cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incremental costs of post-liver transplantation complications.

Background Complications after liver transplantation are common and expensive. The incremental costs of adult posttransplantation liver transplantation complications and who pays for these complications (center or payor) is unknown. Study Design We reviewed the medical and financial records (first 90 postoperative days) of all adult liver transplant recipients at our center between July 1, 2002, and October 30, 2005 (N = 214). The association of donor, recipient, and financial data points (total costs, reimbursements, and profits) was assessed using standard univariable analyses. The incremental costs of complications were determined with multiple linear regression models to control for the costs inherent to donor and recipient characteristics. Results Univariate analyses demonstrated that both total hospital costs and reimbursements were substantially increased in patients with several different complications. Multiple linear regression analysis, controlling for recipient (age, gender, race, and laboratory Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD]) and donor factors (donor risk index), noted that increased hospital costs and hospital reimbursements were independently associated with laboratory MELD (incremental costs of $3,368 and $2,787, respectively, per MELD point) and pneumonia ($83,718 and $68,214, respectively). A negative profit margin for the medical center was independently associated with peritonitis ($21,760). Commercial insurance was associated with no changes in total costs when compared with public insurer, but it was associated with decreased reimbursement and profit. Conclusions The incremental costs of complications in liver transplantation are high for both the medical center and payor, but medical center profits are not affected substantially. The payor bears the financial burden for post−liver transplantation complications.
Effective Field Theory Description of the Higher Dimensional Quantum Hall Liquid

We derive an effective topological field theory model of the four dimensional quantum Hall liquid state recently constructed by Zhang and Hu. Using a generalization of the flux attachment transformation, the effective field theory can be formulated as a U
Subjective memory impairment and well-being in community-dwelling older adults.

Background The relationship between subjective memory impairment (SMI), future cognitive decline, and negative health status provides an opportunity for interventions to reduce memory complaints in high-risk groups. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SMI and indicators of well-being in older adults enrolled in an exercise trial. Additionally, the study examined whether two different modes of exercise training, aerobic walking and non-aerobic flexibility, toning, and balance, differentially influenced subjective memory across the trial. Methods Community-dwelling older adults (n = 179, mean age = 66.4 years) were randomly assigned to a walking or flexibility, toning, and balance group for 12 months. Subjective memory, happiness, perceived stress, and symptom reporting were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results A main effect of subjective memory indicated that individuals with the fewest memory complaints had lower perceived stress (P < 0.001), lower physical symptom reporting (P < 0.001), and higher happiness levels (P < 0.001) across all measurement occasions. Both main and interaction effects of time and group on SMI were not significant, suggesting SMI remained stable across the intervention and was not significantly impacted by participation in exercise training. Conclusions SMI was not responsive to exercise interventions, and the relationship between SMI and negative well-being demonstrates a need for interventions to reduce memory complaints in high-risk groups.
Relative Contribution of Volume and Surface-Plasma Generation of Negative Ions in Gas Discharges

Surface-plasma generation of extracted H-ions in gas discharges without the addition of cesium is analyzed. At the present time, it is common consensus that surface-plasma generation of extracted H-ions dominates above volume processes in discharges with the admixture of cesium or other catalysts with low ionization potential. We will present evidence that surface-plasma generation can be enhanced in high density discharges without cesium after electrode activation by high temperature conditioning in the discharge. The diffusion of impurities with low ionization potential is the presumed cause of the observed H-emission enhancement. For the effective generation of H-ion beams in discharges without cesium, it is necessary to optimize surface-plasma generation of extracted H-ions. Such optimization allows considerable improvement of H-/D-sources characteristics.
New Media Practices in China: Youth Patterns, Processes, and Politics

This article examines the dynamics of new media in China with an emphasis on youth uses and practices. While much attention has been devoted to the government’s regime of censorship and control, this review takes a cultural approach, drawing from a range of academic and popular sources to examine how various practices, discourses, relationships, and representations have been articulated to new media technologies in China. After providing background on China’s demographic and telecommunications landscape, the discussion covers networked community and identity, gaming, networked public sphere and civic engagement, and new media prosumption. The review shows that diverse new media practices emerge in China within the tensions and contradictions of the government’s desire to simultaneously expand new media technologies and control what are perceived as “harmful” influences. Within a highly commercialized and more liberalized sociocultural environment, new media technologies have opened up new spaces for multiple modes of expression, and as such, they are constitutive of complex processes of social change in China.
Negative chemotaxis in Cytophaga johnsonae

