cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seizures in the developing brain cause adverse long-term effects on spatial learning and anxiety

Summary: Purpose: Seizures in the developing brain cause less macroscopic structural damage than do seizures in adulthood, but accumulating evidence shows that seizures early in life can be associated with persistent behavioral and cognitive impairments. We previously showed that long-term spatial memory in the eight-arm radial-arm maze was impaired in rats that experienced a single episode of kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus during early development (postnatal days (P) 1‐14). Here we extend those findings by using a set of behavioral paradigms that are sensitive to additional aspects of learning and behavior. Methods :O nP1, P7, P14, or P24, rats underwent status epilepticus induced by intraperitoneal injections of age-specific doses of KA. In adulthood (P90‐P100), the behavioral performance of these rats was compared with that of control rats that did not receive KA. A modified version of the radial-arm maze was used to assess short-term spatial memory; the Morris water maze was used to evaluate long-term spatial memory and retrieval; and the elevated plus maze was used to determine anxiety. Results: Compared with controls, rats with KA seizures at each tested age had impaired short-term spatial memory in the radial-arm maze (longer latency to criterion and more reference errors), deficient long-term spatial learning and retrieval in the water maze (longer escape latencies and memory for platform location), and a greater degree of anxiety in the elevated plus maze (greater time spent in open arms). Conclusions: These findings provide additional support for the concept that seizures early in life may be followed by life-long impairment of certain cognitive and behavioral functions. These results may have clinical implications, favoring early and aggressive control of seizures during development. Ke yW ords: Seizure—Development—Behavioral testing—Water maze—Kainic acid.
Synthetic probes for the study of biological function

From its beginnings, organic chemistry has been a partner to biology, often crossing the artificial boundary between the sciences to the benefit of both disciplines. This is even reflected in the use of the adjective “organic” to refer to the chemistry of carbon. As the field has matured, it has continued to address matters of structure and synthesis to increasingly encompass the grand challenge of designing and preparing molecules having a particular function. All three of these come together in the pursuit of new chemical probes for use in chemical biology. This Thematic Series highlights some of the numerous ways that molecular tools inform biological research. The choice of the phrase “chemical probe” was deliberately vague and indeed its meaning often lies in the ears of the listener. The most common context is the case of a molecule used in chemical biology to help unravel the role of a particular cellular pathway. Biologists have numerous tools at their disposal, of course, and one important reason to select a small organic molecule as an inhibitor, say, is that it allows for temporal control of its effect. Of course, inhibitors (and other sorts of biologically active molecules) have a way of occasionally – very occasionally – turning into drugs, and this offers its own rationale for research in this direction. Regardless of the goal, the challenge of finding a small molecule that binds to a macromolecular target in a specific enough way to influence its function is considerable. The combination of a binding event with a physical property such as fluorescence leads to another sort of probe, where the goal is to inform the researcher where a particular target may exist in a cell. In addition, the advent of phenotypic screening has created a strong demand for probes that can be used to help identify the target at which a screening hit is working. Each provides challenges to the chemist as it is necessary to retain the key binding event in such a way that also permits a useful read-out or physical capture of the intended target. Meeting challenges such as those described above requires both biological insight and chemical know-how. It has often been said that a distinguishing characteristic of chemistry is its ability to introduce new forms of matter into the universe, and we now have over a hundred years of accumulated experience in doing just that. The structural diversity of molecules that function as probes is broad indeed, some of them complex enough that even the most discerning practitioner of organic synthesis may consider them as worthy of their efforts. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to the authors and reviewers who have made this Thematic Series possible and for their support of open access publication in organic chemistry. I hope that this Thematic Series will inspire many of its readers to lend their talents to this still-emerging branch of chemistry. Jeff Aube Lawrence, January 2013
Engineering regulatory RNAs.

RNA has long been a favoured medium for in vitro evolution and engineering. Functional RNAs produced in vitro can bind small molecules (aptamers), possess catalytic activity (ribozymes) or do both (aptazymes). A plethora of recent work has shown similar strategies used naturally for gene regulation in bacteria. Interest in these natural systems has inspired an effort to engineer and evolve this activity in vivo . A recent paper by Isaacs et al. describes the engineering and in vivo activity of a small RNA that removes translation inhibition by binding the 5′ untranslated region of its target mRNA and making the ribosome-binding site accessible.
Abstract 178: Cytosolic Phospholipase A2a in Brain Subfornical Organ is Critical for Angiotensin II-induced ER and Oxidative Stress and Hypertension

