K+ current that is selectively inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) but not by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA). 3. The majority of the Ca2+-activated K+ current in these cells is blocked by TEA with an inhibitory concentration that is half-maximal at 1 mM. An additional Ca2+-activated K+ current is also present that is relatively resistant to TEA and is blocked by the polypeptide apamin. The apamin-sensitive component represents less than 18% of the total Ca2+-activated K+ current at 0 mV. 4. The time course of the slowly declining components of the Ca2+-activated K+ tail currents measured at the -50 mV holding potential was usually biexponential with time constants of 0.21 +/- 0.02 and 1.75 +/- 0.23 s (mean +/- S.E. of mean, n = 14). Both of the two slowly decaying components contribute to the TEA- and apamin-sensitive currents. 5. It is concluded that GH3 cells have at least two pharmacologically distinct Ca2+-activated K+ currents and a 4-AP-sensitive voltage-dependent K+ current.
Ghrelin and cholecystokinin in term and preterm human breast milk.

Aim: To determine whether ghrelin and cholecystokinin (CCK) are present in significant quantities in term and preterm human breast milk, and to identify their source. Methods: Samples were collected from 10 mothers who delivered term infants and 10 mothers who delivered preterm infants. Estimated fat content was measured. Ghrelin and CCK levels were measured in whole and skim breast milk samples using radioimmunoassays (RIA). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using RNA from human mammary epithelial cells (hMECs) and mammary gland with primers specific to ghrelin. Results: The median ghrelin level in whole breast milk was 2125 pg/ml, which is significantly higher than normal plasma levels. There was a direct correlation between whole milk ghrelin levels and estimated milk fat content (r=0.84, p<0.001). Both the mammary gland and hMECs produced ghrelin. While CCK was detected in some samples, levels were insignificant. Infant gestational age, birthweight, maternal age, and maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index did not significantly affect the results. Conclusion: Ghrelin, but not CCK, is present in breast milk. Since the mammary gland produces ghrelin message, and ghrelin levels in breast milk are higher than those found in plasma, we conclude that ghrelin is produced and secreted by the breast.
Leptospiral Uveitis – There Is More to It Than Meets the Eye!

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic species of genus Leptospira, is a highly prevalent zoonotic disease throughout many parts of the world, and an important emerging disease within the United States. Uveitis is a common complication of systemic infection in humans. A similar condition in horses is characterized by recurrent bouts of inflammation. In this article, we review advances in our understanding of leptospiral uveitis and its pathogenic mechanisms.
Diagonal forms of incidence matrices associated with t-uniform hypergraphs

We consider integer matrices N"t(h) whose rows are indexed by the t-subsets of an n-set and whose columns are all images of a particular column h under the symmetric group S"n. Earlier work has determined a diagonal form for N"t(h) when h has at least t 'isolated vertices' and the results were applied to the binary case of a zero-sum Ramsey-type problem of Alon and Caro involving t-uniform hypergraphs. This paper deals with the case that h does not have as many as t isolated vertices.
Endoscopy-assisted craniosynostosis.

THE goals of the study by Jimenez, et al., were to define the effectiveness and the complications associated with the treatment of 139 patients with sagittal synostosis who had undergone endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomies and barrel stave osteotomies. These infants were treated with postoperative molding helmets for 1 year. They ranged in age from 2 weeks to 9 months. The authors report that visually the results were uniformly excellent and corroborate this by using cephalic index measurements. They also describe no significant complications, with the need for blood transfusion in only two patients intraoperatively and 12 patients overall. The indications for transfusion were a hematocrit of less than 19 and a pulse rate greater than 170. Most patients were discharged on the 1st postoperative day (132 patients [95%]). The authors further state that there were no dural tears and no intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhages or air emboli. On the surface, this approach has a significant number of appealing features: a smaller or less conspicuous scar in childhood, shorter operating time, and overall low morbidity rate.
Statically sceduling communication resources in multiprocessor DSP architectures

In statically scheduled multiprocessors inter-processor communication resources can be scheduled by determining, at compile time, the order in which processors require access to shared resources and enforcing this order at run time. We show how to choose an access order such that, under certain assumptions, imposing that order incurs no performance penalty. >
The Gender Politics of Educational Change.

