cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breaking the Mold: Sculpting Impasses in Couples' Therapy

In the fall of 2009, we the authors started a project at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City that focuses on understanding and transforming impasses in couples' therapy. In experimenting with various interventions, we discovered the power of sculpting to capture and transform stalemates in couples relationships. In this article, we describe the ways in which sculpting brings forward the gestalt of a couple's impasse, highlights nuances of emotions and feelings, and reveals elements of both present and past. We also discuss the ways in which sculpting illuminates the partners' sense of self in the relationship as they feel constrained within their reciprocal dynamics. Through three different cases, we outline a protocol for sculpting. We demonstrate how the therapist invites the partners to create a visual/sensory narrative of their impasse, guides staging of their metaphors and images, and utilizes their enactments to unpack emotions, beliefs, and patterns that are typically on the periphery of awareness. We also articulate how sculpting offers a platform for the process of change.
The puzzling infrared spectra of the nitric oxide dimer radical cation: a systematic application of Brueckner methods

Since symmetry breaking occurs in the ONNO+ cation with the self-consistent field (SCF) method and inverse symmetry breaking occurs when density functional theory (DFT) methods are used, Brueckner double excitation coupled cluster methods (BD) and BD plus perturbative triple-excitation contributions [BD(T)]have been used to study the geometries and vibrational frequencies for the trans and cis structures of the ONNO+ cation. Double-ζ plus polarization (DZP) basis sets and triple-ζ plus double polarization with f functions (TZ2Pf) basis sets were utilized. The ground state of the trans-ONNO cation is of 2Ag symmetry, which has a slightly (0.36 kcalmol-1) lower energy than the cis conformer (2A1). The controversial vibrational frequency corresponding to the asymmetric N–O stretching mode for both trans and cis structures is predicted as about 1600cm-1. This value is discussed in the context of the many (sometimes variant) experimental assignments.
Religious practice and depression among geriatric home care patients.

Objective:To examine the relationship between religious practice and depression in a sample of geriatric patients receiving homecare nursing services.Methods:Patients were sampled weekly for six months from all those aged 65 to 102, and newly enrolled in a visiting nurse agency (N = 130). Depression was assessed by home interviews using the SCID and HRSD. Patients reported their religious service participation prior to receiving homecare and currently. Health status, disability, pain, social support and history of depression were also assessed.Results:The current prevalence of DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was significantly greater (p < .05), and depressive symptoms were more severe (p < .02), among those persons who had not attended religious services prior to receiving homecare. Logistic regression demonstrated that the effect of religious attendance remained significant when controlling for health status, disability, pain, social support and history of depression. A subsequent analysis compare...
Reptile cardiology: A review of anatomy and physiology, diagnostic approaches, and clinical disease

Abstract Reptile cardiology is in its infancy. Veterinarians treating reptiles should develop a basic knowledge of reptile cardiovascular anatomy and physiology. Cardiology is vital to interpreting the results of various diagnostic tests and planning an effective therapeutic plan for a case. This article will provide a review of the anatomy and physiology of the reptilian cardiovascular system, the common diagnostic tests used to assess cardiac function, and the common disease presentations associated with the cardiovascular system.
Substance Use Attitudes among Urban Black Adolescents: The Role of Parent, Peer, and Cultural Factors

This study examined the influence of perceived parental, peer, and cultural factors on Black American adolescent attitudes toward substance use. One-hundred-eight Black American youth (grades 9–12) from economically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods of New York, completed self-report measures on: (a) parent-child involvement, parental supervision, and parent attitudes toward high risk behaviors; (b) peer bonds and peer attitudes toward high risk behaviors; and (c) ethnic identity, parental racial socialization, and extended family support. Youth disapproval of substance use was positively associated with higher perceived levels of peer and parental disapproval of high risk behaviors, parental supervision, and ethnic identity. Youth who reported parental messages about racial discrimination without balanced parental messages about racial pride and racial equality were more likely to approve substance use.
The beneficial endophyte Trichoderma hamatum isolate DIS 219b promotes growth and delays the onset of the drought response in Theobroma cacao

