cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
REALITY AND FANTASY: THE FOSTER CHILD IN HAWAIIAN MYTHS AND CUSTOMS

Hawaiians, like other Pacific islanders, narrate prose sagas that incorporate motifs of the quest of a character, almost always male, to learn the identity of and then to locate his biological father. As the father is either a great chief or a god, the youth expects to receive the privileges and rights that he believes are his birthright. Nine Hawaiian characters --eight male, one female (patterned after the male)--ask their female caretaker, “Who is my father?” Although the query is expressed in two tale-types also present elsewhere in the Pacific, no other archipelago has as many different semihistorical, mythical, and fictitious heroes who ask about their unknown father as the Hawaiian Islands. The principal tale-type as developed in Hawaii begins with a roving chief or sky god having a romantic encounter with a woman usually of lower rank than himself. Before going home he gives her tokens of his rank and a name for their anticipated son. She rears the child alone or, more commonly, with her brother or husband, who punishes the child for behaving as if he were a chief. The unhappy child, feeling himself a misfit in this environment, asks his mother: “Who is my father?” Evasive at first, she finally tells him the truth and advises him how to find his father. When he has located him he proves, often with difficulty at first, that he is indeed his son and entitled to his birthright. The saga often portrays him next as a usurping chief who displaces his elder halfbrother or a god to gain great power. He may also marry his royal half-
Current Genetic Testing Tools in Neonatal Medicine

With the growing understanding of the magnitude of genetic diseases in newborns and equally rapid advancement of tools used for genetic diagnoses, healthcare providers must have a sufficient knowledge base to both recognize and evaluate genetic diseases in the neonatal period. Genetic assessment has become an essential aspect of medicine, and professionals need to know when genetic evaluation is indispensable. Much progress has been made in recent years in utilizing massively parallel sequencing for rapid diagnosis of genetic conditions in neonates. Next-generation sequencing is increasingly being used for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis, and it may become an essential component of newborn screening. This review will define some basic genetic terms and concepts, explain the gamut of genetic testing available for early diagnosis of genetic diseases, and describe some common chromosomal abnormalities, genomic disorders, and single-gene diseases relevant to neonatal medicine.
TCT-125 Use of a Mechanical Compression Device Increases Return of Spontaneous Circulation in Patients with Cardiac Arrest in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Recent studies suggest that therapies offered in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) can increase survival in patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest. Performing advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) in the CCL is challenging due to the presence of imaging equipment and rescuer fatigue.
Effect of PEG Architecture on the Hybridization Thermodynamics and Protein Accessibility of PEGylated Oligonucleotides

PEGylation is an attractive approach to modifying oligonucleotides intended for therapeutic purposes. PEG conjugation reduces protein interactions with the oligonucleotide, and helps to overcome their intrinsic biopharmaceutical shortcomings, such as poor enzymatic stability, rapid body clearance, and unwanted immunostimulation. However, the effect of PEG architecture and the manner in which the PEG component interferes with the hybridization of the oligonucleotide remain poorly understood. In this study, we systematically compare the hybridization thermodynamics and protein accessibility of several DNA conjugates involving linear, Y-shaped, and brush-type PEG. It is found that PEGylated DNA experiences two opposing effects: local excluded volume effect and chemical interactions, the strengths of which are architecture-dependent. Notably, the brush architecture is able to offer significantly greater protein shielding capacity than its linear or Y-shaped counterparts, while maintaining nearly identical free energy for DNA hybridization compared with free DNA.
Joint pain and physical activity among breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitor therapy.

e11564 Background: Adjuvant endocrine treatment that includes an aromatase inhibitor (AI) is standard care for post-menopausal women with a diagnosis of hormone-receptor positive breast cancer (BC). Joint symptoms (pain, stiffness, achiness) are common side-effects of AIs, with an estimated prevalence of 33% to 74%. Joint pain is a barrier to engaging in national guidelines recommended levels of physical activity (PA) of 150 minutes/week; yet, engagement in PA is evidence-based for relieving joint symptoms among adults with arthritis. This study investigates eligibility for a PA intervention study among BC survivors who are reported to be taking an AI and are being seen in an oncology clinic. Methods: Review of 183 consecutive patients whose medical record reported being on AI therapy. Patients were queried to determine eligibility for a PA trial that required: (1) currently taking an AI, (2) experiencing joint symptoms, and (3) < 150 minutes/week of PA. Results: 8% percent (N=15) were excluded for not cu...
Combination of nuclear NF-κB/p65 localization and gland morphological features from surgical specimens is predictive of early biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients

Identifying patients who are high-risk for biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy could enable direction of adjuvant therapy to those patients while sparing low-risk patients the side effects of treatment. Current BCR prediction tools require human judgment, limiting repeatability and accuracy. Quantitative histomorphometry (QH) is the extraction of quantitative descriptors of morphology and texture from digitized tissue slides. These features are used in conjunction with machine learning classifiers for disease diagnosis and prediction. Features quantifying gland orientation disorder have been found to be predictive of BCR. Separately, staining intensity of NF-κB protein family member RelA/p65, which regulates cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogensis, has been connected to BCR. In this study we combine nuclear NF-ΚB/p65 and H and E gland morphology features to structurally and functionally characterize prostate cancer. This enables description of cancer phenotypes according to cellular molecular profile and social behavior. We collected radical prostatectomy specimens from 21 patients, 7 of whom experienced BCR (prostate specific antigen >; .2 ng/ml) within two years of surgery. Our goal was to demonstrate the value of combining morphological and functional information for BCR prediction. Firstly, we used the top two features from each stain channel via the Wilcoxon rank-sum test using a leave-one-out cross validation approach in conjunction with a linear discriminant analysis classifier. Secondly we used the product of the posterior class probabilities from each classifier to produce an aggregate classifier. Accuracy was 0.76 with H and E features alone, 0.71 with NF-κB/p65 features alone, and 0.81 via the aggregate model.
Incisional Outcomes of Umbilical vs Suprapubic Mini-laparotomy for Tissue Extraction: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstract Study Objective To compare outcomes following umbilical minilaparotomy and suprapubic minilaparotomy for tissue extraction. Design Classification Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Two large academic medical centers. Patients Women who underwent a minilaparotomy for tissue extraction following a laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy between 2014 and 2016. Interventions Umbilical or suprapubic minilaparotomy for tissue extraction. Measurements and Main Results A total of 374 women underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy with minilaparotomy, including 289 (77.3%) with an umbilical minilaparotomy and 85 (22.7%) with a suprapubic minilaparotomy. The 2 groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, parity, surgical history, procedure type, surgical approach, and surgical indication. The size of the minilaparotomy incision and the specimen weight were significantly smaller in the umbilical minilaparotomy group (mean, 3.3 ± 0.8 cm vs 4.2 ± 0.6 cm [p Conclusion There were no significant difference in incisional symptoms, pain, or infection following umbilical minilaparotomy vs a suprapubic minilaparotomy for tissue extraction. Although not statistically significant, the rate of incisional hernia was higher at the umbilical site compared with the suprapubic site.
Dynamic Brushes: Extending Manual Drawing Practices with Artist-Centric Programming Tools

Procedural art, or art made with programming, suggests opportunities to extend traditional arts; however, this potential is limited by programming tools that conflict with manual practices. We hypothesize that by developing programming environments that align with how manual artists work, we can build procedural systems that enhance, rather than displace, manual art. We present Dynamic Brushes, a programming environment centered around manual drawing. Dynamic Brushes enables the creation of ad-hoc drawing tools that transform stylus inputs to procedural patterns. Applications range from transforming individual strokes to behaviors that draw multiple strokes simultaneously, respond to temporal events, and leverage external data.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Fluoroalkyl Phosphonyl Analogues of 2- C-Methylerythritol Phosphate as Substrates and Inhibitors of IspD from Human Pathogens.

Targeting essential bacterial processes beyond cell wall, protein, nucleotide, and folate syntheses holds promise to reveal new antimicrobial agents and expand the potential drugs available for combination therapies. The synthesis of isoprenoid precursors, isopentenyl diphosphate (IDP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP), is vital for all organisms; however, humans use the mevalonate pathway for production of IDP/DMADP while many pathogens, including Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, use the orthogonal methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway. Toward developing novel antimicrobial agents, we have designed and synthesized a series of phosphonyl analogues of MEP and evaluated their abilities to interact with IspD, both as inhibitors of the natural reaction and as antimetabolite alternative substrates that could be processed enzymatically to form stable phosphonyl analogues as potential inhibitors of downstream MEP pathway intermediates. In this compound series, the S-monofluoro MEP ana...
Marital Status and the Ethics of Tax Evasion

Marital status is another variable that has an influence on ethical beliefs and attitude toward paying taxes. The World Values surveys collected data on this variable. It was thought that marital status might have some effect on attitudes toward tax evasion but the effect it has is unclear. One might assume a priori that married people are more responsible than single people and thus would be more averse to tax evasion. On the other hand, married people might have more expenses than younger people and might have less ability to pay taxes, which could have just the opposite effect on their opinion on the issue of tax evasion. Thus, it is necessary to test the a priori assumptions. The results are reported below.
Isolated Traumatic Lesions of Ventricular and Periventricular Regions and Cerebral Midline Structures: Outcome Prediction by CT Scan, Evoked Potentials, and ICP Monitoring