The Gender Politics of Educational Change. Amanda Datnow. Washington, DC: Falmer Press, 1998. 161 pages.
Application of Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Techniques

New instrumentation and techniques for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are presently available that offer the potential of successfully treating recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis is a manner that minimizes operative times, sinus-mucosal trauma, and operative costs. This content describes current ESS techniques and quality-of-life outcomes, techniques for transnasal and transantral balloon catheter dilatation, and their outcomes. The authors address the changing medical climate that may open new avenues for surgeons to treat patients.
Trust of the Stranger: An Urban/Small Town Comparison

Summary An empirical examination was made of the notion that rural area residents are more friendly, warm, and trusting than city residents. Four male and female confederates presented themselves at the homes of strangers in middle class neighborhoods in New York City and a number of small towns in Rockland County and asked to be admitted to use the phone. A total of 160 homes were sampled. Results indicated that (a) town residents were more trusting, allowing significantly more entries than city residents, and (b) males were less trusted than females, achieving significantly fewer entries. However, findings appear not to be the result of the coldness or indifference of city residents, but rather may be a consequence of the experience of living in the city on the perceived vulnerability of the resident.
Antibody Therapy in Aggressive Lymphomas

The aggressive lymphomas are potentially curable. The natural history of certain aggressive lymphomas has been altered by monoclonal antibody therapy. Targeted monoclonal antibody therapy to the CD20 antigen has altered the outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in patients of all ages. Anti-CD20-based radioimmunoconjugates are being evaluated as radioimmunotherapy approaches in patients who have relapsed and in stem cell transplant settings. Antibody-directed therapy to the B-cell-specific antigen CD22 are ongoing. New approaches include different CD20 antibodies and an antibody to the CD40 antigen, which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, which is expressed on B-cells. Antibody therapy has been incorporated into CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, prednisone) therapy and other regimens such as EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin) and HyperCVAD (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone). Single-agent anti-CD20 therapy is active in the post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders. T-cell antibodies are under evaluation in a number of T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Targeted therapy has changed the natural history of a number of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. This review will describe the contributions of antibody therapies to the treatment of these diseases.
The Warburg effect: a balance of flux analysis

Cancer metabolism is characterized by increased macromolecular syntheses through coordinated increases in energy and substrate metabolism. The observation that cancer cells produce lactate in an environment of oxygen sufficiency (aerobic glycolysis) is a central theme of cancer metabolism known as the Warburg effect. Aerobic glycolysis in cancer metabolism is accompanied by increased pentose cycle and anaplerotic activities producing energy and substrates for macromolecular synthesis. How these processes are coordinated is poorly understood. Recent advances have focused on molecular regulation of cancer metabolism by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes which regulate numerous enzymatic steps of central glucose metabolism. In the past decade, new insights in cancer metabolism have emerged through the application of stable isotopes particularly from 13C carbon tracing. Such studies have provided new evidence for system-wide changes in cancer metabolism in response to chemotherapy. Interestingly, experiments using metabolic inhibitors on individual biochemical pathways all demonstrate similar system-wide effects on cancer metabolism as in targeted therapies. Since biochemical reactions in the Warburg effect place competing demands on available precursors, high energy phosphates and reducing equivalents, the cancer metabolic system must fulfill the condition of balance of flux (homeostasis). In this review, the functions of the pentose cycle and of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in cancer metabolism are analyzed from the balance of flux point of view. Anticancer treatments that target molecular signaling pathways or inhibit metabolism alter the invasive or proliferative behavior of the cancer cells by their effects on the balance of flux (homeostasis) of the cancer metabolic phenotype.
Early Complications in Hip and Knee Arthroplasties in a Safety Net Hospital vs a University Center.

Abstract Background Indigent populations face unique challenges that may increase surgical risk and adversely affect the outcomes of hip and knee arthroplasties. This study examines whether there is a difference in early postoperative complications in patients treated in a safety net hospital and in a nearby university center. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken of 533 consecutive hip and knee arthroplasties performed by a single experienced surgeon in a safety net hospital and in a university medical center from 2008 to 2012. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The primary outcomes evaluated were total complications, deep infections, and reoperations. Statistical comparison of the data from the 2 patient groups was carried out using Fisher exact test. Results Despite the lower percentage of index revision procedures in the safety net group (8% vs 20.5%; P = .0003), the incidence of adverse outcomes was higher in this group than in the university group: for total complications, 12.3% vs 4.9% ( P = .003); for deep infections, 3.2% vs 0.6% ( P = .025); and for reoperations, 7.5% vs 2.6% ( P = .009). For primary procedures in particular, differences in the incidences of these outcomes were even more significant. Conclusions In this study, early complications were more frequent in patients who underwent hip and knee arthroplasties in a safety net hospital compared with those who underwent the same procedures in a nearby university center. Future prospective studies are warranted to determine which patient-related or care process-related factors should be optimized to improve arthroplasty outcomes in vulnerable, safety net populations.
Preprocedure warfarinization and brachial approach for elective coronary stent placement--a possible strategy to decrease cost and duration of hospitalization.