Chemotaxis, both positive and negative, has been extensively studied in flagellated bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhirnurium, but not in gliding bacteria. The rapidly motile gliding bacterium Cytophaga johnsonae has been seen to be repelled by H202, OC1-, and N-chlorotaurine, as well as by low pH. Its response to H202 was eliminated by catalase. Nalidixic acid at 200 yM, which inhibits the growth but not the motility of C. johnsonae, did not interfere with its negative chemotactic response to H202, whereas sodium phosphate at 10 mM, which inhibits motility, did so. Cytophaga johnsonae was not repelled by taurine, n-octanol, phenol, L-valine, or high pH. Chemotaxis can be conveniently studied in gliding bacteria such as C. johnsonae.
Bone morphogenetic proteins: An unconventional approach to isolation of first mammalian morphogens

It is conventional to identify morphogens from fly and frog embryos during morphogenesis using gene-screens, subtractive hybridizations, differential displays and expression cloning. This information is then extended to mice and men. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a family of pleiotropic morphogens/cytokines isolated and cloned from the demineralized extracellular matrix of adult bone. Thus, BMPs were isolated from mammalian bone by an unconventional approach. BMPs initiate the sequential developmental cascade of bone morphogenesis in ectopic sites. The pleiotropic effects of BMPs on chemotaxis, mitosis and differentiation are based on concentration-dependent thresholds. Recent work has demonstrated the critical role of BMPs in pattern formation in amphibian and chick limb development. Targeted disruption of gene function by homologous recombination has demonstrated the actions of BMPs beyond bone in such disparate tissues as kidney, eye, testis, teeth, skin and heart. The successful isolation of first mammalian morphogens has laid the foundation for the elucidation of molecular signalling during morphogenesis in bones and beyond.
A Bayesian model for time-to-event data with informative censoring

Randomized trials with dropouts or censored data and discrete time-to-event type outcomes are frequently analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier or product limit (PL) estimation method. However, the PL method assumes that the censoring mechanism is noninformative and when this assumption is violated, the inferences may not be valid. We propose an expanded PL method using a Bayesian framework to incorporate informative censoring mechanism and perform sensitivity analysis on estimates of the cumulative incidence curves. The expanded method uses a model, which can be viewed as a pattern mixture model, where odds for having an event during the follow-up interval (tk−1,tk], conditional on being at risk at tk−1, differ across the patterns of missing data. The sensitivity parameters relate the odds of an event, between subjects from a missing-data pattern with the observed subjects for each interval. The large number of the sensitivity parameters is reduced by considering them as random and assumed to follow a log-normal distribution with prespecified mean and variance. Then we vary the mean and variance to explore sensitivity of inferences. The missing at random (MAR) mechanism is a special case of the expanded model, thus allowing exploration of the sensitivity to inferences as departures from the inferences under the MAR assumption. The proposed approach is applied to data from the TRial Of Preventing HYpertension.
Ancient divisions, recent expansions: phylogeography and population genetics of the round goby Apollonia melanostoma

During the past two decades, the round goby Apollonia melanostoma (= Neogobius melanostomus) has expanded its range via shipping transport and canals, extending north and west from the Ponto-Caspian region of Eurasia and to the North American Great Lakes. Exotic populations of the round goby have been very successful in the Baltic Sea and the Great Lakes regions, exerting significant ecological changes. Our study evaluates the population genetic and biogeographical structure of the round goby across its native and nonindigenous ranges, in light of geological history and its expansion pathways. We analyzed seven new nuclear microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene sequences from 432 individuals in 22 locations. Population structure was tested using FSTanalogs, phylogenetic trees, clustering diagrams, Bayesian assignment tests and nested clade analyses. Results show that native populations in the Black vs. the Caspian Sea basins diverge by 1.4% and c. 350 000 years, corresponding to closure of their prior connections and supporting the taxonomic separation of the Black Sea A. m. melanostoma from the Caspian Sea A. m. affinis. Their within-basin populations diverge by ~0.4% and 100 000 years. Nonindigenous populations in the Baltic Sea and Danube and Dnieper Rivers trace to separate northern Black Sea origins, whereas the upper Volga River system hous es mixed populations of A. m. melanostoma and A. m. affinis. Native populations average twice the genetic diversity of most exotic sites; however, sites in the Volga River system have high diversity due to mixing of the two taxa. Our results highlight how vicariance and anthropogenic disturbances have shaped a rapidly expanding species’ genetic heritage.
Middleware specialization for memory-constrained networked embedded systems