Identification of reliable prognostic indicators for patients with severe head injury is of importance to match control and treatment. In addition to clinical data the recording of anatomical parameters (CT scan, MRT) and functional data [ICP, evoked potentials (EPs)] is common [1]. We examined the predictive value of these data in the small group of patients with traumatic lesions of ventricular and periventricular regions and cerebral midline structures.
Preoperative pain is the strongest predictor of postoperative pain and diminished quality of life after ventral hernia repair

With evolution of hernia repair surgery, quality of life (QOL) became a major outcome measure in nearly 350,000 ventral hernia repairs (VHRs) performed annually in the United States. This study identified predictors of chronic pain after VHR. A prospective database of patient-reported QOL outcomes at a tertiary referral center was queried from 2007 to 2010; 512 patients met inclusion criteria. Factors including demographics, medical comorbidities, preoperative symptoms, and hernia characteristics were analyzed using advanced statistical modeling. Average age was 56.4 years, 57.6 per cent were males, mean body mass index was 33 kg/m(2), hernia defect size was 138 cm(2), and 35.5 per cent were repaired laparoscopically. Preoperatively, 69 per cent of patients had mild and 28 per cent severe pain during some activities. Pain levels were elevated in the first month postoperatively; by 6 months, patients reported significant improvement. The most significant and consistent predictor of postoperative pain was the presence of preoperative pain (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 3.0; P = 0.0001). Older patients and men had less postoperative pain, but they also had less preoperative pain, so these factors were not independent predictors. Patients with minimal preoperative symptoms uniformly experienced resolution of pain by 6 months postoperatively. Among patients with severe preoperative pain, one-third reported long-term resolution of pain, and one-third had persistent severe pain. The former group had smaller hernias (91 vs 194 cm(2), respectively, P = 0.015). Cases of new-onset, long-term pain after VHR were rare (less than 2%). Most patients' symptoms resolve by 6 months after surgery, but those with severe preoperative pain are at risk for persistent postoperative pain.
myCityMeter Wearable: Measuring the Environmental Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

I explore designing and creating sensing modules for older adults to guide them in avoiding prolonged exposure to harmful pollutants, such as PM2.5 and noise, that are positively associated with mild cognitive impairment as per what recent epidemiological studies revealed. Mild cognitive impairment is a stage of cognitive decline that falls between the cognitive changes due to normal aging and early onset dementia. My work explores designing and deploying a sensing wearable accompanied by a smartphone application for older adults to increase their awareness of how much they were exposed to these pollutants and to suggest possible actions to reduce exposure.
Parabolic Sandwiches for Functions on a Compact Interval and an Application to Projectile Motion

About a century ago, the French artillery commandant Charbonnier envisioned an intriguing result on the trajectory of a projectile that is moving under the forces of gravity and air resistance. In 2000, Groetsch discovered a significant gap in Charbonnier’s work and provided a valid argument for a certain special case. The goal of the present article is to establish a rigorous new approach to the full result. For this, we develop a theory of those functions which can be sandwiched, in a natural way, by a pair of quadratic polynomials. It turns out that the convexity or concavity of the derivative plays a decisive role in this context.
Challenging beliefs of testosterone therapy and prostate cancer.

The relationship between testosterone therapy and prostate cancer continues to challenge historic and current beliefs. A new cohort analysis revealed a ~33% reduction in prostate cancer incidence in men with increased testosterone use. The mechanisms underlying this protective effect are unclear, but these findings challenge current paradigms and warrant further investigation.
Careful what you say to yourself: Exploring self-talk and youth tennis performance via hierarchical linear modeling

Abstract Researchers have examined self-talk and performance in tennis matches, but the current understanding of speech-to-performance associations in tennis is hindered by conflicting evidence from self-report and observation, and by the use of relatively simple statistical analyses that fail to account for speech and performance events being nested within both points and individuals over time throughout a tennis match. In the current study, 28 youth tennis players (Mage = 12 years) were observed, and their speech and performance coded with the Self-Talk and Gestures Rating Scale. The relation between self-talk and performance was measured on the same point (K), as well as on the subsequent point (K+1). Bivariate (non-nested) analyses supported a concurrent, but not a predictive relation between self-talk and performance, consistent with prior work. With multivariate, hierarchical linear modeling that accounts for total points played in a set within person, and player behavior on the prior point, we found that positive and negative self-talk were strongly related to concurrent point performance, and to a less extent, to subsequent K+1 point performance. The occurrence of positive self-talk on point K appeared to increase the odds of winning the subsequent point compared to when positive self-talk talk did not appear, but the margin was small. Researchers should continue to observe self-talk in athletes, as well as examine multilevel speech-to-performance associations, especially when data are gathered within naturalistic settings in real time.
Life prediction: A case for multidisciplinary research

Concerns with aging infrastructure worldwide and with the life-cycle costs and management of engineered systems have placed increased emphasis on the development of methods for life prediction. To be effective as "true predictors" of future performance (i.e., to provide accurate estimates beyond the range employed in the development of supporting data), such methods must be built upon mechanistic models that capture the functional dependence on all of the key external and internal variables. The development of these methods argues strongly for multidisciplinary research that integrates mechanistic understanding with probability analysis. In this paper, a mechanistically based probability approach to life prediction (versus the more traditional statistically based parametric approach) and the processes for model development are outlined to provide a framework for discussion. The use of a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to develop mechanistic understanding and to model material response is illustrated through examples on crack growth in a high-strength steel. The need for multidisciplinary research that broadens the perspective from testing to testing and materials is discussed.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting vs Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Diabetes.

As percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to evolve, comparative outcomes for PCI versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remain relevant in diabetic patients. All revascularization procedures in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus from 2010-2018 were included. Propensity matching was used to identify equivalent cohorts to compare revascularization strategies. Primary outcomes included 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality. Multivariable analysis was used to define factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). A total of 2869 patients with diabetes were divided into PCI (n=653) and CABG (n=2216) cohorts. Propensity matching yielded a 1:1 match consisting of 552 patients in each cohort (CABG vs PCI). Total median follow-up was 3.28 years (range: 1.83-5.00). Following propensity matching in patients with no prior PCI (1:1; n=279), mortality remained significantly higher in the PCI cohort at 1-year (13.98% vs 7.53%; p=0.014) and 5-year (26.88% vs 16.85%; p
How Do OSCE Cases Activate Learners About Transgender Health

Purpose To describe the effect of transgender health-related objective structured clinical examination (THOSCE) case exposure on learner activation regarding gender-affirming care. Method A modified grounded theory approach was applied to identify the educational value of THOSCE cases. Focus groups with current and former primary care internal medicine residents who participated in THOSCE cases were conducted in 2018-2019. Transcripts were analyzed and coded until saturation to identify themes. Results Eighteen (72%) eligible learners participated in the focus groups. Themes were identified relating to gender-affirming care, and modified grounded theory analysis was used as a framework to organize the themes into 4 stages of learner activation: (1) believing the learner role is important, (2) having the confidence and knowledge necessary to take action, (3) taking action to maintain and improve one's skills, and (4) staying the course even under stress. Conclusions Residents were grateful for the opportunity to practice the skills involved in transgender health in a simulation. Many felt unprepared and were concerned about how they were perceived by the standardized patient and faculty. Residents identified feeling more comfortable with gender-affirming language in the inpatient setting, which may provide an opportunity for learning in the future. Residents identified the psychosocial skills of gender-affirming care as more directly relevant while biomedical aspects of gender-affirming care seemed less accessible to residents, given the lack of outpatient experience. The authors propose a staged approach to teaching the skills of gender-affirming care using simulation to address learners of all levels.
Fully inkjet-printed multilayered graphene-based flexible electrodes for repeatable electrochemical response

Graphene has proven to be useful in biosensing applications. However, one of the main hurdles with printed graphene-based electrodes is achieving repeatable electrochemical performance from one printed electrode to another. We have developed a consistent fabrication process to control the sheet resistance of inkjet-printed graphene electrodes, thereby accomplishing repeatable electrochemical performance. Herein, we investigated the electrochemical properties of multilayered graphene (MLG) electrodes fully inkjet-printed (IJP) on flexible Kapton substrates. The electrodes were fabricated by inkjet printing three materials – (1) a conductive silver ink for electrical contact, (2) an insulating dielectric ink, and (3) MLG ink as the sensing material. The selected materials and fabrication methods provided great control over the ink rheology and material deposition, which enabled stable and repeatable electrochemical response: bending tests revealed the electrochemical behavior of these sensors remained consistent over 1000 bend cycles. Due to the abundance of structural defects (e.g., edge defects) present in the exfoliated graphene platelets, cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the graphene electrodes showed good electron transfer (k = 1.125 × 10−2 cm s−1) with a detection limit (0.01 mM) for the ferric/ferrocyanide redox couple, [Fe(CN)6]−3/−4, which is comparable or superior to modified graphene or graphene oxide-based sensors. Additionally, the potentiometric response of the electrodes displayed good sensitivity over the pH range of 4–10. Moreover, a fully IJP three-electrode device (MLG, platinum, and Ag/AgCl) also showed quasi-reversibility compared to a single IJP MLG electrode device. These findings demonstrate significant promise for scalable fabrication of a flexible, low cost, and fully-IJP wearable sensor system needed for space, military, and commercial biosensing applications.
Differences in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Clearance by eGFR and Race: A Pharmacokinetic Study.