Intracoronary stenting, while potentially beneficial to treat abrupt closure and to prevent restenosis after angioplasty, requires intermediate-term warfarinization to prevent stent thrombosis. Hospitalization is often prolonged because of the need to establish antico-agulation. Hospital charges have been reported to be considerably higher with stenting than with balloon angioplasty alone, although the long-term cost ramifications remain uncertain due to the fact that stenting may limit restenosis. We describe a technique wherein stent placement is performed while the patient is already partially anticoagu-lated, which may decrease costs associated with stenting.
Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (SHIV) Containing the nef/Long Terminal Repeat Region of the Highly Virulent SIVsmmPBj14 Causes PBj-Like Activation of Cultured Resting Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, but the Chimera Showed No Increase in Virulence

SIVsmmPBj14 is a highly pathogenic lentivirus which causes acute diarrhea, rash, massive lymphocyte proliferation predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract, and death within 7 to 14 days. In cell culture, the virus has mitogenic effects on resting macaque T lymphocytes. In contrast, SIVmac239 causes AIDS in rhesus macaques, generally within 2 years after inoculation. In a previous study, replacement of amino acid residues 17 and 18 of the Nef protein of SIVmac239 with the corresponding amino acid residues of the Nef protein of SIVsmmPBj14 yielded a PBj-like virus that caused extensive activation of resting T lymphocytes in cultures and acute PBj-like disease when inoculated into pig-tailed macaques. This study suggested that nef played a major role in both processes. In this study, we replaced the nef/long terminal repeat (LTR) region of a nonpathogenic simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), SHIVPPc, with the corresponding region from SIVsmmPBj14 and examined the biological properties of the resultant virus. Like SIVsmmPBj14, SHIVPPcPBjnef caused massive stimulation of resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), which then produced virus in the absence of extraneous interleukin 2. However, when inoculated into macaques, the virus failed to replicate productively or cause disease. Thus, while these results confirmed that the nef/LTR region of SIVsmmPBj14 played a major role in the activation of resting PBMC, duplication of the cellular activation process in macaques may require a further interaction between nef and the envelope glycoprotein of simian immunodeficiency virus because SHIV, containing the envelope of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, failed to cause activation in vivo.
Effect of Environmental Exposure on the External Strengthening of Concrete with Composites-Short Term Bond Durability

The pressing need for rehabilitation and retrofit strategies that encompasses new and emerging materials and technologies, results from the need to simultaneously repair existing structures while attempting to increase both their performance levels and life spans. A large number of techniques currently exist for strengthening highway bridges ranging from the use of external post-tensioning to the addition of epoxy bonded steel plates to the tension surface. The use of composite plates for the purpose of external reinforcement has considerable potential. However, there is a critical need to investigate the degradation of the composite-concrete interface after exposure to environmental conditions that include moisture, sea water, freezing and freeze-thaw. In this investigation, the effect of five different environmental conditions on the performance of plated beams is considered from aspects related to materials and durability. It is shown that the selection of the appropriate resin system is critical to su...
Antimicrobial Resistance and Clinical Outcome of Bacteroides Bacteremia: Findings of a Multicenter Prospective Observational Trial

There is debate regarding the correlation between in vitro susceptibility testing and clinical response to therapy for Bacteroides bacteremia. We conducted a prospective multicenter observational study of 128 patients with bacteroides bacteremia. Outcome was correlated with results of in vitro susceptibility testing of Bacteroides isolates recovered from blood and/or nonblood sites, determined with use of 3 end points: mortality at 30 days, clinical response (cure vs. failure), and microbiological response (eradication vs. persistence). The mortality rate among patients who received inactive therapy (45%) was higher than among patients who received active therapy (16%; P=.04). Clinical failure (82%) and microbiological persistence (42%) were higher for patients who received inactive therapy than for patients who received active therapy (22% and 12%, respectively; P=.0002 and.06, respectively). In vitro activity of agents directed at Bacteroides species reliably predicts outcome: the specificity was 97%, and positive predictive value was 82%. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing may be indicated for patients whose blood specimens yield Bacteroides species.
A system for monitoring the delivery of ventilating gas to the oxygenator during cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Present methods for monitoring delivery of ventilating gas to the oxygenator during cardiopulmonary by pass have not been critically examined despite the occurrence of catastrophic gas flow disturbances. Currently, a flowmeter regulates the delivery of gas into the proximal portion of the gas circuit, and at these institutions, an oxygen (O2) analyzer positioned downstream of the flowmeter monitors oxygen concentration of the flowing gas. However, these devices are incapable of accurately analyzing the flow of gas into the oxygenator housing. In response to this deficiency, the authors developed and evaluated, in a laboratory model, an alternative system for monitoring ventilating gas flow. The system measured quantity of gas flow by pneumotachography, and oxygen concentration of the ventilating gas with a polarographic oxygen analyzer at the gas inlet port of the oxygenator. Five types of disturbances in gas delivery, which have been documented in the medical literature, were created in a laboratory model: (1) O2 concentration variation, (2 and 3) oxygenator gas line disconnection at each of two locations in the gas circuit, (4) a decrease in gas flow to the oxygenator secondary to a leak in the gas circuit, and (5) excess gas flow to the oxygenator. The capability of currently used monitoring devices (flowmeter and “passive” O2 analyzer) with the proposed monitoring system (pneumotachograph and “aspirating” O2 analyzer) was compared for detecting these abnormalities in gas delivery. The currently used devices were only able to satisfactorily detect a change in oxygen concentration. In contrast, the proposed system was able to rapidly detect all types of gas delivery disturbance. Based on these findings, the authors recommend further development and clinical testing of this proposed system.
Argumentation and Epistemic Criteria: Investigating Learners' Reasons for Reasons

