cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient dominance of the early primary immune response by a highly conserved B-cell clone that is distinguished by its lack of memory, high threshold of activation, and a high affinity

We establish here that the very early primary response to the hapten phthalate (Xmp) is distinguished by a restricted heterogeneity with over 80% of the anti-Xmp antibodies expressing a single well-defined cross-reactive idiotype (CRIXmp-1) associated with a previously described highly conserved clonotype that is expressed by most inbred strains of mice and many outbred mouse populations as well. The characteristic early dominance of this one clonotype in the primary response is transient. While the CRIXmp-1 clonotype is present later in the primary and throughout the secondary response, it represents only a very small proportion of the total anti-Xmp antibody population at these times. The early dominance of the single clonotype is rapidly replaced by a heterogeneous population of antibodies. Differential activation thresholds for the primary response clonotype (CRIXmp-1) and secondary response clonotypes, and the failure of the dominant primary response clonotype to expand in the secondary response (i.e., absence of memory) suggest the presence of two distinct B-cell lineages.
Murray Bookchin's Theory of Social Ecology: An Appraisal of the Ecology of Freedom

Murray Bookchin `s theory of social ecology is perhaps the most comprehensive and powerful ecological philosophy yet developed. It involves a complex, detailed, interdisciplinary framework that has...
Tricuspid atresia with aortopulmonary window: challenges in achieving a balanced circulation

Tricuspid atresia and aortopulmonary window are rare congenital cardiac anomalies. The occurrence of both these anomalies in the same patient is extremely rare, with only 1 case reported in the literature. We report the surgical management of one such patient and discuss the management issues with respect to Stage 1 single ventricle palliation.
EFFECT OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND CALCIUM ACETATE ON THE REACTIVITY OF A LIGNITE COAL AT LOW HEATING RATE

The effect of calcium chloride and calcium acetate on the rate of decomposition of a lignite coal and its char was investigated under both pyrolysis and combustion conditions. The experiments were undertaken in a thermogravimetric analyzer under low (20 o C mini’) and intermediate (2100’ C mm-‘) heating rates. Both calcium chloride and calcium acetate slightly reduced the amount of coal decomposed at 10’ N mm2 m a nitrogen atmosphere. However, the inhibiting effect of calcium acetate was dependent on the sample size and packing density. In the presence of oxygen, addition of calcium chloride to coal produced two opposite effects: at low temperatures an inhibiting effect due to the chloride and at higher temperatures a promoting effect due to the catalytic role of the calcium. Lastly, the additives reduced the apparent activation energy and increased the heat reaction of the lignite coal.
Perception of Pitch and Roughness in Vocal Signals with Subharmonics

Pitch and roughness were rated according to the extent of amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) of a subharmonic [fundamental frequency (F0)/2]. The objective was to determine the identification boundaries for pitch and roughness and to discover how both kinds of modulation affect these boundaries. Another objective was to judge the reliability between subjects when identifying subharmonic-related pitch and roughness. Three procedures were used: ABX comparisons, method of adjustment, and rating of roughness. Results indicated that the crossover point to the lower pitch (associated with the subharmonic) occurred between 10% and 30% modulation, depending on modulation type and F0. Subjects demonstrated highly variable perceptions of pitch and roughness, with poor intersubject reliability.
Favourable employment status change and psychological depression: A two-year follow-up analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.

This study examines the relationship between favourable employment change and well-being. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, respondents who were inadequately employed (i.e. unemployed or underemployed, N= 1,160) in 1992 were followed up in 1994. Results suggest that among the unemployed in 1992 (time-1), higher depression at time-1 was significantly associated with decreased odds of both adequate employment and underemployment relative to unemployment at time-2 (1994). Among the underemployed at time-1, gender moderated the relationship between time-1 depression and employment at time-2. The odds of employment (both adequate and underemployment) were higher for males than females at lower levels of depression, but this gender advantage fell as depression increased. Additional analyses revealed that any employment at time-2 relative to unemployment was significantly associated with lower depression in 1994 when controlling for time-1 depression and other important background variables. Neither time-1 status (unemployment versus underemployment) nor type of time-2 employment (adequate versus underemployment) were significantly associated with later depression. Cette e´tude porte sur la relation entre un changement d’emploi positif et la sante´. A partir de l’enquete longitudinale nationale sur la jeunesse, des personnes qui avaient des proble`mes d’emploi en 1992 (au chomage ou sous-employe´es, N= 1,160) ont e´te´ recontacte´es en 1994. Les re´sultats montrent que chez les chomeurs de 1992 (T1), une forte de´pression a` cette e´poque e´tait significativement relie´e a` un plus grand risque de se retrouver chomeur en 1994 (T2), plutot qu’employe´ correctement ou sous-employe´. Chez les sous-employe´s de T1, le sexe influenc¸ait la relation entre la de´pression a` T1 et l’emploi a` T2. La probabilite´ d’avoir un emploi (correct ou insuffisant) e´tait supe´rieure chez les hommes pour les de´pressions le´ge`res, mais cet avantage lie´ au sexe chutait quand la de´pression s’aggravait. Des analyses comple´mentaires ont re´ve´le´ que tout emploi a` T2 e´tait significativement corre´le´ a` moins de de´pression a` ce moment quand on controlait pour T1 la de´pression et d’autres variables sociales importantes. Ni le statut a` T1 (chomage–sous-emploi), ni le type d’emploi a` T2 (emploi correct–sous-emploi) n’e´taient significativement relie´s a` la de´pression a` T2.
LFTB: An optimized algorithm to bound worst-case frequency response functions