General purpose middleware has been shown to be effective off-the-shelf, in meeting diverse functional requirements for a wide range of distributed systems. However, middleware customization is necessary for many networked embedded systems because of the resource constraints in the networked nodes. We demonstrate that reduced middleware footprint can be achieved while maintaining real-time properties of applications running on such systems. We also give evidence that empirical measurement using a representative application is crucial to guide (1) selection of feature subsets from general purpose middleware and (2) trade-offs among different dimensions of design metrics including real-time, footprint, and portability.
Core Atomic Physics Studies in Alcator C-Mod

The Rydberg series (1s2 to 1snp) up to n = 14 of helium-like argon (Z = 18) has been observed from Alcator C-Mod plasmas using a high-resolution X-ray spectrometer array. High-n satellites to these...
Obesity and Pulmonary Function in African Americans

Background Obesity prevalence in United States (US) adults exceeds 30% with highest prevalence being among blacks. Obesity is known to have significant effects on respiratory function and obese patients commonly report respiratory complaints requiring pulmonary function tests (PFTs). However, there is no large study showing the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and PFTs in healthy African Americans (AA). Objective To determine the effect of BMI on PFTs in AA patients who did not have evidence of underlying diseases of the respiratory system. Methods We reviewed PFTs of 339 individuals sent for lung function testing who had normal spirometry and lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) with wide range of BMI. Results Functional residual capacity (FRC) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) decreased exponentially with increasing BMI, such that morbid obesity resulted in patients breathing near their residual volume (RV). However, the effects on the extremes of lung volumes, at total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) were modest. There was a significant linear inverse relationship between BMI and DLCO, but the group means values remained within the normal ranges even for morbidly obese patients. Conclusions We showed that BMI has significant effects on lung function in AA adults and the greatest effects were on FRC and ERV, which occurred at BMI values < 30 kg/m2. These physiological effects of weight gain should be considered when interpreting PFTs and their effects on respiratory symptoms even in the absence of disease and may also exaggerate existing lung diseases.
Women, Monastic Commerce, and Coverture in Eastern India circa 1600–1800 CE

This article argues that economic histories of the transition to colonial economics in the eighteenth century have overlooked the infrastructural investments that wives and widows made in networks of monastic commerce. Illustrative examples from late eighteenth-century records suggest that these networks competed with the commercial networks operated by private traders serving the English East India Company at the end of the eighteenth century. The latter prevailed. The results were the establishment of coverture and wardship laws interpellated from British common law courts into Company revenue policies, the demolition of buildings. and the relocation of the markets that were attached to many of the buildings women had sponsored. Together, these historical processes made women's commercial presence invisible to future scholars.
Parametric imaging of the NET radioligand [C-11]MRB in humans: A test-retest study

544 Objectives: In vivo quantification of the density of nor-epinephrine transporters (NET) has been hampered by the lack of suitable radioligands. [C-11]MRB is a new radioligand with suitable properties in monkeys. As part of [C-11]MRB evaluation in humans, the present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of computing parametric images of [C-11]MRB binding. Methods: Five volunteers were included in a test-retest protocol. Each subject was injected twice, 150 minutes apart, followed by a 90-min dynamic acquisition on the HR+ scanner. Parametric images were computed using the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) and the 2-parameter version (SRTM2) where the efflux rate constant for the reference region (k29) is estimated by the median of SRTM estimates from throughout the brain. The occipital cortex was used as the reference region. The main outcome parameter was the relative distribution volume (DVR). Mean parameter values were computed for eight regions: four cortical lobes, caudate, putamen, cerebellum and thalamus. Reproducibility of the measures was estimated by computing the standard deviation (σTR) of the relative difference of the parameter estimates between test and retest scans. Results: DVR values were reproducible with SRTM2 (σTR 100%) when SRTM2 was applied to regional TACs, possibly due to difficulties in estimating k29 from a limited (8) number of curves, even though regional TACs are much less noisy than voxel TACs. DVR estimates with SRTM2 ranged from 1.02±0.02 (caudate) to 1.46±0.13 (thalamus). k29 was estimated as 0.027±0.014 /min. Conclusions: Reproducible DVR estimates can be obtained for [C-11]MRB with SRTM2 if a reliable k29 value can be estimated by averaging all voxel-by-voxel estimates.
Can Interpreting Nonsignificant Findings Inform the Lessons Learned From an Intervention