Theobroma cacao (cacao) is cultivated in tropical climates and is exposed to drought stress. The impact of the endophytic fungus Trichoderma hamatum isolate DIS 219b on cacao’s response to drought was studied. Colonization by DIS 219b delayed drought-induced changes in stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, and green fluorescence emissions. The altered expression of 19 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) (seven in leaves and 17 in roots with some overlap) by drought was detected using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. Roots tended to respond earlier to drought than leaves, with the drought-induced changes in expression of seven ESTs being observed after 7 d of withholding water. Changes in gene expression in leaves were not observed until after 10 d of withholding water. DIS 219b colonization delayed the drought-altered expression of all seven ESTs responsive to drought in leaves by >3 d, but had less influence on the expression pattern of the drought-responsive ESTs in roots. DIS 219b colonization had minimal direct influence on the expression of drought-responsive ESTs in 32-d-old seedlings. By contrast, DIS 219b colonization of 9-d-old seedlings altered expression of drought-responsive ESTs, sometimes in patterns opposite of that observed in response to drought. Drought induced an increase in the concentration of many amino acids in cacao leaves, while DIS 219b colonization caused a decrease in aspartic acid and glutamic acid concentrations and an increase in alanine and g-aminobutyric acid concentrations. With or without exposure to drought conditions, colonization by DIS 219b promoted seedling growth, the most consistent effects being an increase in root fresh weight, root dry weight, and root water content. Colonized seedlings were slower to wilt in response to drought as measured by a decrease in the leaf angle drop. The primary direct effect of DIS 219b colonization was promotion of root growth, regardless of water status, and an increase in water content which it is proposed caused a delay in many aspects of the drought response of cacao.
Pilot level of a hierarchical controller for an unmanned mobile robot

The controller for an intelligent mobile autonomous system (IMAS), equipped with vision and low-level sensors to cope with unknown obstacles, is modeled as a hierarchy of decision-making for planning and control. One of the levels (pilot) deals with a distorted 'windshield' view of the world and provides the actuator controller with real-time decisions. This level of IMAS controller is treated as a linguistic controller with fuzzy variables that assume values from possible intervals. The decision-making process at this level of control are presented as a production system with a fuzzy database. The rules in the production system are derived from an analytical system model for minimum-time control. The choice of optimal motion execution commands is performed using fuzzy set operators. Also included is a temporal decision-making mechanism (reporter), which recognizes the persisting conflicts between successive levels of the hierarchy by observing the motion trajectory. >
Testing alarm‐based earthquake predictions

SUMMARY Motivated by a recent resurgence in earthquake predictability research, we present a method for testing alarm-based earthquake predictions. The testing method is based on the Molchan diagram—a plot of miss rate and fraction of space–time occupied by alarm—and is applicable to a wide class of predictions, including probabilistic earthquake forecasts varying in space, time, and magnitude. A single alarm can be simply tested using the cumulative binomial distribution. Here we consider the more interesting case of a function from which a continuum of well-ordered alarms can be derived. For such an ‘alarm function’ we construct a cumulative performance measure, the area skill score, based on the normalized area above a trajectory on the Molchan diagram. A score of unity indicates perfect skill, a score of zero indicates perfect non-skill, and the expected score for a random alarm function is 1/2. The area skill score quantifies the performance of an arbitrary alarm function relative to a reference model. To illustrate the testing method, we consider the 10-yr experiment by J. Rundle and others to predict M≥ 5 earthquakes in California. We test forecasts from three models: relative intensity (RI), a simple spatial clustering model constructed using only smoothed historical seismicity; pattern informatics (PI), a model that aims to capture seismicity dynamics by pattern recognition; and the U. S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Map (NSHM), a model that comprises smoothed historical seismicity, zones of ‘background’ seismicity, and explicit fault information. Results show that neither PI nor NSHM provide significant performance gain relative to the RI reference model. We suggest that our testing method can be used to evaluate future experiments in the Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability and to iteratively improve reference models for earthquake prediction hypothesis testing.
NIH pre-clinical screening program: overview and current status

The increase in the number of cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis around the world has lead to a greater need for a more efficacious vaccine than the currently used M. bovis BCG. Despite the relative success of this attenuated vaccine there are multiple examples where alternative strategies are desperately needed. In 1996, the National Institutes of Health published a request calling for applications to test newly developed vaccines against tuberculosis. The current screening program at Colorado State University has tested a wide range of novel vaccine candidates.
The End of Lifetime Employment in Japan?: Evidence from National Surveys and Field Research

Abstract Using both quantitative data from national surveys and qualitative data from our recent field research, this paper provides evidence on the recent transformation of Japan's celebrated practice of lifetime employment (or implicit long-term employment contracts for the regular workforce). Overall, contrary to the popular rhetoric of the end of lifetime employment, evidence points to the enduring nature of this practice in Japan. Specifically, we find little evidence for any major decline in the job retention rates of Japanese employees from the period prior to the burst of the bubble economy in the late 1980s to the post-bubble period. In general, our field research corroborates the main finding from the job retention rates by describing vividly that large firms in Japan have been trying to accomplish their restructuring and downsizing targets by relying heavily on transfers of their employees to their subsidiaries and related firms and hiring cuts, thus avoiding layoffs. Last, the burden of downsizing appears to fall disproportionately on young workers and middle-age workers with shorter tenure. J. Japan. Int. Econ., December 2001, 15(4), pp. 489–514. Department of Economics, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York 13346; Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia Business School, New York; and TCER. © 2001 Elsevier Science (USA). Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: J63, J64, J41, O53.
Early Iron Metallurgy in the Near East

Iron meteorites found in the Near East were analyzed, followed by conjecture of Fe etymology. The city of Metsamor, the probable iron-producing center of the ancient world located in present-day Armenia SSR, was described as well as a metallurgical plant of the city. -- AATA
The Responsibilities of the Insect Taxonomist