Presents an optimized algorithm to calculate a bound on the largest frequency response function that results when n parameters may vary simultaneously. The bound is obtained as the solution to a convex optimization problem known as semidefinite programming problem. The proposed algorithm is based on a known interior-point method for solving semidefinite programs. Proper utilization of the structure, of the specific semidefinite program, leads to an algorithm whose cost grows as O(n/sup 3/) flops per iteration. Available general-purpose algorithms, do not utilize the specific problem structure, and their cost grows as O(n/sup 4/) flops per iteration. Thus, the optimized algorithm in the paper achieves a cost reduction proportional to n, which is substantial for problems with hundreds of parameters. Additional savings are obtained when the frequency response function under study comes from a system with nominal circular symmetry.
Modeling neuronal current MRI signal with human neuron.

Enormous efforts have been devoted to use MRI to detect magnetic fields produced by neuronal currents (termed ncMRI) in human brain. Nonetheless, to the question whether ncMRI signal is detectable, the answers from different ncMRI experiments on human subjects are still contradictory (1–14). To assess the detectability of ncMRI signal, several groups have simulated the MRI signal change produced by ncMRI effects using simplified current dipole (SCD) models (4,15–17), which depict the neuronal currents as static current dipoles with simple alignment (e.g., parallel or antiparallel). In SCD models, the neuronal geometry and the dynamics of neuronal activity are ignored to reduce the computational complexity of ncMRI signal simulation. On the other hand, this simplification may significantly degrade the simulation accuracy (18). To overcome this limitation, two groups have recently utilized the realistic structure and biophysical characteristics of the neurons in monkey (18) and rat (19) brains to model ncMRI signal. Since these realistic ncMRI models are able to simulate the temporal and spatial distributions of neuronal currents more accurately, in principle they would provide a more accurate tool to predict the size of ncMRI signal. However, it has been noted that the ncMRI magnitude/phase signal estimated by the monkey model (10−2/1 degree) (18) is 10,000 times higher than the rat model (10−6/10−4 degree) with the similar imaging parameters. This suggests that the strength of ncMRI signal may vary greatly in different animal species due to differences in their neuronal morphology and physiology. Hence, significant errors may be produced if the monkey (18) or rat (19) ncMRI models are used to estimate the amplitude of ncMRI signal in human brain. Therefore, the results from the previous realistic ncMRI models (18,19) are unable to resolve the debate on the feasibility of ncMRI in human subjects completely. To address this question, it is necessary to establish a realistic ncMRI model specifically for human brain. To the best of our knowledge, the realistic ncMRI model for human brain is still lacking up to date. In this study, we modeled the ncMRI signal by using the 3-D reconstructed cell structure and biophysical properties of human cortical pyramidal neurons. In addition, the human cerebral cortex is typically composed of six cellular layers (layer IVI) and the neuron packing density varies in different layers. To investigate the impact of this neuron density variation on ncMRI signal, we used six layers of neurons with different neuron density to simulate the ncMRI signal in a cortical tissue. Our modeling results would provide more reliable information about characteristics of ncMRI signal and help to determine the detectability of ncMRI signal in human brain.
Alternative approaches to the calculation of nutrient density

A renewed interest in promoting health and wellness has prompted both public- and private-sector organizations to adopt systems for rating the nutritional quality of individual food products. Compared here are three food quality scores for ranking foods. The absolute score varies by the food quality score algorithm used, but the relative ranking of foods within a food group is stable. Fruits and vegetables are substantially more nutrient-dense than items from other food groups. There is an imperative need for a simple, consistent method to guide consumers in making healthier food choices.
Children's Beliefs About Gender Differences in the Academic and Social Domains

Children's beliefs about gender differences were investigated among a sample of younger and older elementary school students (total N = 120). Beliefs about gender differences in math, spelling, physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial tendencies were assessed using 3 methods that varied in the extent to which gender was referenced overtly. Children who made systematic gender distinctions tended to associate prosocial tendencies and success in spelling with girls and physical and relational aggression with boys. Perceived gender differences were minimal for math, and those that were seen were consistent with same-sex biases. Children who associated positive characteristics with girls tended to associate negative characteristics with boys. Although results were generally consistent across measures, children were more likely to show same-sex preferences when they were asked to compare boys and girls explicitly.
Network processors as building blocks in overlay networks