BACKGROUND Conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) to the active form of vitamin D occurs primarily in the kidney. Observational studies suggest 25(OH)D clearance from the circulation differs by kidney function and race. However, these potential variations have not been tested using gold-standard methods. METHODS We administered intravenous, deuterated 25(OH)D3 (d-25[OH]D3) in a pharmacokinetic study of 87 adults, including 43 with normal eGFR (≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2), 24 with nondialysis CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2), and 20 with ESKD treated with hemodialysis. We measured concentrations of d-25(OH)D3 and deuterated 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 at 5 minutes and 4 hours after administration, and at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 days postadministration. We calculated 25(OH)D clearance using noncompartmental analysis of d-25(OH)D3 concentrations over time. We remeasured 25(OH)D clearance in a subset of 18 participants after extended oral vitamin-D3 supplementation. RESULTS The mean age of the study cohort was 64 years; 41% were female, and 30% were Black. Mean 25(OH)D clearances were 360 ml/d, 313 ml/d, and 263 ml/d in participants with normal eGFR, CKD, and kidney failure, respectively (P=0.02). After adjustment for age, sex, race, and estimated blood volume, lower eGFR was associated with reduced 25(OH)D clearance (β=-17 ml/d per 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 lower eGFR; 95% CI, -21 to -12). Black race was associated with higher 25(OH)D clearance in participants with normal eGFR, but not in those with CKD or kidney failure (P for interaction=0.05). Clearance of 25(OH)D before versus after vitamin-D3 supplementation did not differ. CONCLUSIONS Using direct pharmacokinetic measurements, we show that 25(OH)D clearance is reduced in CKD and may differ by race. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NAME AND REGISTRATION NUMBER Clearance of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Chronic Kidney Disease (CLEAR), NCT02937350; Clearance of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 During Vitamin D3 Supplementation (CLEAR-PLUS), NCT03576716.
Quantifying the Risk of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Transmission From Patient to Healthcare Personnel in the Critical Care Setting

Background: Healthcare personnel (HCP) acquire MRSA on their gown and gloves during routine care activities for patients who are colonized or infected with MRSA at a rate of ∼15%. Certain care activities (eg, physical exam, care of endotracheal tube, wound care and bathing/hygiene) have been associated with a higher frequency of transmission from the patient to HCP gown and gloves than other activities (ie, administration of oral medicines, glucose monitoring, and manipulation of IV tubing/medication delivery). However, quantification of MRSA contamination and risk to subsequent patients is poorly defined. Objective: We sought to determine the mean MRSA colony-forming units (CFU) found on the gloves and gowns of HCP who acquire MRSA after various care activities involving patients with MRSA. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study at the University of Maryland Medical Center from December 2018 to October 2019. We identified patients colonized or infected with MRSA based on culture data from the prior 7 days. HCP performing prespecified care activities on eligible patients were observed. To isolate the risk of each care activity, HCP donned new gloves and gown prior to a specific care activity. Once that care activity was performed, HCP gloves and gown were swabbed prior to the any further care activities. HCP gloves were cultured with an E-swab by swabbing each digit up and down 3 times followed by 2 circles on the palm of their hands. HCP gowns were sampled by swabbing a 15 × 30-cm area along the beltline of the gown and along each inner forearm twice. E-swab liquid was then serially diluted and plated in triplicate on CHROMagar MRSA II (BD, Sparks, MD) to obtain CFU. We calculated the median CFUs and the interquartile range (IQR) for each specific care activity stratified by gown and gloves. Results: In total, 604 HCP–patient care interactions were observed. Table 1 displays the mean MRSA CFUs stratified by gown and gloves for each patient care activity of interest. Conclusions: The quantity of MRSA found on gowns and gloves varies depending on patient care activities. Recognition of differential transmission rates between various activities may allow different approaches to infection prevention, such as the use of personal protective equipment in high- versus low-risk activities and/or the use of more aggressive interventions for high-risk activities. Funding: None Disclosures: None
Motivational Interviewing With At-Risk Students (MARS) Mentoring: Addressing the Unique Mental Health Needs of Students in Alternative School Placements

The goal of this project was to evaluate the effects of an innovative intervention model created specifically for youth in alternative school settings. The Motivational Interviewing with At-Risk St...
Extracellular Vesicle Based Therapeutic Targeting of Beta-Catenin to Modulate Anti-Cancer Immune Responses in Hepatocellular Cancer