The dominant practices in science are not discovery and justification but rather the broadening and deepening of explanations via theory development and conceptual modification. New tools, theories, and technologies are fundamentally changing the methods and inquiry practices of science. In turn, the forms of evidence and criteria for what counts as evidence change, too. The implication is the importance of including and understanding the epistemic and social practices embedded in the science learning goals critique and communication of scientific ideas and information. The study examines 11-year old students argumentation patterns and epistemic reasoning. The focus is on students arguments and choices as they pertain to reasons and evidence given to support claims about data and measurement. Results suggest that students are able to evaluate the quality of arguments made by classmates and can do so employing a number of different reasons or perspectives. An understanding of how students choose and use ev dence is important for understanding how to coordinate formative assessments and focus teachers feedback on students epistemic reasoning.
Monitor Technology: Chris Kerns (Supplement)

Pat Tallon is the corporate attorney for Monitor Technology's parent company and has been asked to mediate a job-performance conflict between Chris Kerns, the manager of MT Engineering, and Shannon Allen, an engineering-support technician who works for Kerns.
Sociotechnical engineering is one facet of prismatic liberal education

The ideas of mutual integration of the liberal arts and engineering resonate powerfully with our institutional values and with many ongoing practices at Lafayette College, an undergraduate-only liberal arts college whose 35+ major options include 4 ABET-accredited BS engineering disciplines and 1 non-accredited AB in Engineering Studies. In addition to many course-level integration efforts, the College's program in Engineering Studies offers a model and a history that may be of interest to those designing new programs.
Thermal Modeling of Extreme Heat Flux Microchannel Coolers for GaN-on-SiC Semiconductor Devices

Gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) dissipate high power densities which generate hotspots and cause thermomechanical problems. Here, we propose and simulate GaN-based HEMT technologies that can remove power densities exceeding 30 kW/cm2 at relatively low mass flow rate and pressure drop. Thermal performance of the microcooler module is investigated by modeling both single- and two-phase flow conditions. A reduced-order modeling approach, based on an extensive literature review, is used to predict the appropriate range of heat transfer coefficients associated with the flow regimes for the flow conditions. Finite element simulations are performed to investigate the temperature distribution from GaN to parallel microchannels of the microcooler. Single- and two-phase conjugate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations provide a lower bound of the total flow resistance in the microcooler as well as overall thermal resistance from GaN HEMT to working fluid. A parametric study is performed to optimize the thermal performance of the microcooler. The modeling results provide detailed flow conditions for the microcooler in order to investigate the required range of heat transfer coefficients for removal of heat fluxes up to 30 kW/cm2 and a junction temperature maintained below 250 °C. The detailed modeling results include local temperature and velocity fields in the microcooler module, which can help in identifying the approximate locations of the maximum velocity and recirculation regions that are susceptible to dryout conditions.
An Anesthetic Drug Demonstration and an Introductory Antioxidant Activity Experiment with “Eugene, the Sleepy Fish”

Students are introduced to spectrophotometry in comparing the antioxidant activity of pure eugenol and oil of cloves from a commercial source using a modified ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The extraction of the essential oil from dried cloves is demonstrated to facilitate discussions on green chemistry. The anesthetic properties of clove oil are also explored by temporarily sedating Eugene, the “sleepy” fish.
REVERSIBLE C60 BINDING TO DENDRIMER-CONTAINING IR(CO)CL(PPH2R)2 COMPLEXES