Reducing Disability in Alzheimer's Disease (RDAD) is an evidenced-based intervention for individuals with dementia and their caregivers aimed at reducing the psychosocial strain of the caregiver and improving functional ability of the individual with dementia. Overall efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility outcomes have been published regarding RDAD; however, no specific outcome information has been published on the objective physical performance measures (PPM) of gait speed, functional reach, and balance. Data from the Replication of RDAD (n = 508) was utilized to test the hypothesis that each PPM would show change for participants who completed the program. No significant changes were identified in 3 PPM: gait speed (t = .24, P =.81), balance (t = .23, P = .82), and functional reach (t = -.55, P = .58). To strengthen the research about exercise interventions for individuals with dementia, discussion and interpretation of nonfindings is important for improving intervention designs and methodologies. In the case of RDAD, the intervention protocol may require a sufficient dosage of exercise with respect to fundamental exercise science principles, or there may be misalignment between the intervention and outcome measures.
Counterion-assisted cation transport in a biological calcium channel.

How ions pass through the lumen of an ion channel is a key question underlying cellular communication. The effects of water and pore-lining residues (channel design) have been extensively explored. However, the role of counterions is less well understood. The pore subunit of the calcium release-activated calcium channel, Orai, provides a useful model to explore the effect of anions on the permeation of cations. Herein, we employ computer simulations molecular dynamics (MD) to explore ion permeation through the V174A Orai mutant, a constitutively open pore, in a phospholipid membrane hydrated by a 150 mM NaCl solution. When an external voltage is applied in the MD simulations, it induces only a moderate conformational change to the channel, which facilitates the passage of ions. Infrequent sodium permeation is observed on the microsecond time scale, which is consistent with experiment. In contrast, the chloride counterions exhibit higher mobility in the channel and are actively involved in sodium transport...
Multimodal and alternative perception for the visually impaired: a survey

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of navigational assistive technologies with various sensor modalities and alternative perception approaches for visually impaired people. It also examines the input and output of each technology, and provides a comparison between systems. Design/methodology/approach – The contributing authors along with their students thoroughly read and reviewed the referenced papers while under the guidance of domain experts and users evaluating each paper/technology based on a set of metrics adapted from universal and system design. Findings – After analyzing 13 multimodal assistive technologies, the authors found that the most popular sensors are optical, infrared, and ultrasonic. Similarly, the most popular actuators are audio and haptic. Furthermore, most systems use a combination of these sensors and actuators. Some systems are niche, while others strive to be universal. Research limitations/implications – This paper serves as a starting point for furthe...
Selecting for long-duration space exploration: Implications of personality

Undertaking a trip to Mars will require unparalleled time and effort for astronauts. Crews will live and work together for 2 to 3 years in an isolated and confined extreme environment with varying levels of taskload and incessant risk of vehicle malfunctions and failures. The compatibility and performance of the crew are therefore crucial to these long-duration exploration missions (LDEMs). In particular, the function and coordination of these small teams will be influenced by the behavioral and social characteristics of the individual members, especially their personality type. This necessitates a special focus on crew selection and composition for LDEMs. Planning for optimal team performance begins at the selection process to become astronaut candidates where applicants who make it to later stages undergo an extensive screening process as well as comprehensive psychological and physiological testing. Currently, personality testing is used during these processes to “select out” certain individuals from the astronaut candidate program who may be ill-equipped for the astronaut corps. However, personality's integral role in job performance and team performance suggests a need for “selecting in” certain personality traits, such as agreeableness and conscientiousness. Although the initial selection process relies on a standardized, multi-faceted approach, the procedures for mission assignment from the pool of astronaut candidates are seemingly less structured, given available documentation, and performed by the Astronaut Office. In this paper, we argue that selecting individuals for LDEMs will require more emphasis on team-based considerations than just individual-level criteria (e.g., technical skills, experience, etc.). For instance, crew compatibility on an interpersonal level will need to be a major factor in order to ensure optimal communication and coordination within the team. A primary consideration in forming the optimal mixture of individuals for a team is the specific personality combinations of its members. The wrong mixture can produce a number of deleterious effects including, but not limited to: subgroup formation, conflicts over values, and weakening of team cohesion. To address these issues, this paper: a) summarizes current astronaut selection procedures and small-team selection procedures, b) summarizes existing literature on personality composition for small-team performance, c) makes recommendations about the inclusion of personality metrics for both astronaut and crew selection from existing research, and d) suggests further research on team selection and composition via space analogs.
Sequence Stratigraphic Characteristics and Hydrocarbon Prospect of the Cretaceous Damoguaihe Formation in the Southern Wuerxun Sag