Angiotensin (Ang) II activates group IV cytosolic phospholipase A 2 α (cPLA 2 α) and releases arachidonic acid (AA) that is metabolized into pro-and antihypertensive eicosanoids. Ang II is also known to increase blood pressure via enhanced ER and oxidative stress in brain subfornical organ (SFO). These observations and our recent finding that Ang II-induced hypertension and associated cardiovascular dysfunction is ameliorated in cPLA 2 α knockout mice (cPLA 2 α -/- ) led us to investigate the contribution of SFO cPLA 2 α in Ang II-induced ER and oxidative stress and hypertension. Ang II infusion (700ng/kg/min, s.c.) for 14 days increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured by tail cuff, in wild type (cPLA 2 α +/+ ) but not cPLA 2 α -/- mice (122 ± 2 to 177 ± 2 mmHg vs. 119 ± 4 to 125 ±1 mmHg, respectively, P 2 activity, determined by immunohistochemistry using phospho-Ser505 antibody, in SFO of cPLA 2 α +/+ but not cPLA 2 α -/- mice. Ang II also increased in SFO of cPLA 2 α +/+ mice reactive oxygen species (ROS) production measured by dihydroethidium staining (5.09 ± 0.31 AU to 8.99 ± 0.33 AU, P 2 α -/- mice. Transduction in cPLA 2 α -/- mice of SFO with adenovirus (Ad) (1x 10 12 pfu/0.5 μL) expressing Ad-enhanced fluorescence protein (ECFP) cPLA 2 α DNA but not control Ad-green fluorescence protein (GFP) DNA, restored the effect of Ang II to increase SBP and ROS production (121 ± 3.45 to 173 ± 2.54 mmHg and 4.40 ± 0.31 to 7.66 ± 0.47 AU with Ad-ECFP cPLA 2 α DNA vs. 121 ± 1 to 125 ± 4.07 mmHg and 4.04 ± 0.35 to 4.56 ± 0.19 AU with Ad-GFP, respectively, P 2 α +/+ mice transduction of SFO with Ad-cPLA 2 α shRNA but not its control Ad-shRNA inhibited cPLA 2 expression and its activity, and prevented Ang II to increase SBP (124 ± 4.03 mmHg Ad-cPLA 2 α shRNA vs. 170 ± 5.32 mmHg Ad-control shRNA, P 2 α via one or more of its metabolites increases ER and oxidative stress in SFO that promotes development of hypertension.
Efficacy of breast MRI in elderly women

608 Background: Breast MRI is useful in evaluating extent of disease and screening of high risk patients, especially younger patients with dense breasts. The utility of MRI in the elderly population is currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to review the use of breast MRI and MRI findings in elderly women. Methods: Retrospective review identified women over the age of 70 who underwent breast MRI at our institution between 11/2000 and 12/2005. Clinicopathologic features, MRI results and mammograms (MMG) were reviewed. Results: 228 patients were identified. The mean age was 73.5 years (range 70–91). Forty-three patients (19%) had no history of breast cancer, 99 (43%) had a history of breast cancer, and 86 (38%) had a current diagnosis of breast cancer at the time of MRI. Ninety-two patients (40%) underwent MRI for screening, 49 (21%) as further workup for an abnormal MMG or physical finding, and 78 (34%) for extent of disease assessment. MRI found 49 additional sites of abnormality and 15 addition...
Economic Inefficiency: A Failure of Economists

Use of the concept of economic “efficiency” to guide public policy and even the courts has become almost commonplace. The authors conclude that it is impossible, using traditional microeconomic models, to demonstrate empirically that an outcome is inefficient; they suggest an appropriate role for economics in legal analysis.
Computational Studies of Pericyclic Reactions of Aminoborane (F3C)2B═N(CH3)2: Ene Reactions vs Hydrogen Transfers and Regiochemical and Conformational Preferences

The aminoborane (F3C)2B═N(CH3)2 (1) undergoes olefin-like concerted pericyclic ene-type and hydrogen transfer reactions with alkenes. Representative examples of each were studied computationally us...
The vicious circle: effects of race and class on university entrance in Brazil

AbstractBrazil has high levels of socio-economic inequality and an inequitable distribution of access to higher education. How much of this inequality is associated with race or class is an important question in light of the current debate over affirmative action and the suitability of race and social targeted policies. There are those who claim that racial disparities in the educational system are a result of students’ social status and not a result of racism, while others believe race is an important factor that superposes the effect of class. This study uses national survey data from Brazil’s Exame Nacional do Ensino Medio (National Secondary Education Exam [ENEM]) to examine the relationship between race and access to higher education of high school students between 2004 and 2008. The results document a vicious circle which connects the schooling of the young with their race, socio-economic status, and university attendance.
Things You Should Have Learned in Dental School and Never Did

Dr. Leslie Lee, Toronto: Toronto Academy of Dentistry, 2007. 69 pp., illustrated $25.00 paperback; $18.00 e-book (both available from [www.dentalcomonline.com][1]) The stated purpose of this book is to educate dental students and dentists about the importance of interpersonal communication in
Exploiting Score Distributions for Biometric Applications