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. Although HCC can respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors such as monoclonal antibodies against PD-1, many patients fail to respond or develop secondary resistance. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling can contribute to immune evasion. Mutations in β-catenin are amongst the most frequent mutations associated with HCC. Thus, our aim was to directly target β-catenin to enhance the therapeutic response to immune checkpoint inhibition. Methods: A synthetic transgenic mouse of experimental HCC induced by MET/ β-catenin expression, and extracellular vesicles as a therapeutic delivery agent were used to evaluate the efficacy of directly targeting β-catenin on response to anti-PD-1. Findings: These studies show that (1) oncogenic β-catenin could be therapeutically targeted using a biological nanoparticle based delivery approach, (2) targeting β-catenin using siRNA delivered within extracellular vesicles can reduce tumor growth, and (3) the therapeutic response to anti-PD-1 can be enhanced by concomitantly targeting β-catenin using therapeutic extracellular vesicles. These preclinical studies establish the efficacy of use of biological nanoparticles as an endogenous delivery vehicle for therapeutic RNA delivery and support the use of therapeutic strategies targeting tumor-intrinsic β-catenin as an adjunct to anti-PD-1 based therapy. Interpretation: Combination therapy with anti PD-1 and β-catenin siRNA delivered using biological nanoparticles provide an effective strategy for the treatment of HCC. This strategy could be further exploited into targeted approaches for immune potentiation by countering oncogenemediated resistance to immunotherapies. Funding Statement: Supported in part by the National Institutes of Health.TP is funded by NIH (UH3-TR000884). This publication is part of the NIH Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium paper package and was supported by the NIH Common Fund's exRNA Communication Program Declaration of Interests: There are no conflicts for any of the authors related to design, execution or analysis of the experiments presented in this manuscript. Ethics Approval Statement: All studies involving animals were performed in accordance with protocols approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Animal Care and Use committee.
The Problem of Woke Capitalism

Liberalism is often portrayed as a liberating ideology, one that fosters technological innovation and artistic freedom. But corporate control over culture means that these ideals are constrained to fit capitalism’s whims. Corporations co-opt the trappings of popular social rebellions drained of their revolutionary content because it gives consumers a sense of catharsis while boosting the company’s bottom line. They never, however, promote any socialist or truly radical ideologies that call for upending capitalism or imperialism—the key drivers of racial oppression and global inequality—for that would threaten their only goal: to make profit. When art or invention is used primarily for the purposes of making profit, the artist or inventor is not truly liberated. Instead, art becomes a legitimation mechanism that reinforces capitalist ideology—essentially, art becomes capitalist propaganda.
Schools, Subcultural Values, and the Risk of Youth Violence: The Influence of the Code of the Street among Students in Three U.S. Cities.

Little is known about the role of subcultural values in the development of violence in schools and among school-aged children. Drawing on the “code of the street” thesis, which identifies schools as important staging grounds in the campaign for respect among young people, this study aims to fill this gap in the literature by analyzing student- and school-level associations between projected violence and self-reported subcultural values revolving around toughness and respect. The analytic sample includes N = 1767 students (53.65% female) in grades 7, 8, and 9 (ages 11–17 years, mean = 13.5 years) at 40 middle and high schools in Boston, MA, Denver, CO, and Miami, FL. Consistent with research involving a variety of adolescent and young adult populations, estimates from multilevel negative binomial regression models reveal a robust positive student-level association between personal adherence to subcultural values and projected violence. However, school-level results indicate a compositional, rather than contextual, effect in which higher school-mean levels of projected violence reflect the aggregate values of individual students rather than independent or interactive processes involving the school-level prevalence of code of the street values. Thus, while code of the street values may be important contributors to youth violence, the school setting appears to play a limited role in transmitting their influence among students.
Taking the Bite Out of Higher Payroll Costs

Congress, in an attempt to help underemployed individuals, has once again passed a job hiring tax incentive program called the Work Incentive Taw Credit. This article will provide a brief review of the law and offer planning tips for hospitality firms which wish to reduce their payroll costs. This article is available in Hospitality Review: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/hospitalityreview/vol16/iss1/4 Taking the bite out of higher payroll costs
Role of nuclear cardiology in differentiating scar from ischemic myocardium.

For 10 years, patients with abnormal ventricular function (sometimes with ejection fractions under 10%) have generally been offered surgery. Significant improvement in ejection fraction, or in wall motion in a specific segment, has often been observed postoperatively. In the past, simple and effective means to differentiate preoperatively which areas will improve (ischemic myocardium) from those which will not (scar tissue) have not been available. Several radionuclide techniques have been used to study the problems, including use of radio-labeled particles, 201thallium, 133xenon, and first-pass radionuclide angiography with and without nitroglycerin intervention. Only the last technique has proven reliable in predicting postoperative improvement in wall motion. Thirty patients have been studied with routine catheterization and first-pass radionuclide angiography and all had significant wall motion abnormalities preoperatively. Preoperative radionuclide angiograms with nitroglycerin have been compared with postoperative radionuclide angiograms. The images of the RAO radionuclide angiogram were divided into six segments for analysis of wall motion by trisecting the long axis of the left ventricle. Results show that nitroglycerin accurately predicts improvement in ejection fraction with surgery. In terms of wall motion, approximately 50% of akinetic segments improve and 65% of hypokinetic segments improve both with nitroglycerin and revascularization. To summarize, nitroglycerin predicts wall motion improvement with 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity. These data suggest that nitroglycerin radionuclide angiography is a safe, noninvasive technique for differentiating ischemic viable muscle from scar tissue.
Adrenal function in normal infants and in marasmus and kwashiorkor. Cortisol secretion, diurnal variation of plasma cortisol, and urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticoids, free corticoids, and cortisol.