This paper proposes an architecture that permits selected application- and middleware-level functionality to be 'pushed into' network processors. Such functionality is represented as stream handlers that run on the network processors (NPs) attached to the host nodes participating in overlay networks. When using stream handlers, application- and middleware-level functionality is 'split' into multiple components that are jointly executed by the host and the attached NP (ANP). Resulting improvements in application performance are due to the network-near nature of ANPs and due to the ability to dynamically customize stream handlers to meet current application needs or match current network resources. The evaluation of our current prototype implementation indicates that the use of ANP-level handlers can reduce the delays on the application data path by more than 25%, and can sustain higher throughput for the application services provided by stream handlers. In addition, stream handlers are a suitable basis for scalable implementations of data-increasing services like destination-customized multicast.
Attribution theory in the organizational sciences: A case of unrealized potential

We argue that although attributional processes appear to affect virtually all goal and reward oriented behavior in organizations, they have not received adequate attention in the organizational sciences. In this Incubator, we encourage scholars to unlock the potential of attribution theory to develop more complete explanations of organizational behavior.
Dionysus and drama in the Buddhist art of Gandhara.

This essay examines the relationships existing between Dionysian traditions of wine drinking and drama that reached the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world, and the Buddhist culture and art that flourished in Gandhara (Eastern Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan) under the Kushan kings between the first and third centuries CE. By piecing together archaeological, artistic and literary evidence, it appears that along with viniculture and viticulture, Dionysian rituals, Greek theatre and vernacular drama also became rooted in these eastern lands. Continuous interactions with the Graeco-Roman world strengthened these important cultural elements. At the beginning of the Common Era Dionysian traditions and drama came to be employed by the Buddhists of Gandhara to propagate their own ideas. The creation of a body of artworks representing the life of the Buddha in narrative form along with the literary work of Ashvaghosha, may be an expression of the same dramatic format that developed locally along with a strong Dionysian ritual presence.
Security Concerns In E-Prescribing

There has been significant growth in electronic prescriptions in the last three years. E-prescribing volume has exceeded 250 million and the number of prescribers routing prescriptions has exceeded 75,000. There has been a push from the federal government to increase e-prescriptions. There are many advantages to e-prescriptions. But, with these advantages there is also a concern regarding privacy and security of patient information. The purpose of this research is to develop an understanding of the e-prescribing processes, point out security risks, and develop ideas to reduce or eliminate those security risks.
OPERATIVE ARRESTMENT OF LONGITUDINAL GROWTH OF BONES IN THE TREATMENT OF DEFORMITIES

1. Selected cases of inequality of length of limbs during the growing period may be treated by epiphyseodiaphyseal fusion, arresting growth in the longer limb, and thereby approximating or equalizing limb lengths at the end of the growth period. 2. Angular deformities of the wrist or ankle, the result of disproportion in length of the two bones of the forearm or leg, may be improved by either unilateral or complete arrest of growth in the longer bone at the appropriate age.
Resolution and functional characterization of two mitochondrial iron-sulphur centres of the 'high-potential iron-sulphur protein' type.

Abstract Two distinct iron-sulphur centres of the 'HiPIP' (high-potential iron-protein) type are distinguished in both pigeon heart and ox heart mitochondria. These two species, although both are paramagnetic in the oxidized state, exhibit signals which differ in their detailed line shape, field position, and temperature- and power-dependence. They also exhibit different thermodynamic and kinetic behaviour and are located on opposite sides of the mitochondrial coupling membrane. One of these centres corresponds to Centre S-3. The other 'HiPIP'-type centre is removed readily from the mitochondrial membrane and its physiological function is not known.
Was There Ever a Lending Channel?: Was There Ever a Lending Channel?

The lending channel model posits that control of deposits that have reserve requirements allows the Fed to constrain the loans to businesses and consumers that are the comparative advantage of banks. The constraint works because banks do not use traded assets and liabilities with no reserve requirements to offset the effects of variation in deposits on loans. The results presented here are more consistent with an alternative model in which profit-maximising banks vary traded assets and liabilities with and without reserve requirements to exercise profit opportunities in loans and so shield them from the Fed.
Effects of High Temperature Process Steps on Void Size Distributions in Passivated, Narrow Aluminum Lines

Narrow Al lines were passivated at 300°C and subsequently annealed at 400°C for an hour. The passivation layer was then removed and the lines analyzed for thermal stress induced voids. Effects of the multiple high temperature process steps necessary in chip manufacturing were simulated by repeated anneals. Renewed void nucleation occurred during cool-down from each anneal, leading to a systematic increase in void density. In contrast, the maximum void size did not increase with number of anneals while it did increase with aging time for a single anneal.
Bacterial Activators (Lysokinases) of the Fibrinolytic Enzyme System of Serum.