I was warned that it would be a difficult assignment to follow the preceding speaker, and after hearing his stimulating presentation I am sure this warning was merited. However, in addressing an audience of entomologists, the majority of whom are not taxonomists, I have at least the inward satisfaction of feeling that however little I know of taxonomya part of my audience will think that I know more than they do. In my limited experience, this is rarely the situation when an economic entomologist addresses the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America.
Optimizing Ordering Preferences Promotes Best Practices: 58% Decrease in dsDNA Send-Out Tests Within Six Months of Implementing Minor Electronic Medical Records Change

Autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) are specific for and play a major role in the diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often fluctuating with disease activity. At our institution, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is performed first to detect dsDNA, and positive samples are confirmed by the more specific Crithidia Immunofluorescence Assay. Farr Assay (FA), another method for …
codA Transgenic Tomato Plants Enhance Tolerance to High Temperature Stress

The effects of codA gene on photosynthesis,activities of antioxidative enzymes,the expression of the heat response genes and the accumulation of D1 protein in tomato leaf under different temperature stresses were investigated to reveal the mechanism of thermotolerance in codA-transgenic tomato plants.The wild type(cv.Moneymaker)and codA transgenic tomato plants were treated with 25,30,35,40,45,and 50℃ respectively for two hours,then net photosynthetic rate(Pn),the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry(Fv/Fm),hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)content,malondialdehyde(MDA)content,relative electric conductivity(REC)and activities of antioxidative enzymes were detected.After 42℃ heat stress for 0,3,6 hours,the expressions of antioxidant enzyme genes and heat stress genes and the accumulation of the D1 protein were also determined.The results demonstrated that under high temperature stress,the inhibition degree of Pn and Fv/Fm in codA transgenic tomato plants was lower than that in wild type plants.The accumulation of H2O2,MDA and REC in codA transgenic tomato plants was less than that in wild type plants.And codA transgenic tomato plants also greatly enhanced the activities of catalase(CAT),superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD),and ascorbate peroxidase(APX).Moreover,the expression levels of antioxidant genes and heat response genes in codA transgenic tomato plants was higher than those in wild type plants and the degradation degree of D1 protein in codA transgenic tomato plants were lower than that in wild type plants.It indicated that codA transgenic tomato plants enhance thermotolerance via maintaining higher activities of antioxidant enzymes,accelerating the expression of heat response genes and reducing the degradation of D1 protein.
Alpha-Chain cross-linking in fibrin(ogen) Marburg

The fibrinogen structural variant, Marburg (A alpha 1-460B beta gamma)2, is comprised of normal B beta and gamma chains but contains severely truncated A alpha chains that are missing approximately one half of their factor XIIIa cross-linking domain. Immunochemical studies of fibrin(ogen) Marburg were conducted to characterize the degree to which deletion of a defined A alpha-chain segment, A alpha 461-610, can affect the process of fibrin stabilization, ie, the factor XIIIa-mediated covalent interaction that occurs between alpha chains of neighboring fibrin molecules and between alpha chains and alpha 2 antiplasmin (alpha 2PI). The ability of Marburg (and control) alpha chains to serve as a substrate for factor XIIIa and undergo cross-linking was examined in an in vitro plasma clotting system. The capacity for alpha-chain cross-linking was evaluated both as the covalent incorporation of the small synthetic peptide, NQEQVSPLTLLK (which represents the first 12 amino acids of alpha 2PI and includes the factor XIIIa-sensitive glutamine residue responsible for the cross-linking of alpha 2PI to fibrin), and as the appearance of native (ie, natural), high-molecular-weight, cross-linked alpha-chain species. Antibodies specific for the (A)alpha and gamma/gamma-gamma chains of fibrin(ogen) and for the peptide and its parent protein, alpha 2PI (68 kD), were used as immunoblotting probes to visualize the various cross-linked products formed during in vitro clotting. Recalcification of Marburg plasma in the presence of increasing concentrations of peptide resulted in the formation of peptide-decorated Marburg alpha-chain monomers. Their size at the highest peptide concentration examined indicated the incorporation of a maximum of 3 to 4 mol of peptide per mole of alpha-chain. In the absence of alpha 2PI 1-12 peptide, the alpha chains of Marburg fibrin cross-linked to form oligomers and polymers, as well as heterodimers that included alpha 2PI. Both the peptide-decorated monomers and the native cross-linked alpha-chain species of Marburg fibrin were smaller than their control plasma counterparts, consistent with the truncated structure of the parent Marburg A alpha chain. Collectively, the findings indicate that, although deletion of the A alpha chain region no. 461-610 in fibrinogen Marburg prevents formation of an extensive alpha polymer network (presumably due to the absence of critical COOH-terminal lysine residues), it does not interfere with initial events in the fibrin stabilization process, namely, factor XIII binding and the ability of alpha chains to undergo limited cross-linking to one another and to alpha 2PI.
Quantifying air-sea gas exchange using noble gases in a coastal upwelling zone