Normal infants exhibited circadian rhythmicity of plasma F concentration. Infants from 2.1 to 3.2 months of age had CSR significantly higher than those of older infants. THF/THE urinary excretion ratios increased with age. The 17OHCS excretion was higher in the younger infants. Urinary excretions of free corticoids and cortisol were similar in all age groups. In marasmus, plasma F concentrations in the morning and evening were significantly elevated. Normal diurnal variation returned following therapy. CSR and 17OHCS excretions were not different from age controls, but were significantly lower than size controls. THF/THE ratios, urinary excretion of free corticoids and cortisol were normal. In marasmic kwashiorkor, plasma F concentrations were significantly elevated in the morning and evening. There was a suggestive decrease with therapy. CSR was low before and after treatment. THF/THE ratios, urinary 17OHCS excretion, and urinary free corticoids and cortisol were not significantly different from infants matched for size or patients with marasmus.
The Impact of PowerPoint on Student Performance and Course Evaluations in Economics Courses: An Experiment at Six Institutions

This study examines the impact of PowerPoint on student performance and course evaluations in economics courses. Professors from six different colleges each taught two or more sections of a course. PowerPoint was used in at least one of the two sections and a more traditional chalk and talk method was used in the others. Using pooled regression analysis, the results showed that PowerPoint did not have an impact on grades when controlling for absences, hours of study, previous economics courses, math SAT scores, and gender. Although there was no impact on performance, the majority of students indicated that they prefer courses taught with PowerPoint. This preference is contradicted by the lower course evaluations at three of the six institutions in the sections taught with PowerPoint. Overall, the results suggest that the use of PowerPoint can be based on the professor's preference since there is no impact on performance, but professors should compare their own evaluations in sections taught with and without PowerPoint.
Conflict Dynamics in Militarized Disputes: The Impact of Issue Salience on Timing and Duration Interdependence

This paper examines the effect of disputed issues on militarized interstate conflict dynamics. I examine the connection between when a conflict begins during an issue and how long the conflict subsequently lasts. Do disputed issues that experience military conflict early in their lifetimes yield a long, bloody fight or a short and bloodless fight? Do disputants’ expectations about conflict duration influence whether and when a conflict is initiated? Does conflict timing matter at all? I claim that timing will affect conflict duration, but only in certain cases. I argue that the amount of overall salience attributed to the issue impacts disputants’ ability to process information accurately, which affects whether a conflict’s timing will affect its duration. Specifically, I hypothesize that timing is likely to matter when disagreements are over highly important issues with high amounts of intangible salience. I use existing data on territorial, maritime, and river disputes and a simultaneous equation setup to test my argument. I find empirical support for my argument. The findings contribute to a more complete picture about militarized conflict, disputed issue dynamics, and the connection between the two.
Synthesis and thermoelectric properties of Co/sub 1-x/Ni/sub x/P/sub 3/ and CoAs/sub 3-x/P/sub x/ skutterudites

Two types of promising phosphide skutterudite materials, Co/sub 1-x/Ni/sub x/P/sub 3/ (x= 0.025 to 0.70) and CoAs/sub 3.x/P/sub x/(x=0.5 to 0. 10), have been synthesized and their thermoelectric properties measured. These compounds were prepared using a direct synthesis technique. The samples were hot pressed and analyzed by electron microprobe microscopy. Hall effect measurements were conducted to determine the electrical conductivity, mobility and carrier concentration. In addition, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity measurements were performed. The thermoelectric properties are presented and discussed as a function of temperature up to 1273 K. The thermal stability of the primary CoP/sub 3/ was examined in a static vacuum under isothermal and in-gradient conditions. The effect of the presence of 1 atm of a cover gas on the material loss rate was analyzed.
The New Logics of Homeless Seclusion:Homeless Encampments in America's West Coast Cities

Since the late 1990s, scores of American cities have witnessed the re–emergence of large–scale homeless encampments for the first time since the Great Depression. Commonly portrayed as rooted in th...
Practical Surface Treatments and Surface Chemistry of n -Type and p -Type GaN

X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS) were used to study the electronic structure of n-GaN and p-GaN(0001) surfaces after three ex situ surface treatments: aq-HCl, annealing in NH3, and annealing in HCl vapor. The combination of in situ vacuum annealing and re-exposure of samples to air revealed that the adsorption of ambient contaminants can reduce the surface state density and subsequent band bending on both n-GaN and p-GaN surfaces. Insights derived from first-principles calculations of the adsorption of relevant species on the Ga-terminated GaN(0001) surface are used to explain these experimental observations qualitatively.
Congenital Arteriovenous Fistulas of the Thoracic Wall