The phosphine compounds PPh2(G-1) and PPh2(G-2), where G-1 is 3,5-bis(benzyloxy)benzyl and G-2 is 3,5-bis((3,5-bis(benzyloxy)oxy)benzyl, were synthesized. The complexes, trans-Ir(CO)Cl(PPh2(G-1))2, 1, and trans-Ir(CO)Cl(PPh2(G-2))2, 2, show reversible binding with C60. Thermodynamic data on the reversible binding were obtained in chlorobenzene by line width analysis of the 31P{1H} NMR spectra. The activation parameters ΔG265⧧ (kcal mol-1), ΔH⧧ (kcal mol-1), and ΔS⧧ (cal mol-1 K-1) were calculated as 1.3, 18, and 20 for 1·C60 and 1.3, 24, and 42 for 2·C60. The thermodynamic quantities ΔG265° (kcal mol-1), ΔH° (kcal mol-1), and ΔS° (cal mol-1 K-1) were determined to be −2.8, −25, and −105 for 1·C60 and −3.0, −18, and −57 for 2·C60. The rates of reaction with O2 for 1 and 2 were measured and are comparable to that for trans-Ir(CO)Cl(PPh3)2 under similar conditions. The compound PdI2(PPh2(G-1))2, 3, does not show reversible binding with C60. Crystal structures were obtained for 1 (a = 10.218(1) A, b = 12.731(...
A Case of Myasthenia Gravis Exacerbation in a Patient with Melanoma Treated with Pembrolizumab (P3.138)

Background: While anticancer immunotherapies have traditionally focused on activating the immune system, there is recent interest in disinhibition of the natural antitumor immune response by targeting immune checkpoints such as programmed death-1 (PD-1). Pembrolizumab, a humanized monoclonal IgG4-kappa antibody against PD-1, was recently approved for treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma. As checkpoint inhibitors cause upregulation of the immune response, inflammatory and immune-related adverse effects have been reported including autoimmune phenomena. Here, we present a case of a 75-year-old man with a history of myasthenia gravis (MG) who experienced a MG crisis in the setting of pembrolizumab use, started five weeks prior to presentation. Case Presentation: A 75-year-old man with non-thymomatous, autoantibody-positive generalized MG maintained on azathioprine, with no prior history of exacerbations, presented with progressive gait dysfunction, neck flexor weakness, and ptosis over ten days. Five weeks prior, he began pembrolizumab treatment for metastatic melanoma. His pembrolizumab was stopped, and he was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) 2 gm/kg over 4 days and methylprednisolone 1g IV daily over 5 days with clinical improvement, with plans for outpatient maintenance monthly IVIg therapy. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 drug approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic malignant melanoma. Its efficacy and overall safety compared to previous immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies has led to its widespread use. Checkpoint inhibitors cause upregulation of the immune response, leading to both expected and unexpected immune related adverse effects. Given its novelty, long-term safety data are not yet available. As we gain familiarity with the immune related adverse effects of these checkpoint inhibitors, clinicians should be mindful of the potential exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune diseases, to better select subpopulation of patients for whom treatment is most appropriate. Disclosure: Dr. Lau has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kumar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nowak has nothing to disclose.
Management and Innovation of Colleges within the College

The educational management of colleges within the college must insist educational innovation—the innovation of the leading system and concepts, the innovation of managing concepts of the students'regulations, the innovation of teachers'teaching and managing concepts, and the innovation of instructing the students'job hunting.
Nicaragua's Canal Initiative Endangers the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean Communities

This essay examines the trailblazing approach to communal property in the Inter-American human rights system, and then applies that legal framework to the distressing Nicaraguan initiative to construct a trans-oceanic canal. The estimated $50 billion megaproject started initial development in December of 2014, and seriously threatens the lands and livelihoods of the indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities in its path. I conclude that, if Nicaragua proceeds with the Canal and several of its associated projects, the State will clearly violate the communities’ property rights, among other key rights and freedoms. As a result, Nicaragua, in accord with its international legal obligations, should halt the Canal initiative until it secures the free, prior, and informed consent of the affected populations.
Controller architectures: Tradeoffs between performance and structure ☆

Abstract This review article describes the design of static controllers that achieve an optimal tradeoff between closed-loop performance and controller structure. Our methodology consists of two steps. First, we identify controller structure by incorporating regularization functions into the optimal control problem and, second, we optimize the controller over the identified structure. For large-scale networks of dynamical systems, the desired structural property is captured by limited information exchange between physical and controller layers and the regularization term penalizes the number of communication links. Although structured optimal control problems are, in general, nonconvex, we identify classes of convex problems that arise in the design of symmetric systems, undirected consensus and synchronization networks, optimal selection of sensors and actuators, and decentralized control of positive systems. Examples of consensus networks, drug therapy design, sensor selection in flexible wing aircrafts, and optimal wide-area control of power systems are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework.
Studying Epithelial Morphogenesis in Dictyostelium