Biometric systems compare biometric samples to produce matching scores. However, the corresponding distributions are often heterogeneous and as a result it is hard to specify a threshold that works well in all cases. Score normalization techniques exploit the score distributions to improve the recognition performance. The goals of this chapter are to (i) introduce the reader to the concept of score normalization and (ii) answer important questions such as why normalizing matching scores is an effective and efficient way of exploiting score distributions, and when such methods are expected to work. In particular, the first section highlights the importance of normalizing matching scores; offers intuitive examples to demonstrate how variations between different (i) biometric samples, (ii) modalities , and (iii) subjects degrade recognition performance ; and answers the question of why score normalization effectively utilizes score distributions. The next three sections offer a review of score normalization methods developed to address each type of variation. The chapter concludes with a discussion of why such methods have not gained popularity in the research community and answers the question of when and how one should use score normalization.
Hemangioma of the bladder: sonographic and computerized tomography findings.

AbstractWe report a bladder hemangioma in a patient with the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. Ultrasound findings consisted of a markedly thickened bladder wall with multiple serpiginous, anechoic spaces. Computerized tomography demonstrated diffuse bladder wall thickening with foci of calcification. (J. Urol., 140: 601–602, 1988)
Positively no proverbs need apply: revisiting the legacy of Herbert A. Simon

Beginning in the late 1940s, classical Public Administration was challenged by the works of Herbert Simon and the movement he started, logical positivism. Although only writing in the field for a few years, Simon shifted the locus and focus of the field so dramatically, for a time it almost disappeared from view. This article examines Simonŉs legacy, first by exploring its philosophical antecedents and its later epistemological progeny. The article concludes with an assessment of how the field of Public Administration responded to Simonŉs challenge in the late twentieth century and now, early in the twenty first century.
Activation of K-Ras in Arf-Null Mice Is Not Sufficient for Malignant Transformation of Post-Germinal Center B-Cells

Abstract 5016 Activating mutations in Ras ( N - and K -) are the most common mutations in multiple myeloma (MM), and are associated with advanced clinical stage and poor outcomes. As previously reported, we re-sequenced coding regions of highly expressed cytokine signaling candidate genes from MM patient samples and found the most common mutations to affect Ras oncogenes ( N and K- ). To test the role of Ras activation in MM pathogenesis directly, we generated mice harboring a mutant K-ras allele, Lox-stop-lox(LSL)- K-ras G12D (K-ras +/G12D ) with Cγ1-Cre knock-in mice (Cγ1 +/Cre ), activated specifically in germinal center (GC) cells. K-ras +/+ /Cγ1 +/Cre mice served as negative controls. We found 58% of unstimulated K-ras +/G12D /Cγ1 +/Cre mice developed fatal double-positive CD4/8 T-cell lymphomas (n=12) and 42% developed lung adenocarcinomas (n=12), phenotypes that have previously been reported for K-ras +/G12D mice. Tumor cells demonstrated successful recombination of the K-Ras locus. We showed recombination in splenic germinal center cells (B220+, GL7+ and IgG1+), as well as in post-germinal center cells (B220-, CD138+). No evidence of plasma cell proliferation was seen by serum ELISA, SPEP, flow cytometry or histological examination. We confirmed these results by crossing the K-ras +/G12D mice to a second strain, AID-Cre, which expresses the recombinase earlier and more specifically in the GC. We found 100% (n=20) of K-ras +/G12D /AID-Cre-YFP mice possessed visible, small benign papillomas on the ventral neck, as early as 3 weeks of age. To stimulate malignant transformation, vitamin D deficient chow and/or sub-lethal radiation was given to K-ras +/G12D /AID-Cre-YFP and negative control, K-ras +/G12D mice. Dual treatment increased the size and number of papillomas, giving a median survival of 26 weeks, compared to 52 weeks with control. However, no evidence of MM was detected by serum ELISA, SPEP, flow cytometry or histological examination. Finally, we generated AID-Cre-K-ras +/G12D triple transgenic mice in a tumor prone Arf-null background. After 13 wks, we found sarcomas in 66% (n=3) of K-ras +/G12D /AID-Cre-YFP/Arf −/− mice. Additionally, 100% (n=3) of these mice had rapid growing benign papillomas and only a minimal increase in the plasma cell compartment, compared to K-ras +/G12D /AID-Cre/Arf +/− control. Together, these data demonstrate that Ras activation is not sufficient to transform primary germinal center or plasma cells, even in an Arf-null context, and suggests that specific myeloma events, yet to be identified, are required for malignant transformation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Reply to "On the Impact Factor and the ASM Editorial Policy".