The diffusive and bubble-mediated components of air-sea gas exchange can be quantified separately using time-series measurements of a suite of dissolved inert gases. We have evaluated the performance of four published air-sea gas exchange parameterizations using a five-day time-series of dissolved He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe concentration in Monterey Bay, CA. We constructed a vertical model including surface air-sea gas exchange and vertical diffusion. Diffusivity was measured throughout the cruise from profiles of turbulent microstructure. We corrected the mixed layer gas concentrations for an upwelling event that occurred partway through the cruise. All tested parameterizations gave similar results for Ar, Kr, and Xe; their air-sea fluxes were dominated by diffusive gas exchange during our study. For He and Ne, which are less soluble, and therefore more sensitive to differences in the treatment of bubble-mediated exchange, the parameterizations gave widely different results with respect to the net gas exchange flux and the bubble flux. This study demonstrates the value of using a suite of inert gases, especially the lower solubility ones, to parameterize air-sea gas exchange.
Los Alamos National Laboratory Modular Pumped Hydro Feasibility Study for Santa Fe Community College

Report on the Economic Energy Assessment for a community college in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Report shows graphically the demand for energy in the month of September, and illustrates the production of electricity as it goes onto the grid for use.
A test of separate hypotheses for comparing linear mixed models with non nested fixed effects

ABSTRACTAs researchers increasingly rely on linear mixed models to characterize longitudinal data, there is a need for improved techniques for selecting among this class of models which requires specification of both fixed and random effects via a mean model and variance-covariance structure. The process is further complicated when fixed and/or random effects are non nested between models. This paper explores the development of a hypothesis test to compare non nested linear mixed models based on extensions of the work begun by Sir David Cox. We assess the robustness of this approach for comparing models containing correlated measures of body fat for predicting longitudinal cardiometabolic risk.
Path-Integral and Real-Time Dynamics Simulations of Quantum Systems

While classical molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations have become standard theoretical tools in studies of condensed matter and material science [1], treatments of quantum systems via computer simulations are more scarce. Early proposals for studies of quantum systems have been hampered by prohibitive computational demands. However, progress in the area of computers coupled with theoretical advances brought about renewed endeavors in quantum simulations [1–8] resulting in the formulation, implementation and application of several methods to studies of quantum field theory, many-fermion systems, quantum fluids and crystals, models of nuclear matter, electronic structure of molecules, electron localization in fluids and small clusters and quantum adsorption systems. Among the methods which were developed we note [1–8] the quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods, Green’s function Monte Carlo (GFMC), Quantum Path-Integral Molecular Dynamics (QUPID), Path-Integral Monte Carlo (PIMC), and time-dependent self-consistent-field (TDSCF) methods in conjunction with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) method for the solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation and with classical molecular dynamics. In this chapter we focus on the QUPID and MD-TDSCF techniques. Following brief reviews of the methods in the next section, we turn to several illustrations of their use in recent studies. The examples which we choose are drawn from investigations performed in our laboratory. For entrance into the growing body of literature on these subjects the reader is referred to recent reviews [7,8] and to the cited references.
Power profiling and evaluating the effect of frequency scaling on NWChem

Modern high-performance computing system designers are becoming increasingly aware of the energy requirements for computing while needing to lower the operational costs and raise reliability. At the same time, high-performance application developers are taking pro-active steps towards less energy consumption without a significant performance loss. One way to accomplish this is to change the processor frequency dynamically during application execution. In this paper, a representative HPC application, NWChem, is considered with the aim to investigate its compute and memory intensiveness along with the energy-saving potential of various stages of execution. This work presents energy consumption characteristics of three different algorithms within NWChem that compute the Moller-Plesset (or many-body) perturbation theory second-order correction (MP2) to the Hartree-Fock energy (HF), which radically differ in their computer resource usages. Power consumption measurements are obtained with the application of dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) to both processor and memory to determine the runtime behavior of the three MP2 algorithms. Finally, a frequency scaling strategy is proposed and tested. For a 55-atom system, this strategy yields energy savings of up to 10.1% with a modest performance degradation of 2.4%.
Leading by Tweeting Are Deans Doing It? An Exploratory Analysis of Tweets by SEC Business School Deans

This study examines the extent to which the leaders of business schools engage with Twitter to reach diverse audiences, the possible links between Twitter usage and the ranking of the Dean’s respec...
KSHV Entry and Trafficking in Target Cells—Hijacking of Cell Signal Pathways, Actin and Membrane Dynamics

Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is etiologically associated with human endothelial cell hyperplastic Kaposi’s sarcoma and B-cell primary effusion lymphoma. KSHV infection of adherent endothelial and fibroblast cells are used as in vitro models for infection and KSHV enters these cells by host membrane bleb and actin mediated macropinocytosis or clathrin endocytosis pathways, respectively. Infection in endothelial and fibroblast cells is initiated by the interactions between multiple viral envelope glycoproteins and cell surface associated heparan sulfate (HS), integrins (α3β1, αVβ3 and αVβ5), and EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase (EphA2R). This review summarizes the accumulated studies demonstrating that KSHV manipulates the host signal pathways to enter and traffic in the cytoplasm of the target cells, to deliver the viral genome into the nucleus, and initiate viral gene expression. KSHV interactions with the cell surface receptors is the key platform for the manipulations of host signal pathways which results in the simultaneous induction of FAK, Src, PI3-K, Rho-GTPase, ROS, Dia-2, PKC ζ, c-Cbl, CIB1, Crk, p130Cas and GEF-C3G signal and adaptor molecules that play critical roles in the modulation of membrane and actin dynamics, and in the various steps of the early stages of infection such as entry and trafficking towards the nucleus. The Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) proteins are also recruited to assist in viral entry and trafficking. In addition, KSHV interactions with the cell surface receptors also induces the host transcription factors NF-κB, ERK1/2, and Nrf2 early during infection to initiate and modulate viral and host gene expression. Nuclear delivery of the viral dsDNA genome is immediately followed by the host innate responses such as the DNA damage response (DDR), inflammasome and interferon responses. Overall, these studies form the initial framework for further studies of simultaneous targeting of KSHV glycoproteins, host receptor, signal molecules and trafficking machinery that would lead into novel therapeutic methods to prevent KSHV infection of target cells and consequently the associated malignancies.
Precision of different varieties of magnitude

The standard deviations of the body-wave magnitude, surface-wave magnitude and frequency-band magnitude of four shallow ( H < 60 km) earthquakes are compared. For three out of four of these earthquakes, surface-wave magnitude exhibited lower standard deviations than either body-wave or frequency-band magnitude. In three out of the four cases, lower standard deviations were obtained by calculating surface-wave magnitude from the largest surface-wave amplitude than from time-correlated surface-wave phases.
The fate of radiology report recommendations at a pediatric medical center.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) practice parameters for communication dictate that follow-up recommendations be suggested when appropriate. Radiologists assume that referring physicians read their reports and heed their advice. In reality, recommendations might not be carried out or even acknowledged. We aimed to determine the proportion of imaging recommendations that are acknowledged and acted upon. We conducted a retrospective review of all consecutive radiology reports containing “recommend” in the impression at a single academic children’s hospital over a 1-month period. We documented point of care (emergency department, inpatient, outpatient), study type, recommendation wording, and communication method (report only or direct verbal). We reviewed medical records to ascertain whether the recommendations were acknowledged or executed. We used chi-square tests to evaluate associations between variables. P inpatient>outpatient; P=0.001) but not with additional verbal communication (P=0.33), study type (radiograph vs. other; P=0.35) or type of follow-up recommendation (follow-up imaging vs. other; P=0.99). Nearly one-third of radiology report follow-up recommendations are not executed. Recommendations are most commonly neglected for outpatient imaging reports. The radiology community should take steps to improve recommendation adherence.
Chiari-related scoliosis: a single-center experience with long-term radiographic follow-up and relationship to deformity correction

OBJECTIVE Previous reports have addressed the short-term response of patients with Chiari-related scoliosis (CRS) to suboccipital decompression and duraplasty (SODD); however, the long-term behavior of the curve has not been well defined. The authors undertook a longitudinal study of a cohort of patients who underwent SODD for CRS to determine whether there are factors related to Chiari malformation (CM) that predict long-term scoliotic curve behavior and need for deformity correction. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed cases in which patients underwent SODD for CRS during a 14-year period at a single center. Clinical (age, sex, and associated disorders/syndromes) and radiographic (CM type, tonsillar descent, pBC2 line, clival-axial angle [CXA], syrinx length and level, and initial Cobb angle) information was evaluated to identify associations with the primary outcome: delayed thoracolumbar fusion for progressive scoliosis. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients were identified, but 4 were lost to follow-up and 1 underwent fusion within a year. Among the remaining 23 patients, 11 required fusion surgery at an average of 88.3 ± 15.4 months after SODD, including 7 (30%) who needed fusion more than 5 years after SODD. On univariate analysis, a lower CXA (131.5° ± 4.8° vs 146.5° ± 4.6°, p = 0.034), pBC2 > 9 mm (64% vs 25%, p = 0.06), and higher initial Cobb angle (35.1° ± 3.6° vs 22.8° ± 4.0°, p = 0.035) were associated with the need for thoracolumbar fusion. Multivariable modeling revealed that lower CXA was independently associated with a need for delayed thoracolumbar fusion (OR 1.12, p = 0.0128). CONCLUSIONS This investigation demonstrates the long-term outcome and natural history of CRS after SODD. The durability of the effect of SODD on CRS and curve behavior is poor, with late curve progression occurring in 30% of patients. Factors associated with CRS progression include an initial pBC2 > 9 mm, lower CXA, and higher Cobb angle. Lower CXA was an independent predictor of delayed thoracolumbar fusion. Further study is necessary on a larger cohort of patients to fully elucidate this relationship.
Artemia Trehalase: Regulation by Factors that Also Control Resumption of Development