On the basis of analysis of the data of seismic,well-log and drilling core data,this paper analyzed the sequence stratigraphy of the Damoguaihe Formation in the south of Wuerxun Sag area. Second-order sequence boundaries,first flooding surfaces and maximum flooding surfaces are identified. We studied the set of type sequence,which includes lowstand system tracts,transgressive system tracts and highstand system tracts. On the basis of the identification and correlation of stratigraphic unit,the sequence stratigra-phy mode combining is built with the depositional system of three system tracts,and the distribution of oil and gas is studied. At last,four types of hydrocarbon reservoir are pointed out in suitable condition.
Finite element analysis on axial impact response by displacement method

The research purpose is to simulate dynamic response of solid rocket motor(SRM) under axial impact load,and to provide some reference for the design of SRM.On the basis of modal analysis,the axial impact response was analyzed through finite element of displacement method.The calculated displacement,stress and strain are in good accordance with test results.It is concluded that finite element of displacement method is appropriate to analyze and calculate the dynamic response of SRM under axial impact load,and can provide reference for the design of SRM.
Protein Sialylation Regulates a Gene Expression Signature that Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Pathogenicity

Many mechanisms have been proposed for how heightened aerobic glycolytic metabolism fuels cancer pathogenicity, but there are still many unexplored pathways. Here, we have performed metabolomic profiling to map glucose incorporation into metabolic pathways upon transformation of mammary epithelial cells by 11 commonly mutated human oncogenes. We show that transformation of mammary epithelial cells by oncogenic stimuli commonly shunts glucose-derived carbons into synthesis of sialic acid, a hexosamine pathway metabolite that is converted to CMP-sialic acid by cytidine monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid synthase (CMAS) as a precursor to glycoprotein and glycolipid sialylation. We show that CMAS knockdown leads to elevations in intracellular sialic acid levels, a depletion of cellular sialylation, and alterations in the expression of many cancer-relevant genes to impair breast cancer pathogenicity. Our study reveals the heretofore unrecognized role of sialic acid metabolism and protein sialylation in regu...
Expressing Emotion in Text: Email Communication of Online Couples

This chapter tells how people who have become attracted to each other online express emotion through text. Using quotes from their actual email, I will describe how people communicated their feelings of affection towards each other and about other emotions they expressed during their online writings before and after meeting offline. Effective communication online can contribute to the success or longevity of online relationships (see Baker, 2005).
STUDIES ON CELL METABOLISM AND CELL DIVISION : II. STIMULATION OF CELLULAR OXIDATION AND REVERSIBLE INHIBITION OF CELL DIVISION BY DIHALO AND TRIHALOPHENOLS.

The dihalo and trihalophenols, and phenols containing both halo and nitro substituents in the same molecule, produce, in fertilized eggs of Arbacia punctulata, a rise in rate of oxygen consumption and a reversible block to cell division. To define the conditions which affect the degree of this activity, the following factors have been varied: the arrangement of substituents in the molecule, the concentration of reagent, and the time after fertilization at which the reagent is added. The stimulation of oxygen consumption and reversible block to cell division produced by the dihalophenols are qualitatively the same as those previously produced in fertilized Arbacia eggs by certain dinitrophenols. To yield optimum respiratory effect and maximum division block, it usually requires a higher concentration of dihalo than of the corresponding dinitrophenol. For example, with fertilized Arbacia eggs at 20 degrees C. 2,4-dinitrophenol, in optimum concentration of 3 x 10(-5) molar, raises oxygen consumption to 292 per cent of normal (4). The corresponding values for two dihalo analogues are: 2,4-dichlorophenol, 10(-4) molar and 236 per cent; 2,4-dibromophenol, 6 x 10(-5) molar and 282 per cent. The halophenols differ from the nitrophenols in two interesting respects: (a) The monohalophenols produce little or no oxidative stimulation or division block in fertilized Arbacia eggs; p-nitrophenol is very active in both respects. (b) The symmetrical trihalophenols have an appreciable ability to stimulate oxygen consumption and block division; symmetrical trinitrophenol is inactive in both respects (4). The increases in oxygen consumption produced in fertilized Arbacia eggs by 2,4-dichloro and 2,4-dinitrophenol are larger than the percentage increases given by methylene blue and o-cresol indophenol under the same experimental conditions. The dihalo and dinitrophenols produce a reversible block to the cell division of fertilized marine eggs. The oxidation-reduction indicators, in contrast to the dihalo and dinitrophenols, block cell division irreversibly and fertilized eggs of Arbacia do not recover from optimum respiratory stimulating concentrations of these oxidation-reduction dyes. The present experiments with halophenols are in harmony with and lend considerable support to the hypothesis (4) that nitro and similarly substituted phenols derive their biological activity from the presence and properties of the phenolic OH group, as modified by proper substitution in the phenolic benzene ring.
Continuous Optimization: The "Right" Language for Graph Algorithms? (Invited Talk).