We thank Dr. Arguelles for his comments in response to the recently announced policy by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) to remove journal impact factors (JIF) from journal websites ([1][1]). We are in agreement with many of the points raised. Misuse of the JIF is a widespread phenomenon
A novel target tracking algorithm of radar system based on modified line-of-sight dynamic equations

The target tracking performance of radar system is dependent on the accurate modeling of target motion and the suitable filter for treating the noise problems when the radar detects the target. In this paper, the line-of-sight (LOS) dynamic equations of the interceptor-target are modified to be the motion model of maneuvering target and that is combined with the extended Kalman filter to treat the noise during the target tracking process. Besides, the proposed method will be compared with the current statistical mode and the constant acceleration model. The simulation results show the proposed technique of target tracking has the best estimation precision. The required measurement information of target state can be detected by the radar system in this study so the developed algorithm is usable to work on the radar system for tracking a maneuvering target.
Abstract WP173: Women Have More Severe Post-Stroke Fatigue Than Men

Background: Gender-related differences in stroke are issues of increasing interest. Post- stroke fatigue (PSF) is a frequently reported symptom affecting stroke survivors and is a predictor for dea...
Intermediate-Scale Experimental Study to Improve Fundamental Understanding of Attenuation Capacity for Leaking CO2 in Heterogeneous Shallow Aquifers

To assess the risks of Geologic Carbon Sequestration (GCS), it is crucial to understand the fundamental physicochemical processes that may occur if and when stored CO2 leaks upward from a deep storage reservoir into the shallow subsurface. Intermediate-scale experiments allow for improved understanding of the multiphase evolution processes that control CO2 migration behavior in the subsurface, because the boundary conditions, initial conditions, and porous media parameters can be better controlled and monitored in the laboratory than in field settings. For this study, a large experimental test bed was designed to mimic a cross section of a shallow aquifer with layered geologic heterogeneity. As water with aqueous CO2 was injected into the system to mimic a CO2-charged water leakage scenario, the spatiotemporal evolution of the multiphase CO2 plume was monitored. Similar experiments were performed with two different sand combinations to assess the relative effects of different types of geologic facies transitions on the CO2 evolution processes. Significant CO2 attenuation was observed in both scenarios, but by fundamentally different mechanisms. When the porous media layers had very different permeabilities, attenuation was caused by local accumulation (structural trapping) and slow redissolution of gas phase CO2. When the permeability difference between the layers was relatively small, on the other hand, gas phase continually evolved over widespread areas near the leading edge of the aqueous plume, which also attenuated CO2 migration. This improved process understanding will aid in the development of models that could be used for effective risk assessment and monitoring programs for GCS projects.
HEARTMATE II VERSUS HEARTWARE FOR HEART FAILURE: A META-ANALYSIS

Over the last decade, 2 different continuous flow pumps, the HeartWare and the HeartMate II Ventricular Assist Device have been used successfully as a treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure, not only as bridge to transplant but also for chronic support. This meta-analysis compares
The role of perceived effectiveness on the acceptability of choice architecture

The success of choice architecture, including its adoption in government policy and practice, has prompted questions of whether choice architecture design decisions are sufficiently transparent and publicly acceptable. We examined whether disclosing to decision-makers that a particular choice architecture is in place reduces its effectiveness and whether an understanding of the effectiveness of choice architecture design decisions increases their acceptability. We find that disclosure of the design decision does not reduce its effectiveness and that individuals perceive the effectiveness of specific designs to be higher for others than for themselves. Perceived effectiveness for self increases when individuals have actually experienced the effect of a design decision rather than having it simply described to them. Perceived effectiveness for oneself and others increases the acceptability of the designs. We also find that the intentions of the source matter more than who the source actually is. Important for policy-makers, then, is that disclosure of design decisions does not reduce their effectiveness, and their acceptability depends on their perceived effectiveness and the inferred motivations of the design architect.
Macintyre's traditionalism

Critique du traditionalisme de MacIntyre qui repose sur une evaluation erronnee du role de la rationalite dans la tradition. Examinant les trois solutions qui se presentent a MacIntyre pour reaffirmer la coherence de sa position: le perspectivisme, l'universalisme et l'idee d'une grande metatradition occidentale, l'A. montre que le projet moral de MacIntyre est antithetique: d'une part, il rejette le perspectivisme et l'universalisme, et l'idee d'une metatradition occidentale est incompatible avec sa conception discrete des traditions; d'autre part, le critere de la rationalite des Lumieres ne se realise pas dans des institutions et des pratiques sociales particulieres
Patient Outcomes After the Introduction of Statewide ICU Nurse Staffing Regulations

Objectives:To assess whether Massachusetts legislation directed at ICU nurse staffing was associated with improvements in patient outcomes.Design:Retrospective cohort study; difference-in-difference design to compare outcomes in Massachusetts with outcomes of other states (before and after the March
Outcomes of ICU admission of patients with progressive metastatic gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

e18124Background: It is unclear if ICU admissions result in long term survival or the ability to administer subsequent cancer treatments, and if such treatments benefit patients. We therefore exami...
Evaluation of Transit Ecodriving in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Environments:

Ecodriving (also known as eco-driving) is a widely recognized strategy to reduce transit vehicle fuel consumption and emissions. Previous simulation modeling and field studies have demonstrated that ecodriving can reduce fuel consumption by 2%–27%. However, prior studies have typically focused on urban transit operations. More than 1700 transit agencies operate in rural areas within the United States, operating under very different conditions than urban transit systems. Assessing the variability of fuel savings across various transit operating conditions and physical terrain conditions will help transit agencies predict the potential benefits of deploying ecodriving strategies for their systems. The objective of this study is to assess the potential benefits and limitations of deploying ecodriving strategies for different transit services, service areas, fleet composition, and road topographies. There are three preliminary tasks involved in this study. The first element collects and processes the operatio...
Contemporary abundance patterns of Cyclotella sensu lato diatom taxa in Lake Superior: Assessing responses to physical and chemical gradients and potential links to climate change

Abstract Many studies attribute shifts in relative abundances of Cyclotella sensu lato diatom taxa in freshwater lakes over the past 150 years to climate change. Although abundances of several of these taxa have also changed in Lake Superior over the last century, the specific drivers are currently unclear. This study used multiple linear regression to analyze long-term planktonic monitoring data to identify drivers of changing cell densities of six Cyclotella sensu lato species, four shown to be responsive to climate-driven change in smaller lakes and two species with similar morphology to two previously assessed taxa: Discostella stelligera and the morphologically similar D. pseudostelligera, Lindavia comensis and the morphologically similar L. delicatula, Lindavia ocellata, and Lindavia bodanica. Assessed variables associated with climate-driven physical change included surface water temperature and light availability, with turbidity and thermocline depth as indicators of the light environment. One to three variables explained 8–61% variation for each of 5 taxa from 2001 to 2011, significant predictive variables were not identified for D. stelligera. Multiple linear regression identified nutrients, including nitrate, phosphorus, and silica, as essential in explaining distributions of all the other assessed taxa. A physical variable associated with climate explained changes of one taxon: L. ocellata, which increased with lower water temperatures. Climate-driven species responses were not as apparent as in other systems; specifically, changes in the light environment of this clear lake did not explain abundance changes in any of the taxa. Multiple and complex environmental variables drive Cyclotella sensu lato abundance patterns in Lake Superior, possibly suggesting ecotype formation.
The Possibility of Analysis: Convergence and Proofs of Convergence

We raise the issues of convergence and proofs of convergence for processes of philosophical analysis in the styles of Russell and early Wittgenstein. Here, ‘convergence’ means that the process results, once started on its inputs, in completely analyzed propositions. We then prove that there are analyses that cannot converge and, perhaps more importantly, procedures of analysis that do converge on all relevant inputs but cannot be proven to do so.
High-throughput field phenotyping of Ascochyta blight disease severity in chickpea

Abstract Pulse crops, such as chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), serve as excellent food sources that provide proteins and minerals to humans and livestock. Additionally, pulses are important sources of soil nitrogen in rotational cropping systems. However, pulse production is limited by several biotic and abiotic stress factors. One such disease is Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) in chickpea. To minimize the impact of Ascochyta blight, timely information on disease outbreak and epidemics is essential for implementing disease control methods. Thus, in this study, the feasibility of monitoring Ascochyta blight disease severity in chickpea using remote sensing techniques was evaluated. Disease severity was monitored using an unmanned aircraft system integrated with different types of sensors (3-band multispectral, 5-band multispectral, and thermal cameras). Results indicated that different flight altitudes (60 m and 90 m above ground level) that lead to different image resolutions did not influence disease detection efficiency, especially with the 3-band camera. Selected image features, including canopy area, percentage of canopy area, and vegetation indices (e.g., green normalized difference vegetation index) from multispectral cameras, and mean canopy temperature from the thermal camera, were significantly correlated with yield and visual ratings of disease severity. Moreover, hyperspectral sensing was found to be useful in predicting disease severity. In summary, this study demonstrated that disease severity of Ascochyta blight in chickpea can be monitored using remote sensing methods under active field conditions. With timely and accurate disease severity information from high-throughput phenotyping technologies, the effects of Ascochyta blight on chickpea yield and quality can be minimized with timely application of proper management techniques.
How behavior spreads: the science of complex contagions

As our society has evolved into social structures organized around networks (Castells, 1996), it is crucial for researchers and practitioners to unpack the impact of network structure on human beha...
A numerical mechanical model integrating actin treadmilling and receptor recycling to explain selective disengagement of immune cells.