SummaryIn a survey test of 77 satisfactory cultures of 40 bacterial types, fibrinolytic phenomena were encountered in 19 types (33 cultures) of bacteria tested. Only certain hemolytic streptococci and staphylococci gave positive results with a specific test for lysokinase, however, and these organisms were not directly fibrinolytic nor able to activate bovine profibrinolysin. Direct fibrinolytic activity may occur in cultures when (except in the case of Cl. Botulinum) it is not found in the alcoholic precipitate. The failure to obtain a lysokinase in at least 6 types of bacterial cultures which gave good results in the survey test is disappointing, as is the failure to find a kinase for bovine profibrinolysin.
Two Revolutions: France 1789 and Mexico 1810

It is sometimes alleged that “history is written by the victors.” Perhaps, it is more accurate to say that “history is written by the rich.” The wealthy nations of the North Atlantic world, which have tended to dominate scholarship in modern times, have molded events in their own image. Thus, when considering the eighteenth century transformations, scholars with “global” vision such as Peter Gay, Jacques Godechot, and R.R. Palmer have interpreted the “Enlightenment” and the “Age of Democratic Revolutions” broadly, including both the experience of the United States and of select Western European nations. Yet these cosmopolitan scholars find no place for Spain or Latin America in their works. Gay describes Spain as the “other side of the eighteenth century,” while both Godechot and Palmer end the age of revolutions in 1799, thus excluding the Spanish and the Spanish American revolutions which occurred in the early nineteenth century.
Among the agilists: participant observation in a rapidly evolving workplace

In this paper, we describe the practical considerations and challenges of studying an agile, co-located software development community by assimilating among them over many months. We have adopted a fully immersive ethnographic approach using semistructured and unstructured interviews. In many ways, the design choices in our study mirrored those faced by the development team, as we adjusted our methods on the fly to accommodate our richer knowledge of the work environment and adapted to changes on the ground. We share our process of determining and adjusting an operating procedure for the ethnographic observation and we reflect on the challenges faced in choosing subjects to study, getting them on board, planning questions and conducting interviews without disrupting the regular process of software development.
Corruption, Contention, and Reform: Oligarchs and Clans: high stakes and insecurity

If you know how rich you are, you are not rich. But me, I am not aware of the extent of my wealth. That’s how rich we are. – Imelda Marcos We will get to the truth. That’s what we’re all asking for. – Corazon Aquino Introduction: there for the taking Oligarch-and-Clan corruption generates some of the most spectacular corruption stories we are likely to see. As a contentious, sometimes violent scramble for high stakes in a setting of very weak official institutions, it poses difficult challenges and great risks for reformers. Opportunities for political and economic gain abound, while the institutions on which many corruption controls depend – courts, law enforcement, the bureaucracy, political parties, civil societies, and levels of trust – are overmatched by powerful factions exploiting government, society, and the economy. The state usually has little autonomy with respect to oligarchs and their followings, and often little public credibility. Taxes are not reliably collected, revenues from natural resources are likely to be squandered or stolen, and public services are chronically short of resources. Even where civil society does exist, reform efforts by citizens are hobbled by repression and potential violence – not to mention the poverty and desperation that corruption helps perpetuate. Can anything be done to check this disruptive and dangerous form of corruption?
Introduction: Peruvian Memory Matters

The transitional government of Valentin Paniagua established the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Comision de la Verdad y Reconciliacion (known by the acronym CVR), after Alberto Fujimori left the country in 2001.1 Its charge was to investigate and make public the truth regarding two decades of political violence in Peru, starting in 1980 when the Shining Path appeared on the public scene and ending with the collapse of Fujimori’s regime.
One-Electron-Redox Activation of the Reduced Phillips Polymerization Catalyst, via Alkylchromium(IV) Homolysis: A Computational Assessment

In ethylene polymerization by the Phillips catalyst, inorganic Cr(II) sites are believed to be activated by reaction with ethylene to form (alkyl)CrIII sites, in a process that takes about 1 h at ca. 373 K. The detailed mechanism of this spontaneous self-initiation has long remained unknown. It must account both for the formation of the first Cr–C bond and for the one-electron oxidation of Cr(II) to Cr(III). In this study, we used density functional theory to investigate a two-step initiation mechanism by which ethylene oxidative addition leads first to various (organo)CrIV sites, and subsequent Cr–C bond homolysis gives (organo)CrIII sites capable of polymerizing ethylene. Pathways involving spin crossing, C–H oxidative addition, H atom transfer, and Cr–C bond homolytic cleavage were explored using a chromasiloxane cluster model. In particular, we used classical variational transition theory to compute free energy barriers and estimate rates for bond homolysis. A viable route to a four-coordinate bis(alk...
Energy extraction from RF/ Microwave signal