Traditionally, we view graphs as purely combinatorial objects and tend to design our graph algorithms to be combinatorial as well. In fact, in the context of algorithms, "combinatorial" became a synonym of "fast". Recent work, however, shows that a number of such "inherently combinatorial" graph problems can be solved much faster using methods that are very "non-combinatorial". Specifically, by approaching these problems with tools and notions borrowed from linear algebra and, more broadly, from continuous optimization. A notable examples here are the recent lines of work on the maximum flow problem, the bipartite matching problem, and the shortest path problem in graphs with negative-length arcs. This raises an intriguing question: Is continuous optimization a more suitable and principled optics for fast graph algorithms than the classic combinatorial view? In this talk, I will discuss this question as well as the developments that motivated it.
Slow creep in soft granular packings

Transient creep mechanisms in soft granular packings are studied numerically using a constant pressure and constant stress simulation method. Rapid compression followed by slow dilation is predicted on the basis of a logarithmic creep phenomenon. Characteristic scales of creep strain and time exhibit a power-law dependence on jamming pressure, and they diverge at the jamming point. Microscopic analysis indicates the existence of a correlation between rheology and nonaffine fluctuations. Localized regions of large strain appear during creep and grow in magnitude and size at short times. At long times, the spatial structure of highly correlated local deformation becomes time-invariant. Finally, a microscale connection between local rheology and local fluctuations is demonstrated in the form of a linear scaling between granular fluidity and nonaffine velocity.
Iridoid and phenylethanoid/phenylpropanoid metabolite profiles of Scrophularia and Verbascum species used medicinally in North America

Botanicals containing iridoid and phenylethanoid/phenylpropanoid glycosides are used worldwide for the treatment of inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions that are primary causes of human years lived with disability, such as arthritis and lower back pain. We report the analysis of candidate anti-inflammatory metabolites of several endemic Scrophularia species and Verbascum thapsus used medicinally by peoples of North America. Leaves, stems, and roots were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was performed in MetaboAnalyst 3.0 after processing the datasets in Progenesis QI. Comparison of the datasets revealed significant and differential accumulation of iridoid and phenylethanoid/phenylpropanoid glycosides in the tissues of the endemic Scrophularia species and Verbascum thapsus. Our investigation identified several species of pharmacological interest as good sources for harpagoside and other important anti-inflammatory metabolites.
An advanced pharmacy practice experience in academia: More benefit than burden!

Abstract Introduction Within the curriculum, students gain exposure to careers in community, ambulatory, and institutional pharmacy. Students may not consider alternative options, like academia. Perceived barriers to incorporation by faculty may limit opportunities for students. The following commentary describes one student and faculty member's experience with an academic advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE), and offers suggestions for overcoming potential barriers to implementation. Perspective – Student During my rotation, I learned just how much hard work and dedication goes into teaching. Before this rotation I didn’t have a good sense of the responsibilities and requirements of a faculty member. My goals were to participate in as many activities my preceptor could allow me to be a part of. I wanted to get a true idea of what her daily demands were. Because of this rotation, I have a better understanding of the challenges and rewards of a career in academia, and it has solidified my interest in teaching. Perspective – Faculty I’ll admit that taking on an academic APPE student during my busiest term made me think twice. To assure a smooth rotation, I spent a lot of time in the planning phase which allowed the student and I to communicate effectively from day one. Outlining my expectations while ensuring I had a good understanding of my student's objectives for the rotation made sure we had a successful rotation. Conclusion Elective APPEs are the perfect time for students to explore a career in academia. Faculty are well positioned to offer rotations to promote interest in academia that may be mutually beneficial.
Catalytic peptide assemblies