The discovery of polarized epithelial tissue in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum establishes this classical model organism as a novel system for the study of epithelial polarity and morphogenesis. D. discoideum grows as single cells and is easily maintained in cell culture. Starvation of the cells triggers a multicellular developmental process that culminates with the formation of a fruiting body, whose normal morphogenesis is dependent on a polarized epithelium located at the apex of the developing structure. Here, we discuss techniques for genetic manipulation and imaging of multicellular D. discoideum, with a focus on methods that have facilitated the study of the epithelial tissue in this organism.
The 19th Century and History

In his lectures on modern philosophy, Josiah Royce presents a sweeping analysis of the uniquely historical character of philosophical inquiry in the 19th century. Royce’s inclusion of such a wide variety of converging thought in that century serves as a useful introduction into the amendments that nineteenth century thought made to the tendencies of the preceding era. The science of the 17th century had “deliberately neglected the history of things,” and looked at nature as it eternally is, particular natural events as subsumable under universal laws, and history as subsumable under mechanism.2 The 18th century, whose Enlightenment philosophy we examined in the previous chapters, conceived of human nature as static, and postulated our access to that nature through an examination of the state of nature. The supposition of the permanence of human nature allowed Enlightenment philosophers to demonstrate the natural equality, freedom, and independence of humans and their endowment with natural rights and reason.
Assaying AMPA Receptor Oligomerization

Functional AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are tetrameric complexes formed by four identical (homomeric) or similar (heteromeric) subunits. Variations in the number and composition of AMPARs on the plasma membrane impact synaptic strength, neurodevelopment, and brain disorders. While the mechanisms mediating oligomerization of AMPARs are not well understood, they form the template for defining the number and preferential assembly of AMPARs. In this chapter we describe the application of two methods, blue-native PAGE (BN-PAGE) and fluorescence-detection size-exclusion chromatography (FSEC), to delineate the oligomeric state of AMPAR complexes and factors that determine the oligomerization process.
Successful Nonoperative Management of High-Grade Blunt Renal Injuries.

Current management of high-grade blunt renal trauma favors a nonoperative approach when possible. We performed a retrospective study of high grade blunt renal injuries at our level I trauma center to determine the indications and success of nonoperative management (NOM). 47 patients with blunt grade IV or V injuries were identified between October 2004 and December 2013. Immediate operative patients (IO) were compared to nonoperatively managed (NOM). Of the 47 patients, 3 (6.4%) were IO and 44 (95.6%) NOM. IO patients had a higher heart rate on admission, 133 versus 100 in NOM ( ). IO patients had a higher rate of injury to the renal vein or artery (100%) compared to NOM group (18%) ( ). NOM failed in 3 of 44 patients (6.8%). Two required nonemergent nephrectomy and one required emergent exploration resulting in nephrectomy. Six NOM patients had kidney-related complications (13.6%). The renal salvage rate for the entire cohort was 87.2% and 93.2% for NOM. Nonoperative management for hemodynamically stable patients with high-grade blunt renal trauma is safe with a low risk of complications. Management decisions should consider hemodynamic status and visualization of active renal bleeding as well as injury grade in determining operative management.
Prevention of Acute GVHD with Sirolimus Does Not Abrogate the Risk of Chronic GVHD.

Chronic graft-vs.-host-disease (cGVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The pathophysiology of cGVHD is poorly understood, but allogeneic T and B cells are thought to be important mediators of tissue injury. Risk factors for cGVHD include mismatched or unrelated transplantation, the use of peripheral blood stem cells, increased age and sex mismatching. Prior acute GVHD (aGVHD) is the most important risk factor and therefore strategies that reduce aGVHD are expected to reduce cGVHD as well. We have described a novel GVHD prophylaxis regimen comprised of sirolimus and tacrolimus that is effective in reducing aGVHD. Here, we report cGVHD outcomes with this novel regimen. Methods : 53 patients underwent HLA-matched sibling peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using cyclophosphamide and TBI conditioning. The GVHD prophylaxis regimen was comprised of sirolimus (target serum level 3–12 ng/ml) and tacrolimus (target serum level 5–10 ng/ml) without methotrexate. Median follow-up is 11 months from transplantation. Results : The incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD was 19%. Of the 10 patients with aGVHD, only 3 developed cGVHD. In these three patients, aGVHD had resolved entirely. In total, 21 patients developed cGVHD at a median of 231 days from transplantation, 18 of whom had no prior aGVHD. The cumulative incidence of cGVHD was 63% when relapse and death were considered as competing risks. At the time of cGVHD diagnosis, 10 patients were off all immunosuppressive medications, 6 patients were on sirolimus, either alone(2) or in combination with tacrolimus(4). 3 patients were on tacrolimus, either alone (2) or with prednisone(1), 1 patient was on prednisone alone and information was unavailable for 1 patient. cGVHD end-organ involvement included liver(13), skin(12), oral mucosa(12), eye(6), musculoskeletal(5), hematologic(1), lung(1) and serosa(1). 3 patients had isolated, limited hepatic cGVHD. Therapy included the re-institution of prednisone alone(5) or with mycophenolate(6), sirolimus(4), tacrolimus(2), rituximab(1) or multiple agents(1). One patient began on mycophenolate alone and 1 patient required no therapy. 4 patients had a complete response to immunosuppressive therapy. Only 1 patient died after the diagnosis of cGVHD while still on immunosuppression. No patient with cGVHD had malignant disease relapse. Conclusions: Despite effective prevention of aGVHD with sirolimus and tacrolimus, cGVHD was not prevented in this patient cohort. This argues that the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in tissue injury in aGVHD and cGVHD may be different, or that methotrexate may be important in the prevention of cGVHD. Since the development of antibodies directed against minor histocompatibility antigens has been correlated with the development of cGVHD, novel strategies designed to interfere with B cell immunity after transplantation may be required to prevent cGVHD.
Stress-induced change in serum BDNF is related to quantitative family history of alcohol use disorder and age at first alcohol use.