The objective of this work is to use the concept of energy harvesting i.e. to receive Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave signals present in the atmosphere and converting these signals into DC, in order to store it or power some circuit like charging a mobile. To implement this concept, an antenna is required to capture RF and microwave frequencies of GSM and WiFi signals in the surrounding. Designing an antenna is the focal point in realization of wireless cellular charging device. RF signals cannot be used to drive a load such as battery of a mobile phone, therefore rectification and a boost up is required done in the third phase which is Voltage Boosting and Rectification. A complete implemented system is being proposed in this paper with successful demonstration of using GSM-900 and GSM-1800 signals for charging a cellular phone. The research paper is a contribution towards the concept of wireless energy transmission at the same time it proves the idea of collecting and converting GSM and WiFi signals, to drive our low power consuming devices, from Radio towers and other wireless transceivers that is of no use otherwise.
Lower extremity weakness is associated with elevated blood and cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels following multibranched endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract Objective Hyperglycemia is associated with worsened clinical outcomes after central nervous system injury. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between lower extremity weakness (LEW) and the glucose levels of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients undergoing multibranched endovascular aneurysm repair (MBEVAR) of thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms. Methods Blood and CSF samples were collected preoperatively, immediately after aneurysm repair, and on postoperative day 1 in 21 patients undergoing MBEVAR. Data on demographics, operative repair, complications, and outcomes were collected prospectively. Results There were 21 patients who underwent successful MBEVAR. Two patients had pre-existing paraplegia from prior open aortic surgery and were excluded from the current analysis. The mean age was 73 ± 8 years, and 15 of 19 (79%) were men. In the postoperative period, 7 of 19 (37%) patients developed LEW. This was temporary in 5 of 19 (26%) patients and permanent in 2 of 19 (11%) patients. The LEW group was older than the non-LEW group (77 ± 6 vs 70 ± 9 years, respectively; P = .10), had a lower preoperative glomerular filtration rate (58.6 ± 18.5 vs 71.4 ± 23.5 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 ; P = .24), and was more likely to be taking a statin (100% vs 67%, respectively; P = .13), but these did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, lung disease, or peripheral artery disease between the LEW and non-LEW groups. There was also no difference in operative time, blood loss, contrast material volume, or fluoroscopy times between the two groups. Preoperative blood and CSF glucose levels were similar in those with and without LEW. During the postoperative period, glucose values in the blood and CSF were significantly higher in those patients who developed LEW compared with those who did not develop LEW. In all patients with LEW, the elevation in the blood or CSF glucose level preceded the development of LEW. In a multivariable logistic regression model, CSF glucose concentration on postoperative day 1 was significantly and independently associated with the development of LEW (odds ratio, 2.30 [1.03-5.14] per 10 mg/dL increase in CSF glucose; P = .04). Conclusions Elevated blood glucose and CSF glucose levels are associated with postoperative LEW in patients undergoing MBEVAR. The protective effect of euglycemia deserves further study in patients at risk for spinal cord ischemia.
To Punish or to Forgive: Examining the Effects of Monetary Penalties on Consumers’ Perceptions and Behavioral Intentions

Monetary penalties are imposed on consumers in various industries, particularly services. For example, retailers typically charge a restocking fee when consumers return unwanted products and banks usually charge a late payment fee when consumers fail to pay their credit card bills on time. Research showed that there is a prevalent feeling among consumers that these penalties are unfair, leading consumers to develop negative emotions and vengeful feelings toward the provider as well as negative behavioral consequences such as switching service providers and negative word-of-mouth (Fram and Callahan 2001, Kim and Smith 2005).
Surgical outcomes after trauma pneumonectomy: Revisited.