Abstract T-killer cells of the immune system eliminate virus-infected cells by releasing toxic granules through a direct cell to cell surface interface (synapse). The release of toxic granules only through the cell surface interface assures the specificity of the immune response. The toxic granule releasing apparatus, however, may not be aligned toward the synapse at the moment of the synapse formation. Therefore, mechanisms for reorienting the killing apparatus inside the T-killer cell to the interface with the target is required. Numerous research works were reported to suggest the mechanisms with direct and indirect evidence, but the most adversary situation, that is when the cell's initial orientation is the complete opposite of the desired direction, either remained answered or brought skepticism toward the suggested mechanisms. To address this issue, a computational mechanical model of T-killer cell synapse formation is constructed to test previously suggested models in a more realistic setting and at the same time to test previously neglected component in the model, namely the actin network formation on the synapse. In this model, by capturing the mechanical interaction between T-killer cell surface receptor dynamics and mechanical properties of synapse formation, it is shown that T-killer cells can selectively engage or disengage from the target cell depending on the killing apparatus alignment with the target. The mechanism works as a safeguard measure ensuring target-cell killing and specificity, so it will be effective when T-killer cells are stranded in situations where the alignment of the killing apparatus is challenging.
Culture and International Development: Managing Participatory Voices and Value Chains in the Arts

The cultural turn in international development can be traced back to the 1980s. Critiques from social scientist and the rise of participatory development practices have now brought culture to the fore of development. This essay analyses two important aspects of the culture and international development: (1) notions of human well-being that are fundamental to both involving people in development efforts and in thinking of how they may participate in improving their lives, (2) cultural expressions require sustainable cultural infrastructures that allow for cultural creation, production, distribution, archiving—the value chain of cultural expressions. The essay is divided into three parts: (1) a survey of the literature on culture and development, (2) human well-being and culture, and (3) a cultural infrastructure and value chain perspective with empirical examples. The review is interdisciplinary drawing from anthropology, cultural studies, economics, post-colonial history and literatures, international relations, political science, and sociology.
Time-dependent behavior of adhesively bonded composite–composite beams under flexural loading

Time-dependent behavior is characteristic of adhesively bonded structureswhen put under constant load (creep). In this study, adhesively bonded beam specimens prepared by adhesively bonding two uni...
Increased sprint performance with false step in collegiate athletes trained to forward step.

The ability to achieve rapid acceleration is a crucial asset for athletes. An emergent tactic to achieve this advantage has been the performance of a backward step when beginning a sprinting action...
Vascular surgery presence in carotid endarterectomy YouTube videos.

Abstract Objective YouTube videos have become a common resource for trainees to learn about surgical procedures. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is one example procedure that may be performed by multiple specialties and with a variety of techniques. Little is known about educational content and the representation of vascular surgeons in these videos. We sought to compare the educational quality of CEA YouTube videos, techniques demonstrated, and prevalence of each specialty. Methods YouTube was programmatically searched for the terms “carotid endarterectomy,” “carotid endarterectomy surgery,” “carotid endarterectomy technique,” “carotid endarterectomy CEA,” and “carotid artery surgery.” Videos that met inclusion criteria were analyzed for surgical technique, procedural steps, surgeon specialty, video length, and date. Videos were determined to have high-quality educational content if the video included English-language captions or narration and demonstrated key steps of the procedure: division of the common facial vein; exposure of the common, external, and internal carotid arteries; vascular control and clamping; and arteriotomy, endarterectomy, and arteriotomy closure. Results Forty-six videos met inclusion criteria. Vascular surgery was associated with 12 (26.1%) CEA videos, cardiac surgery with 13 (28.3%), and neurosurgery with 14 (30.4%). Surgeon specialty was unknown for seven (17.4%) videos. Eight videos were high quality, of which vascular surgery was associated with three (37.5%). Conventional endarterectomy was the most common technique demonstrated, whereas a total of seven videos demonstrated eversion technique. Vascular and cardiac surgeons were more likely to demonstrate patch angioplasty than neurosurgeons, who exclusively performed primary closure (P Conclusions Despite more views, the field of vascular surgery is under-represented in YouTube videos demonstrating CEA. Vascular surgery videos tend to be older and make up a minority of high-quality videos. As more learners turn to YouTube for information about surgical procedures, vascular surgeons should expand their online presence through the production and collection of high-quality videos for trainees.
Association Between Facility Volume and Overall Survival for Patients with Grade II Meningioma after Gross Total Resection