Arteriovenous fistulas of the thoracic wall may produce murmurs and thrills which suggest an intrathoracic vascular abnormality. Congenital arteriovenous fistulas in the precordial region, the site of the fistula in the case here reported, may be confused with anomalies of the heart and great vessels. The differential diagnosis of blood vessel tumors of the chest wall is discussed. Occasionally arteriovenous fistulas involve both the thoracic wall and intrathoracic viscera.
One-step synthesis of gradient gadolinium ironhexacyanoferrate nanoparticles: a new particle design easily combining MRI contrast and photothermal therapy

A one-step synthesis of Prussian blue nanoparticles possessing a concentration gradient of Gd3+ counterions, g-Gd-PB, has been developed, and the potential for the particles to perform as both MRI positive contrast agents and photothermal therapy agents is demonstrated. The synthesis of potassium/gadolinium ironhexacyanoferrate is performed under increasing concentration of Gd3+ ions forming particles with a higher concentration of gadolinium toward the outer layers. The proton relaxivity (r1) measured for the particles is 12.3 mM(-1) s(-1), and T1 weighted images of phantoms containing the particles show their potential as MRI contrast agents. In addition, the Prussian blue host can rapidly and efficiently convert energy from near-IR light into thermal energy, allowing g-Gd-PB to be used as a photothermal therapy agent. The photothermal properties are demonstrated by measuring temperature changes of particle suspensions under irradiation and by photothermal ablation of CCRF-CEM cancer cells.
Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors as modulators of cancer therapies

Like many clinical non-small-cell lung cancers, the Lewis lung carcinoma produces prostaglandins. The Lewis lung carcinoma was used as a model of both primary and metastatic disease to assess the ability of cyclooxygenase inhibitors (mefenamic acid, diflunisal, sulindac, and indomethacin), the collagenase inhibitor minocycline, and the lipoxygenase inhibitor phenidone to act as modulators of cytotoxic cancer therapies. Although none of the single modulators given i.p. daily on days 4–18 altered tumor growth or the number of metastases found on day 20, modulator combinations consisting of minocycline/a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and, especially, of phenidone/a cyclooxygenase inhibitor resulted in modest tumor growth delay and a decreased number of lung metastases on day 20. The most effective modulators of cisplatin (CDDP) were phenidone/sulindac and phenidone/indomethacin, which led to 2.4- to 2.5-fold increases in the tumor growth delay produced by CDDP. The most effective modulations of cyclophosphamide resulted from administration of minocycline, minocycline/sulindac, or phenidone/sulindac and led to 2.0- to 2.1-fold increases in tumor growth delay by cyclophosphamide. The most effective modulators of melphalan produced 4.5- to 4.7-fold increases in tumor growth delay by the drug and were minocycline/sulindac, minocycline/mefenamic acid, and phenidone/sulindac. The most effective modulation of carmustine (BCNU) was obtained with minocycline/sulindac and minocycline/diflunisal leading to 2.8- to 3.1-fold increases in tumor growth delay by BCNU. Finally, the most effective modulation of radiation was obtained with minocycline/sulindac and phenidone/sulindac and resulted in 2.8- to 3.3-fold increases in tumor growth delay by radiation. The modulator combination that along with the cytotoxic therapies was most effective against metastatic disease was phenidone/mefenamic acid. There was no clear relationship between effective modulation of the cancer therapies and the degree of reduction in serum levels of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 by the agents in Lewis lung tumor bearing mice.
Do things really change

The author presents the historical backdrop of the advent of the American Society of Head and Neck Surgery and the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons and their paths that began wide apart and which, over the years, have become closer, even intertwining with the formation of the Joint Council for Approval of Advanced Training in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery in 1974. The future of head and neck oncology and the role the two societies can play are also commented on.
The De Novo Engineering of Artificial Flavoproteins

Flavins are ubiquitous redox active cofactors that participate in a host of biological processes such as O2 activation, DNA repair, aromatic hydroxylation, phototaxis and magnetoception. The diverse utility of the flavin cofactor stems from its ability to accept one or two electrons and/or facilitate hydride transfer. These processes can occur over a wide range of midpoint potentials (−360 to +160 mV) by specific interactions with the protein matrix into which the flavin is inserted. In this work, we aim to understand the biophysical basis of this control by designing and synthesizing tetra-helical protein maquettes with flavins as redox cofactors. We covalently couple differentially substituted novel flavin analogues via a cysteine linkage at a designed location. Our results demonstrate successful coupling of two flavin analogues that produced systems with very different midpoint potentials. We show a light activated electron transfer between the flavin and a bis-his ligated heme under continuous illumination conditions to our maquette as well as light activated electron transfer between a tryptophan and the flavin. We also show light independent oxidation of nicotinamide analogues by the flavomaquette. These results not only help us understand the natural oxidoreductases but also bring us closer to realizing fully synthetic flavin enzymes for novel catalysis.