BACKGROUND Trauma pneumonectomy has been historically associated with an exceedingly high morbidity and mortality. The recent advent of standardized reporting and data-collecting measures has facilitated large volume data analysis on predictors and outcomes of trauma pneumonectomy. The purpose of this study is to describe patient characteristics and outcomes of the patients who underwent trauma pneumonectomy in the modern era and identify clinical factors associated with postoperative mortality. METHODS Data between 2007 and 2014 from the National Trauma Data Bank were used for analysis, which included patients with both blunt and penetrating trauma who underwent pneumonectomy within 24 hours after admission. Patient characteristics, injury data, and outcomes were analyzed. Postoperative survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with postoperative mortality. RESULTS A total of 261 patients were included for analysis. Of those, 163 (62.5%) patients sustained penetrating trauma. Less invasive lung resections were performed before pneumonectomy in 12.6% of patients. First 24-hour and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in blunt trauma patients compared with penetrating trauma patients (54.1% vs. 34.1% and 77.6% vs. 49.1%, respectively; p < 0.01). In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, an admission Glasgow Coma Scale of less than 9 (odds ratio [OR], 2.16, 95% CI: 1.24-3.77, p < 0.01) and associated brain injury (OR, 2.11, 95% CI: 1.01-4.42, p = 0.048) were significantly associated with in-hospital death, whereas penetrating mechanism (OR, 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-0.70, p < 0.01) and less invasive lung resections before pneumonectomy (OR, 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17-0.87, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with survival to hospital discharge. CONCLUSION Trauma pneumonectomy remains a highly morbid procedure even in the modern era and should be reserved for carefully selected patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level IV.
An Anatomical Approach to Curing Atrial Fibrillation: Pulmonary Vein Isolation with Through-the-Balloon Ultrasound Ablation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice. Drug therapy can be associated with a number of untoward effects, such as proarrhythmia, long-term inefficacy and even an increase in mortality. Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node with pacemaker implantation [1], or modification of the AV node without pacer implantation [2] can facilitate ventricular rate control, but thromboembolic risk is unchanged and atrial systole is not restored. Given these limitations, an approach that cures atrial fibrillation would be highly desirable.
Gendered Expectations: Examining How Peers Shape Female Students' Intent to Pursue STEM Fields.

Building on prior psychological and sociological research on the power of local environments to shape gendered outcomes in STEM fields, this study focuses on the critical stage of adolescence to explore the potential negative impact of exposure to exclusionary messages from peers within girls’ science classrooms, as well as the positive potential impact of inclusionary messages. Specifically, utilizing longitudinal data from a diverse sample of adolescent youth, analyses examine how the presence of biased male peers, as well as confident female peers, shape girls’ subsequent intentions to pursue different STEM fields, focusing specifically on intentions to pursue the male-dominated fields of computer science and engineering, as well as more gender equitable fields. Results reveal that exposure to a higher percentage of 8th grade male peers in the classroom who endorsed explicit gender/STEM stereotypes significantly and negatively predicted girls’ later intentions to pursue a computer science/engineering (CS/E) major. Yet results also reveal that exposure to a higher percentage of confident female peers in the science classroom positively predicted such intentions. These results were specific to CS/E majors, suggesting that peers are an important source of messages regarding whether or not girls should pursue non-traditional STEM fields. This study calls attention to the importance of examining both positive and negative sources of influence within the local contexts where young people live and learn. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.
The Causal Effect of Fetal Alcohol Exposure on Height: Evidence from State Prohibition Laws

Since the 1970s, public health scholars have suggested that fetal alcohol exposure can lead to serious physical and cognitive problems that persist throughout a person’s life. More specifically, if a child suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the medical community is in general consensus that the child will exhibit significant growth deficits. There is also general agreement that FAS leads to a host of cognitive and behavioral problems. However, virtually all of these claims are based on observational studies whose conclusions may be driven by omitted variable bias, since it is likely that a mother’s drinking propensity is correlated with many other negative influences that can adversely affect a child’s development. For example, alcoholic mothers generally exhibit poor dietary choices and tend to receive less prenatal care than mothers who do not drink. We use a large dataset of US World War II enlistees to compare individuals conceived before and after the implementation of state-level alcohol prohibition laws to analyze whether these laws had an effect on height, the primary indicator used by doctors to diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome. This natural experiment provides an opportunity to strengthen the causal claims made about fetal alcohol exposure. We find that individuals conceived just after prohibition goes into effect are taller than individuals born in the preceding cohorts. This effect appears to be independent of any trends in height, and it is statistically significant. Though the identified effect size is modest, our results are likely to be an underestimate since some mothers likely did not drink even before prohibition and some may have continued even after alcohol sales became illegal.
Fast, Na+ /K+ pump driven, steady-state transcytolemmal water exchange in neuronal tissue: A study of rat brain cortical cultures.

PURPOSE Water homeostasis and transport play important roles in brain function (e.g., ion homeostasis, neuronal excitability, cell volume regulation, etc.). However, specific mechanisms of water transport across cell membranes in neuronal tissue have not been completely elaborated. METHODS The kinetics of transcytolemmal water exchange were measured in neuronal tissue using simultaneous, real-time fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of perfused, active brain organotypic cortical cultures. Perfusion with a paramagnetic MRI contrast agent, gadoteridol, allows NMR determination of the unidirectional rate constant for steady-state cellular water efflux (kio ), and the mole fraction of intracellular water ( pi), related to the average cell volume (V). Changes in intracellular calcium concentration [Cai2+] were used as a proxy for neuronal activity and were monitored by fluorescence imaging. RESULTS The kio value, averaged over all cultures (N = 99) at baseline, was 2.02 (±1.72) s-1 , indicating that on average, the equivalent of the entire intracellular water volume turns over twice each second. To probe possible molecular pathways, the specific Na+ -K+ -ATPase (NKA) inhibitor, ouabain (1 mM), was transiently introduced into the perfusate. This caused significant transient changes (N = 8): [Cai2+] rose ∼250%, V rose ∼89%, and kio fell ∼45%, with a metabolically active kio contribution probably eliminated by ouabain saturation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that transcytolemmal water exchange in neuronal tissue involves mechanisms affected by NKA activity as well as passive pathways. The active pathway may account for half of the basal homeostatic water flux. Magn Reson Med 79:3207-3217, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Iodine is a common impurity in tetrabutylammonium fluoride