The ability of the dry dormant embryo of Artemia to survive for decades has been related to the presence in the cyst of a high concentration of trehalose[1]. This sugar apparently allows the organism to escape the irreversible damage that complete dehydration produces in membranes[2]. On the other hand, after resumption of development trehalose is used as the bulk source of energy and the bulk substrate of respiration[3].
A Coxiella burnetii phospholipase A homolog pldA is required for optimal growth in macrophages and developmental form lipid remodeling

Many gram-negative bacteria produce an outer membrane phospholipase A (PldA) that plays an important role in outer membrane function and is associated with virulence. In the current study, we characterized a pldA mutant of Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular gram-negative pathogen and the agent of human Q fever. The C. burnetti pldA open reading frame directs synthesis of a protein with conserved PldA active site residues. A C. burnetii ΔpldA deletion mutant had a significant growth defect in THP-1 macrophages, but not axenic medium, that was rescued by complementation. Thin layer chromatography was employed to assess whether pldA plays a role in remodeling membrane lipids during C. burnetii morphological differentiation. Extracted lipids were analyzed from replicating, logarithmic phase large cell variants (LCVs), non-replicating, stationary phase small cell variants (SCVs), and a mixture of LCVs and SCVs. Similar to Escherichia coli, all three forms contained cardiolipin (CL), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). However, PE and PG were present in lower quantities in the SCV while three additional lipid species were present in higher quantities. Co-migration with standards tentatively identified two of the three SCV-enriched lipids as lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, a breakdown product of PE, and free fatty acids, which are generally toxic to bacteria. Developmental form lipid modifications required the activity of PldA. Collectively, these results indicate developmentally-regulated lipid synthesis by C. burnetii contributes to colonization of macrophages and may contribute to the environmental stability and the distinct biological properties of the SCV.
Lipid vesicles chaperone an encapsulated RNA aptamer

The organization of molecules into cells is believed to have been critical for the emergence of living systems. Early protocells likely consisted of RNA functioning inside vesicles made of simple lipids. However, little is known about how encapsulation would affect the activity and folding of RNA. Here we find that confinement of the malachite green RNA aptamer inside fatty acid vesicles increases binding affinity and locally stabilizes the bound conformation of the RNA. The vesicle effectively 'chaperones' the aptamer, consistent with an excluded volume mechanism due to confinement. Protocellular organization thereby leads to a direct benefit for the RNA. Coupled with previously described mechanisms by which encapsulated RNA aids membrane growth, this effect illustrates how the membrane and RNA might cooperate for mutual benefit. Encapsulation could thus increase RNA fitness and the likelihood that functional sequences would emerge during the origin of life.
Cloud forecasting: Legal visibility issues in saturated environments

Abstract The advent of cloud computing has brought the computing power of corporate data processing and storage centers to lightweight devices. Software-as-a-service cloud subscribers enjoy the convenience of personal devices along with the power and capability of a service. Using logical as opposed to physical partitions across cloud servers, providers supply flexible and scalable resources. Furthermore, the possibility for multitenant accounts promises considerable freedom when establishing access controls for cloud content. For forensic analysts conducting data acquisition, cloud resources present unique challenges. Inherent properties such as dynamic content, multiple sources, and nonlocal content make it difficult for a standard to be developed for evidence gathering in satisfaction of United States federal evidentiary standards in criminal litigation. Development of such standards, while essential for reliable production of evidence at trial, may not be entirely possible given the guarantees to privacy granted by the Fourth Amendment and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Privacy of information on a cloud is complicated because the data is stored on resources owned by a third-party provider, accessible by users of an account group, and monitored according to a service level agreement. This research constructs a balancing test for competing considerations of a forensic investigator acquiring information from a cloud.
Nicotine and addiction beliefs and perceptions among the US-born and foreign-born populations.

Abstract Little is known about nicotine and addiction beliefs held by those who are foreign-born in the US and how these beliefs are associated with acculturation and race/ethnicity. This study attempts to address these research gaps. Data were analyzed from two cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey, HINTS-FDA 2015 (n = 3738) and HINTS-FDA 2017 (n = 1736). HINTS-FDA is a tobacco-focused, cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of US non-institutionalized civilian adults aged 18 years or older. We first assessed associations between foreign-born status and beliefs about nicotine and addiction using weighted chi-square analyses. Then, using only the foreign-born sample, we examined the associations of nicotine and addiction beliefs with race/ethnicity and acculturation (i.e., English proficiency and U.S. tenure) using weighted multiple linear regression. Results showed that, compared to US-born respondents, foreign-born respondents were more likely to be concerned with being addicted to nicotine and to believe that low nicotine cigarettes would have much lower lung cancer risk than a typical cigarette. Among the foreign-born, NH-Black and Hispanic respondents were more likely to see low nicotine cigarettes as harmful and addictive compared to NH-White respondents. The relationship between acculturation and nicotine beliefs was complex with lower acculturation associated with elevated misperceived risk of nicotine and also ratings of addictiveness. Further research among key subpopulations may inform communication, education and dissemination strategies, especially among vulnerable populations.
Haller on Wittgenstein and Kant