BACKGROUND The role of adjuvant radiation after gross total resection (GTR) for grade II meningioma is evolving, prompting further evaluation in NRG-BN003, a phase 3 national trial. Furthermore, the relationship between facility volume and outcomes in patients with grade II meningioma after GTR has not been examined at a national level. We aim to assess overall survival (OS) of patients with grade II meningioma after GTR by surgical case volume and OS by receipt of adjuvant radiation. METHODS We used the National Cancer Database to identity 2823 patients diagnosed with grade II meningioma who underwent GTR. Propensity score matching was applied to balance covariates in patients with grade II meningioma after GTR stratified by adjuvant radiation status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with radiation receipt. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to assess OS by facility volume. RESULTS As facility volume increased, OS increased, with a 5-year OS of 72.8% for facilities with GTR grade II meningioma volumes of ≤8 cases per decade and 87.5% for >8 cases per decade (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in 5-year OS between GTR alone and GTR with adjuvant radiation (84.8% vs. 86.4%; P = 0.151). Covariates significantly associated with radiation receipt included facility location, facility volume, distance, and tumor size. CONCLUSIONS Treatment at higher surgical case volume facilities is associated with improved OS for GTR grade II meningioma. These facilities also have more patients receiving adjuvant radiation. However, we observed no difference in OS between adjuvant radiation and surgery alone.
Body Mass Index and Risk for Intubation or Death in SARS-CoV-2 Infection : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Obesity is a risk factor for pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Objective To determine whether obesity is associated with intubation or death, inflammation, cardiac injury, or fibrinolysis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting A quaternary academic medical center and community hospital in New York City. Participants 2466 adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection over a 45-day period with at least 47 days of in-hospital observation. Measurements Body mass index (BMI), admission biomarkers of inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP] level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]), cardiac injury (troponin level), and fibrinolysis (D-dimer level). The primary end point was a composite of intubation or death in time-to-event analysis. Results Over a median hospital length of stay of 7 days (interquartile range, 3 to 14 days), 533 patients (22%) were intubated, 627 (25%) died, and 59 (2%) remained hospitalized. Compared with overweight patients, patients with obesity had higher risk for intubation or death, with the highest risk among those with class 3 obesity (hazard ratio, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1]). This association was primarily observed among patients younger than 65 years and not in older patients (P for interaction by age = 0.042). Body mass index was not associated with admission levels of biomarkers of inflammation, cardiac injury, or fibrinolysis. Limitations Body mass index was missing for 28% of patients. The primary analyses were conducted with multiple imputation for missing BMI. Upper bounding factor analysis suggested that the results are robust to possible selection bias. Conclusion Obesity is associated with increased risk for intubation or death from COVID-19 in adults younger than 65 years, but not in adults aged 65 years or older. Primary funding source National Institutes of Health.
Deep Learning for Generalized Multiobjective Optimization of Metamaterials

The inverse-design of metamaterials often requires full-wave evaluation of an enormous number of different candidate designs, which can be extremely time consuming and, in many cases of practical interest, even intractable. By introducing deep learning at an early stage in the design process, a generalized network can be paired with multiobjective optimization to rapidly solve a variety of complex electromagnetic metamaterial design problems.
Blink: Towards Efficient RDMA-based Communication Coroutines for Parallel Python Applications

Python is emerging as a popular language in the data science community due to its ease-of-use, vibrant community, and rich set of libraries. Dask is a popular Python-based distributed computing framework that allows users to process large amounts of data on parallel hardware. The Dask distributed package is a non-blocking, asynchronous, and concurrent library that offers support for distributed execution of tasks on datacenter and HPC environments. A few key requirements of designing high-performance communication backends for Dask distributed is to provide scalable support for coroutines that are unlike regular Python functions and can only be invoked from asynchronous applications. In this paper, we present Blink—a high-performance communication library for Dask on high-performance RDMA networks like InfiniBand. Blink offers a multi-layered architecture that matches the communication requirements of Dask and exploits high-performance interconnects using a Cython wrapper layer to the C backend. We evaluate the performance of Blink against other counterparts using various micro-benchmarks and application kernels on three different cluster testbeds with varying interconnect speeds. Our micro-benchmark evaluation reveals that Blink outperforms other communication backends by more than 3× for message sizes ranging from 1 Byte to 64 KByte, and by a factor of 2× for message sizes ranging from 128 KByte to 8 MByte. Using various application-level evaluations, we demonstrate that Dask achieves up to 7% improvement in application throughput (e.g., total worker throughput).
Functional anatomy of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis-hypothalamus neural circuitry: Implications for valence surveillance, addiction, feeding, and social behaviors

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a medial basal forebrain structure that modulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The heterogeneous subnuclei of the BNST integrate inputs from mood and reward-related areas and send direct inhibitory projections to the hypothalamus. The connections between the BNST and hypothalamus are conserved across species, promote activation of the HPA axis, and can increase avoidance of aversive environments, which is historically associated with anxiety behaviors. However, BNST-hypothalamus circuitry is also implicated in motivated behaviors, drug seeking, feeding, and sexual behavior. These complex and diverse roles, as well its sexual dimorphism, indicate that the BNST-hypothalamus circuitry is an essential component of the neural circuitry that may underlie various psychiatric diseases, ranging from anorexia to anxiety to addiction. The following review is a cross-species exploration of BNST-hypothalamus circuitry. First, we describe the BNST subnuclei, microcircuitry and complex reciprocal connections with the hypothalamus. We will then discuss the behavioral functions of BNST-hypothalamus circuitry, including valence surveillance, addiction, feeding, and social behavior. Finally, we will address sex differences in morphology and function of the BNST and hypothalamus.
Critical new insights into the binding of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to albumin protein