Abstract Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is a common fluoride source used for the development of fluoride sensors. Commercial TBAF samples were found to absorb light at 295 and 370 nm and fluoresce at 435 nm, which is not expected for pure TBAF. The source of the anomalous absorption and emission was determined to be I3−. The I3− forms from the oxidation of I−, which was detected as an impurity in all commercially purchased TBAF samples (6 tested total). The concentrations of iodine in commercial samples of TBAF were found to range from 0.0186% to 0.866% w/w, 1 as measured by ICP-MS. 2 The presence of iodine in TBAF can impact sensing results when TBAF is used as a fluoride source for sensing experiments.
Peanut Seed Development: Molecular Mechanisms of Storage Reserve Mobilization and Effect of Water Deficit Stress on Seed Metabolism

Seeds function as an energy storehouse, providing nourishment to the developing embryo and the young seedling during germination. In addition, due to their oil, protein, and carbohydrate composition, seeds serve as an important food source for both human and animal consumption. Legume seeds and peanuts, in particular, are an inexpensive source of plant proteins and edible oil. Owing to their importance in global food security, it is necessary to understand the genetic, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms involved in controlling seed quality and nutritive attributes. A comprehensive understanding of seed development and the environmental factors that impact the incorporation of the main storage reserves in seeds, such as proteins, fatty acids, starch, and secondary metabolites will enhance our ability to improve seed quality and yield through molecular breeding programs. Here, we discuss the current understanding of seed development in peanut and conserved developmental mechanisms between legumes and the model plant Arabidopsis. Primarily, the biochemistry, genetics, and transcriptional regulation during seed development are discussed with emphasis on metabolic pathways of storage reserve biosynthesis. Additionally, we discuss the effects of water deficit stress on seed metabolism, oil quality, and composition.
Minimum-Risk Maximum Clique Problem

In this work, we consider the minimum-risk maximum clique problem on stochastic graphs. Namely, assuming that each vertex of the graph is associated with a random variable describing a cost or a loss, such that the joint distribution of all variables on the graph is known, the goal is to determine a clique in the graph that has the lowest risk, given a specific risk measure. It is shown that in the developed problem formulation, minimization of risk is facilitated through inclusion of additional vertices in the partial solution, whereby an optimal solution represents a maximal clique in the graph. In particular, two instances of risk-averse maximum clique problems are considered, where risk exposures of a graph’s vertices are “isolated” (i.e., not dependent on risk profiles of other vertices) and “neighbor-dependent,” or dependent on the risk profiles of adjacent vertices. Numerical experiments on randomly generated Erdos–Renyi demonstrating properties of optimal risk-averse maximum cliques are conducted.
Developing Loops from Invariants and Bounds

This chapter discusses two methods for developing a loop when the precondition Q, the postcondition R, the invariant P and the bound function t are given. The first method leads naturally to a loop with a single guarded command, do B → S od. The second takes advantage of the flexibility of the iterative construct and generally results in loops with more than one guarded command.
In support of point-of-care social needs screening: The effects of five social determinants on the health of children with chronic diseases in British Columbia

Background Prior to introducing social needs screening into our subspecialty clinics, we first wanted to understand the health effects of the major social challenges facing children with chronic diseases in British Columbia. Methods Using a strict prospective methodology, avoiding use of health databases and proxy end points, we studied the effects of five social health determinants (distance from care, family income, gender, ethnicity, caregiver education), on health outcomes in three groups of children with chronic diseases: cystic fibrosis (CF), type 1 diabetes (T1D), chronic kidney disease (CKD). Social determinant data were collected at a face-to-face interview during a clinic visit. These were correlated with diagnosis-specific health outcomes, measured at the same visit. Main outcomes were: forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) (CF group), HbA1c (T1D group), estimated glomerular filtration rate (CKD group). Results We studied 270 children: 85 CF, 89 T1D and 96 CKD. In all three groups, children from families with annual income less than $45,000 had significantly worse health than those from families above this cut-off. Lower caregiver education was related to worse health in the CKD and T1D groups. We found no adverse health effects associated with distance from subspecialty care, patient ethnicity or gender. Conclusion Even in a prosperous province, family poverty and lack of caregiver education still impose measurable adverse effects on the health of children with chronic diseases. We hope these results help support the integration of social needs screening into routine multidisciplinary outpatient clinics. Early detection of social problems and targeted interventions will hopefully help to equalize health outcomes between children from different social groups.
Calcium signalling in T cells