Abstract Previous research in animal models suggests that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in stress-modulated alcohol consumption. However, relatively few studies have investigated this issue in humans, and results of existing studies have been heterogeneous. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the within-subjects effect of acute stress (timed math plus cold pressor) on serum BDNF levels (ΔBDNF: post- minus pre-stress) in healthy social drinkers ( N = 68, 20 male). A secondary aim was to explore which heritable and environmental factors in our limited sample might exert the greatest influences on ΔBDNF. Importantly, presence versus absence of the BDNF Val 66 Met polymorphism (rs6265), which has often been discounted in studies of human serum BDNF, was included as a between-subjects control variable in all statistical analyses. Our results indicated that acute stress decreased serum BDNF. Further, multiple regression analyses revealed that quantitative family history of alcohol use disorder (qFH) and age at first alcohol use together accounted for 15% of the variance in ΔBDNF. Thus, the influences of qFH and age at first alcohol use may explain some of the heterogeneity that exists in previous studies of human serum BDNF. These results parallel findings in animal models and suggest that stress-related changes in serum BDNF are influenced by both heritable (qFH) and environmental (early alcohol consumption) factors.
Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of quazepam for the treatment of insomnia in psychiatric outpatients.

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of the benzodiazepine hypnotic quazepam within the context of a clinical practice setting of psychiatric outpatients who had insomnia. METHOD A total of 2,813 adult, psychiatric outpatients were evaluated in an open-label study design. Each subject was instructed to take one 15-mg quazepam tablet each night at bedtime for 7 consecutive nights and was given a questionnaire to be completed at home upon arising each morning. RESULTS Insomnia improved after 1 night of treatment with 15 mg of quazepam. Eighty-five percent of patients rated their quality of sleep as fair-to-excellent after 1 week of treatment. Similar efficacy outcomes also were observed on the second through sixth nights of treatment. Improvement occurred for patients who had an initial sleep latency complaint or unsatisfactory duration of sleep and for those who either had difficulty in staying asleep or complained of early morning awakening. The mean number of insomnia complaints was significantly (p < .001) reduced after the first and the seventh nights of treatment both in the population of all evaluable patients and in a subset of patients with more severe insomnia. CONCLUSION This open-label study in 2,813 outpatients provided evidence that quazepam reduces the complaints of insomnia in a difficult-to-treat psychiatric population after 1 night and after 7 nights of treatment. Quazepam was well tolerated, even when coadministered with psychotherapeutic medications, some of which can cause insomnia.
Lateral Process of Talus Fracture

Various common injuries in the foot and ankle are investigated in this section. Significant attention is paid not only to proper diagnostic examination and imaging but also to optimal nonoperative and operative treatment options to manage these conditions.
AN APPROACH TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF EL NINO ON EXTREME DAILY WEATHER OCCURRENCE

We developed a procedure using the chi-square statistic to determine the effect of El Nino- Southern Oscillation on the frequency of extreme daily weather occurrence. Its application is demonstrated for a site in southwestern Montana, located east of the Continental Divide 970 km from the Pacific Ocean. The study used daily weather data focused on a 29-wk period from 3 Dec to 23 Jun in a 100-yr weather record at Montana State University (Bozeman) and compared this weather in relation to November-March sea-surface temperature anomalies in an area of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Daily weather extremes were compared between 25 El Nino years and 50 ‘normal’ years. During El Nino years, December-June weather at Bozeman was characterized by more days of extreme high maximum temperatures, fewer days of extreme low minimum temperatures, fewer days of high precipitation amounts, and fewer days with small diurnal temperature ranges. For the 29-wk period, we determined the difference between El Nino years and normal years to be about 20 percent for each of these four extreme daily weather conditions. An increase or decrease of extreme daily weather occurrences can impact natural resources and a wide range of human activities including agriculture, forestry, recreation, construction, and other businesses.
Nanobubble contrast agents enhance ultrasound imaging of prostate tumors in mice