I am an admirer of Rudolf Haller’s Questions on Wittgenstein. Haller’s study of the historical influences on Wittgenstein’s ideas and the relation between Wittgenstein’s early and later thought provides a much needed corrective to many of the myths and interpretive inaccuracies that have surrounded Wittgenstein’s work. Haller’s detailed knowledge of Wittgenstein’s writings in the context of Anglo-European and especially Austrian intellectual currents make his examination of the well-chosen topics in these essays among the most authoritative portraits of Wittgenstein’s philosophy.1
An Investigation of the Divergences and Convergences of Trait Empathy across Two Cultures.

The extent to which individuals with a variety of cultural backgrounds differ in empathic responsiveness is unknown. This article describes the differences in trait empathy in one independent and o...
The Life and Times of Lac Permease: Crystals Ain’t Everything, but They Certainly Do Help

This chapter focuses on the lactose permease of Escherichia coli (LacY), a galactoside/H+ symporter, as this membrane transport protein is the grandparent for the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and arguably the most intensively studied secondary transporter known at present.
Dioxin-like PCB 126 increases intestinal inflammation and disrupts gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis

The gut microbiome is sensitive to diet and environmental exposures and is involved in the regulation of host metabolism. Additionally, gut inflammation is an independent risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases, specifically atherosclerosis and diabetes. Exposures to dioxin-like pollutants occur primarily via ingestion of contaminated foods and are linked to increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. We aimed to elucidate the detrimental impacts of dioxin-like pollutant exposure on gut microbiota and host gut health and metabolism in a mouse model of cardiometabolic disease. We utilized 16S rRNA sequencing, metabolomics, and regression modeling to examine the impact of PCB 126 on the microbiome and host metabolism and gut health. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that gut microbiota populations shifted at the phylum and genus levels in ways that mimic observations seen in chronic inflammatory diseases. PCB 126 reduced cecum alpha diversity (0.60 fold change; p = 0.001) and significantly increased the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (1.63 fold change; p = 0.044). Toxicant exposed mice exhibited quantifiable concentrations of PCB 126 in the colon, upregulation of Cyp1a1 gene expression, and increased markers of intestinal inflammation. Also, a significant correlation between circulating Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and Bifidobacterium was evident and dependent on toxicant exposure. PCB 126 exposure disrupted the gut microbiota and host metabolism and increased intestinal and systemic inflammation. These data imply that the deleterious effects of dioxin-like pollutants may be initiated in the gut, and the modulation of gut microbiota may be a sensitive marker of pollutant exposures.
Surgical trends in breast cancer: a rise in novel operative treatment options over a 12 year analysis

Breast cancer surgical techniques are evolving. Few studies have analyzed national trends for the multitude of surgical options that include partial mastectomy (PM), mastectomy without reconstruction (M), mastectomy with reconstruction (M+R), and PM with oncoplastic reconstruction (OS). We hypothesize that the use of M is declining and likely correlates with the rise of surgery with reconstructive options (M+R, OS). A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using the ACS-NSQIP database from 2005 to 2016 and ICD codes for IBC and DCIS. Patients were then grouped together based on current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for PM, M, M+R, and OS. In each group, categories were sorted again based on additional reconstructive procedures. Data analysis was conducted via Pearson’s chi-squared test for demographics, linear regression, and a non-parametric Mann- Kendall test to assess a temporal trend. The patient cohort consisted of 256,398 patients from the NSQIP data base; 197,387 meet inclusion criteria diagnosed with IBC or DCIS. Annual breast surgery trends changed as follows: PM 46.3–46.1% (p = 0.21), M 35.8–26.4% (p = 0.001), M+R 15.9–23.0% (p = 0.03), and OS 1.8–4.42% (p = 0.001). Analyzing the patient cohort who underwent breast conservation, categorical analysis showed a decreased use of PM alone (96–91%) with an increased use of OS (4–9%). For the patient cohort undergoing mastectomy, M alone decreased (69–53%); M+R with muscular flap decreased (9–2%); and M+R with implant placement increased (20–40%)—all three trends p < 0.0001. The modern era of breast surgery is identified by the increasing use of reconstruction for patients undergoing breast conservation (in the form of OS) and mastectomy (in the form of M+R). Our study provides data showing significant trends that will impact the future of both breast cancer surgery and breast training programs.
When the Patient Comes Third: Navigating Moral and Practical Dilemmas Amid Contexts of Pregnancy and Risk During the 2013–2015 Ebola Epidemic in Sierra Leone