With an increasing number of health-related impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being reported, there is a pressing need to understand PFAS transport within both the human body and the environment. As proteins can serve as a primary transport mechanism for PFAS, understanding PFAS binding to proteins is essential for predictive physiological models where accurate values of protein binding constants are vital. In this work we present a critical analysis of three common models for analyzing PFAS binding to bovine serum albumin (BSA) based on fluorescence quenching: the Stern-Volmer model, the modified Stern-Volmer model, and the Hill equation. The PFAS examined include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and the replacement compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate (HFPO-DA or GenX). While all three models capture the general effects of hydrophobicity and steric limitations to PFAS binding, the Hill equation highlighted a unique relationship between binding cooperativity and the number of fluorinated carbons, with PFOA exhibiting the greatest binding cooperativity. The significance of steric limitations was confirmed by comparing results obtained by fluorescence quenching, which is an indirect method based on specific binding, to those obtained by equilibrium dialysis where PFAS binding directly correlated with traditional measures of hydrophobicity. Finally, the binding constants were correlated with PFAS physicochemical properties where van der Waals volume best described the steric limitations observed by fluorescence quenching.
Impact of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on oral surgery delivery at community health centers: an observational study.

BACKGROUND Unmet oral health needs routinely affect low-income communities. Lower-income adults suffer a disproportionate share of dental disease and often cannot access necessary oral surgery services. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion created new financial opportunities for community health centers (CHCs) to provide mission-relevant services in low-income areas. However, little is understood in the literature about how the ACA Medicaid expansion impacted oral surgery delivery at CHCs. Using a large sample of CHCs, we examined whether the ACA Medicaid expansion increased the likelihood of oral surgery delivery at expansion-state CHCs compared to non-expansion-state CHCs. METHODS Exploiting a natural experiment, we estimated Poisson regression models examining the effects of the Medicaid expansion on the likelihood of oral surgery delivery at expansion-state CHCs relative to non-expansion-state CHCs. We merged data from multiple sources spanning 2012-2017. The analytic sample included 2054 CHC-year observations. RESULTS Compared to the year prior to expansion, expansion-state CHCs were 13.5% less likely than non-expansion-state CHCs to provide additional oral surgery services in 2016 (IRR = 0.865; P = 0.06) and 14.7% less likely in 2017 (IRR = 0.853; P = 0.02). All else equal, and relative to non-expansion-state CHCs, expansion-state CHCs included in the analytic sample were 8.7% less likely to provide oral surgery services in all post-expansion years pooled together (IRR = 0.913; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Medicaid expansions can provide CHCs with opportunities to expand their patient revenue and services. However, whether because of known dental treatment capacity limitations, new competition, or coordination with other providers, expansion-state CHCs in our study sample were less likely to provide oral surgery services on the margin relative to non-expansion-state CHCs following Medicaid expansion.
Considerations in Ethical Decision-Making and Software Piracy

Individuals are faced with the many opportunities to pirate. The decision to pirate or not may be related to an individual's attitudes toward other ethical issues. A person's ethical and moral predispositions and the judgments that they use to make decisions may be consistent across various ethical dilemmas and may indicate their likelihood to pirate software. This paper investigates the relationship between religion and a theoretical ethical decision making process that an individual uses when evaluating ethical or unethical situations. An ethical decision making model was studied for general unethical scenarios and for the unethical behavior of software piracy. The research model was tested via path analysis using structural equation modeling and was found to be appropriate for the sample data. The results suggest that there is a relationship between religion and the stages of an ethical decision making process regarding general ethical situations and software piracy.
A Case Study of Communication Optimizations on 3D Mesh Interconnects

Optimal network performance is critical to efficient parallel scaling for communication-bound applications on large machines. With wormhole routing, no-load latencies do not increase significantly with number of hops traveled. Yet, we, and others have recently shown that in presence of contention, message latencies can grow substantially large. Hence task mapping strategies should take the topology of the machine into account on large machines. In this paper, we present topology aware mapping as a technique to optimize communication on 3-dimensional mesh interconnects and hence improve performance. Our methodology is facilitated by the idea of object-based decomposition used in Charm++ which separates the processes of decomposition from mapping of computation to processors and allows a more flexible mapping based on communication patterns between objects. Exploiting this and the topology of the allocated job partition, we present mapping strategies for a production code, OpenAtom to improve overall performance and scaling. OpenAtom presents complex communication scenarios of interaction involving multiple groups of objects and makes the mapping task a challenge. Results are presented for OpenAtom on up to 16,384 processors of Blue Gene/L, 8,192 processors of Blue Gene/P and 2,048 processors of Cray XT3.