Prostate cancer biopsies are increasingly guided by ultrasound (US) imaging, yet poor soft tissue contrast makes delineation between normal/abnormal tissue difficult. There is growing interest in US contrast agents (USCA) to improve differentiation of tumors within the prostate gland and facilitate US-guided biopsies. The most widely used formulations are lipid or protein-stabilized perfluorocarbon (PFC) gas microbubbles (MB) typically exceeding 2μm in diameter. These bubbles usually show rapid transient tumor enhancement, as they are confined to vasculature. To achieve longer lasting enhancement and improved delineation of tumors, we have developed sub-micron lipid and surfactant-stabilized PFC nanobubbles (NB). Here we compare tumor kinetics of the NBs compared to commercially available MBs.
Rule-based Computer Aided Decision Making for Traumatic Brain Injuries

This chapter provides an overview of various machine learning algorithms which are typically adopted into many predictive computer-assisted decision making systems for traumatic injuries. The objective here is to compare some existing machine learning methods using an aggregated database of traumatic injuries. These methods are used towards the development of rule-based computer-assisted decision-making systems that provide recommendations to physicians for the course of treatment of the patients. Since physicians in trauma centers are constantly required to make quick yet difficult decisions for patient care using a multitude of patient information, such computer assisted decision support systems are bound to play a vital role in improving healthcare. The content of this chapter also presents a novel image processing method to assess traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Topological insulator ring with magnetic impurities

Topological insulators exhibit gapless edge or surface states that are topologically protected by time-reversal symmetry. However, several promising candidates for topologically insulating materials (such as ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ and HgTe) contain spinful nuclei or other types of magnetic impurities that break time-reversal symmetry. We investigate the consequences of such impurities coupled to the electronic edge states of a topological insulator ring or circular quantum dot in the presence of a magnetic flux. We use spin conservation and additional symmetry arguments to derive a universal formula for the spectrum of propagating edge modes in terms of the amplitude of transmission through the impurity. Our results apply for impurities of arbitrary spin. We show that there exists an energy regime in which the spectrum becomes nearly independent of the flux and significant spectral gaps form. We further analyze the electron-impurity entanglement entropy, finding that maximal entanglement occurs near the gaps in the spectrum. Our predictions can be investigated with quantum ring transport interference experiments or through spin-resolved STM measurements, providing a new approach to understand the role of impurities in topological insulator edge transport.
The activists decide: the preferences of party activists in the 2016 presidential nominations

ABSTRACTOne view of presidential nominations in the United States [Steger, Wayne P. 2007. “Who Wins Presidential Nominations and Why: An Updated Forecast of the Presidential Primary Vote.” Presidential Research Quarterly 60: 91–97; Cohen, Marty, David Karol, Hans Noel, and John Zaller. 2008. The Party Decides: Presidential Nominations Before and After Reform. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; Silver, Nate. 2016. “The Republican Party May Be Failing.” FiveThirtyEight. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-republican-party-may-be-failing/] claims that the support of political elites is causally related to success in the nomination. The mechanisms for this relationship include party activists, who follow the cues party leaders send and provide necessary support to candidates in primaries and caucuses. This mechanism has not been explicitly tested. This paper explores the preferences of party activists in light of the unified elite preferences among Democrats and the lack of such unity among Republican...
Electronic Structure of Surfaces, Interfaces and Superlattices

The existence of this Course at the International School of Material Science and Technology on “Dynamical Phenomena at Surfaces, Interfaces, and Superlattices” is, in itself, a strong recognition of the growing importance of this area of research. Clearly, a vast amount of detailed information has been obtained during the past decade , which is due to the development and refinement of sensitive experimental techniques and to highly precise theoretical/computational methods for determining theoretically the phenomena associated with these structures. This advance in research has been spurred by the enormous technological relevance of surface and interface phenomena in areas such as microstructure electronics, catalysis, and corrosion. Associated with this has been the recognition that one of the most important developments in the last decade lies in the preparation of synthetic structures on the sub-micron level. The excitement surrounding this development lies in the promise of producing materials with desired properties to specification, of permitting new scientific phenomena to be investigated and novel device applications to be made on artifical materials not found in nature. In other words, what we are witnessing today is the development of materials engineering on the microstructure scale[1].