Pregnant, laboring, and postpartum women represented a particularly vulnerable population during the 2013–2015 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. While scholarship has explored factors related to risk, infectiousness, and the medical difficulties in treating this population, few studies have examined this topic from the perspective of health care workers themselves. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study to explore the subjective experiences of health care providers working with this difficult-to-treat population. Data were collected between 2015 and 2017 as part of the Ebola 100 Project, an interdisciplinary research initiative that seeks to capture the stories of those who contributed to ending the West African Ebola epidemic. Via in-depth interviews (N = 30) with both Sierra Leonean and expatriate nurses, physicians, midwives, and traditional birth attendants, we examine how health care workers navigated the moral and practical dilemmas in attending to pregnant and laboring women in a context of both fear and medical uncertainty. Our findings indicate that the emergence of Ebola was particularly traumatic for local care providers, whose tenuous employment and the neglected state of maternal health nationally, as well as community distrust, stigmatization, and personal experiences of loss, made their jobs especially difficult. International care providers, used to working in higher-resource settings, often struggled to maintain a sense of relative control and safety by properly managing risk. This they did via repeat trainings, meticulous adherence to procedures, and the creation of strict guidelines, which often by necessity prioritized their own safety and that of the public before their patients. As the epidemic waned, however, shifts in risk management occurred, and local knowledge and “gut instinct” blended with more objective criteria around clinical decision-making. These findings speak to the diverse experiences surrounding care practices during the Ebola epidemic and have relevance both for the current health care landscape in Sierra Leone and for informing future global health responses of this nature.
A Qualitative Investigation of Academic and Athletic Brand Representations: Applying Lovemarks Theory to Cultural Symbol

Abstract The current study applied Robert’s lovemarks theory of branding to interpret a photo-elicitation approach of two academic/athletic brand representations. Three major themes emerged from the participants (N = 88) in the study of the Thinkman logo image: a) Intellectual Enhancement; b) Athlete; and c) Hard Work. By eliciting responses from the participants (N = 75) regarding the term Scholar-Baller , the following three themes emerged: a) Amazing Scholar & Exceptional Athlete; b) Top Student; and c) Student-Athlete. The current findings indicate many of the participants responded favorably to the photo-elicitation of two academic/athletic terms and logos. The participants also critiqued both representations in the context of the broader and specific discourses about the student-athlete experience in American higher education. Implications and recommendations for scholars and practitioners are suggested.
Removal of bromide from natural waters: Bromide-selective vs. conventional ion exchange resins

Abstract The presence of bromide (Br−) in water results in the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) after chlorination, which are much more cytotoxic and genotoxic than their chlorinated analogs. Given that conventional water treatment processes (e.g., coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation) fail to remove Br− effectively, in this study, we systematically tested and compared the performance of different anion exchange resins, particularly two novel Br-selective resins, for the removal of Br−. The resins performance was evaluated under both typical and challenging background water conditions by varying the concentrations of anions and organic matter. The overall Br− removal results followed the trend of Purolite-Br ≥ MIEX-Br > IRA910 ≥ IRA900 > MIEX-Gold > MIEX-DOC. Further evaluation of Purolite-Br resin showed Br− removal efficiencies of 93.5 ± 4.5% for the initial Br− concentration of 0.25 mg/L in the presence of competing anions (i.e., Cl−, NO3−, NO2−, SO42−, PO43−, and a mixture of all five), alkalinity and organic matter. In addition, experiments under challenging background water conditions confirmed the selectivity of the resins (i.e. Purolite-Br and MIEX-Br) in removing Br−, with SO42− and Cl− exhibiting the greatest influence upon the resin performance followed by NOM concentration, regardless of the NOM characteristic. After Br− removal, both the subsequent formation of brominated DBPs (trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and haloacetonitriles), and the total organic halogens (TOX), decreased by ∼90% under the uniform formation conditions. Overall, Br-selective resins represent a promising alternative for the efficient control of Br-DBPs in water treatment plants.
Association Between the Use of Non-benzodiazepine Hypnotics and Cognitive Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Adverse effects of sedative-hypnotic medications on cognition are concerning. Past studies have examined benzodiazepine (BZD) use and cognitive outcomes; however, few studies have examined newer non-BZD hypnotic agents (nBHs; e.g., zolpidem). This systematic review examined observational studies assessing the association between nBH use and cognitive outcomes. Five studies met eligibility requirements and were included in the review. Most studies did not find an association between nBH use and dementia diagnosis; however, we found no studies assessing other cognitive outcomes such as cognitive performance (e.g., word recall tasks). Characterization of nBH use mostly consisted of incident new use; one study assessed nBH dosing; none examined duration of use. Studies included were of strong quality. This review found no association between nBH use and dementia diagnosis, although there is a need for more research on more cognitive outcomes and nBH use patterns.