Calcium (Ca2+) signalling is of paramount importance to immunity. Regulated increases in cytosolic and organellar Ca2+ concentrations in lymphocytes control complex and crucial effector functions such as metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, antibody and cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity. Altered Ca2+ regulation in lymphocytes leads to various autoimmune, inflammatory and immunodeficiency syndromes. Several types of plasma membrane and organellar Ca2+-permeable channels are functional in T cells. They contribute highly localized spatial and temporal Ca2+ microdomains that are required for achieving functional specificity. While the mechanistic details of these Ca2+ microdomains are only beginning to emerge, it is evident that through crosstalk, synergy and feedback mechanisms, they fine-tune T cell signalling to match complex immune responses. In this article, we review the expression and function of various Ca2+-permeable channels in the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and endolysosomes of T cells and their role in shaping immunity and the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases.
Contemporary Treatment of Locally Advanced Oral Cancer

At our institution, locally advanced oral cancer is most commonly treated with surgical resection, immediate reconstruction, and adjuvant radiotherapy with or without concurrent systemic therapy depending on final surgical pathologic analysis. There are patients with markedly advanced local or regional disease who unfortunately will have a low probability of cure. We counsel these patients on induction chemotherapy, emphasizing that this is unlikely to result in a smaller volume of surgical resection. In these patients, a good response to induction chemotherapy is more frequently followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. We have not been in the practice of commonly recommending definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced oral cancer when upfront surgery is an option. However, as reviewed below, there is a significant rationale for definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients who are surgical candidates, with the hope of good oncologic outcomes, and potential functional organ preservation. The experts who report their experiences in the studies reviewed below provide a strong argument for considering this approach.
Chronic Inflammation Directs an Olfactory Stem Cell Functional Switch from Neuroregeneration to Immune Defense

Summary Although olfactory mucosa possesses long-lived horizontal basal stem cells (HBCs) and remarkable regenerative capacity, the function of human olfactory neuroepithelium is significantly impaired in chronic inflammatory rhinosinusitis. Here, we show that, while inflammation initially damages olfactory neurons and activates HBC-mediated regeneration, continued inflammation locks HBCs in an undifferentiated state. Global gene expression in mouse HBCs reveals broad upregulation of NF-κB-regulated cytokines and chemokines including CCL19, CCL20, and CXCL10, accompanied by enhancement of “stemness”-related transcription factors. Loss-of-function studies identify an NF-κB-dependent role of HBCs in amplifying inflammatory signaling, contributing to macrophage and T cell local proliferation. Chronically activated HBCs signal macrophages to maintain immune defense and prevent Treg development. In diseased human olfactory tissue, activated HBCs in a P63+ undifferentiated state similarly contribute to inflammation through chemokine production. These observations establish a mechanism of chronic rhinosinusitis-associated olfactory loss, caused by a functional switch of neuroepithelial stem cells from regeneration to immune defense.
Empowering Online Advertisements by Empowering Viewers with the Right to Choose: The Relative Effectiveness of Skippable Video Advertisements on YouTube

ABSTRACT In 2010, YouTube introduced TrueView in-stream advertising—online video advertisements that allowed the user to skip directly to the desired video content after five seconds of viewing. Google sought to compare these “skippable” in-stream advertisements to the conventional (non-skippable) in-stream video advertising formats, using a new advertising effectiveness metric based on the propensity to search for terms related to advertising content. Google9s findings indicated that skippable video advertisements may be as effective on a per-impression basis as traditional video advertisements. In addition, data from randomized experiments showed a strong implied viewer preference for the skippable advertisements. Taken together, these results suggest that formats like TrueView in-stream advertisements can improve the viewing experience for users without sacrificing advertising value for advertisers or content owners.
A Comprehensive Monte Carlo Framework for Jet-Quenching

Abstract This article presents the motivation for developing a comprehensive modeling framework in which different models and parameter inputs can be compared and evaluated for a large range of jet-quenching observables measured in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and the LHC. The concept of a framework us discussed within the context of recent efforts by the JET Collaboration, the authors of JEWEL, and the JETSCAPE collaborations. The framework ingredients for each of these approaches is presented with a sample of important results from each. The role of advanced statistical tools in comparing models to data is also discussed, along with the need for a more detailed accounting of correlated errors in experimental results.
The Sense of Targeting Nonsense-Mediated Decay in C9-ALS/FTD.

Defective nucleocytoplasmic transport contributes to C9-ALS/FTD, but an inventory of proteins that become redistributed has remained elusive. In this issue of Neuron, Ortega et al. (2020) catalog these redistributed proteins and pinpoint nonsense-mediated decay as a therapeutic target for C9-ALS/FTD.