Self-assembly of molecules often results in new emerging properties. Even very short peptides can self-assemble into structures with a variety of physical and structural characteristics. Remarkably, many peptide assemblies show high catalytic activity in model reactions reaching efficiencies comparable to those found in natural enzymes by weight. In this review, we discuss different strategies used to rationally develop self-assembled peptide catalysts with natural and unnatural backbones as well as with metal-containing cofactors.
Long-term outlook for survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients are critically ill but can expect excellent survival rates if other serious anomaliesare not present. Significant long-term morbidities, however, exist in the survivors. The most notable of these are developmental delay, poor growth, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sensorineural hearing loss, and musculoskeletal abnormalities. Patients require careful long-term follow-up for these problems, and caregivers must continue to critically evaluate their medical interventions in the neonatal period in an attempt to minimize these morbidities.
Present-Day Genetic Correlations and Testing the Aerobic Capacity Model

AbstractA recent article by Nespolo and Roff suggests that present-day genetic correlations between resting and maximal metabolic rate do not provide support for the aerobic capacity model for the evolution of endothermy. That conclusion is potentially misleading. The aerobic capacity model makes exacting predictions about genetic architecture. While the presence of a genetic correlation does not support the model per se, the absence of a correlation definitively falsifies the model. Testing for present-day correlations remains a useful endeavor, at least until the model is convincingly falsified or until many attempts to falsify the model fail.
“That Is Why The Buddha Laughs”: Apophasis, Buddhist Practice, and the Paradox of Language

This essay arose from a collaborative project exploring the meaning of apophatic discourse in different religious traditions. I focus on the paradox of language as both liberating and ensnaring that resonates across the great diversity and heterogeneity of Buddhist traditions. Apophatic discourse is a widespread response to this paradox, as it is motivated by a recognition of the limits of words and concepts even as it seeks to point to that which is beyond these limits. The questions of whether there is a nonconceptual reality beyond the limits of words and concepts, and if so, what it might be, and why, precisely, language and reason are incapable of articulating nonconceptual reality, and what the role of language might be in leading beyond itself, are all sources of considerable debate among Buddhist thinkers. What is shared by figures with different responses to these questions is an understanding of apophasis as a form of Buddhist practice. The aim of Buddhist apophatic practice is to disrupt our natural linguistic attitude, in which we are beguiled by language, presupposing that our words and concepts somehow correspond with the ultimate nature of reality. How is apophatic discourse—enacting an awareness of the limits of language—meaningful if it cannot actually describe that which it is about? Buddhist apophatic discourses, such as ontological doctrines of ineffability, negations, and silence, are not simply pointing to ultimate reality, but are meaningful as transformative practices in the context of an interpretive community with shared soteriological goals and doctrines. Thus, even as apophatic discourse is ever transcending positive claims, it depends on kataphatic discourse to have any specific meaning.
Improving Dental School Clinic Operations Using Business Intelligence Data

In dental school clinics, students spend a great deal of time waiting for faculty members to check and approve their work. Traditionally at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, students have left their cubicles to form lines behind supervising faculty members, and this line of students would follow the faculty member around from patient to patient. To address this problem and improve the patient experience, the school computerized the approval-seeking process by building the Faculty Request System (FRS) to enable students to stay with their patients while seeking the necessary approvals. The FRS produced a large volume of time-stamped, business intelligence data that enabled further evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of this change, including the quality/process improvement interventions that were possible due to information revealed by the FRS. The results showed no change in the number of students or faculty members per clinic session across the three years of this evaluation. With the FRS, the amount of time students spent away from their patients was reduced from 40.6 minutes to 12.1 minutes. After the FRS was implemented, there was an eradication of appointments that ended 30 minutes late (from 0.03% to zero) and a reduction of appointments that ended 15 minutes late (from 0.25% to 0.01%). There were also increases in students' starting appointments on time (9.8% of start checks to 25.8%), 15 minutes late (16.6% to 35.2%), and 30 minutes late (13.2% to 22.2%). By critically analyzing data from the new system, the school's leadership can analyze trends and make data-driven decisions to alter operations. The results of this study suggest that this process can improve the patient and student experience and faculty utilization.
A meta-analysis and systematic review of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients undergoing vascular surgery procedures

Abstract Objective Perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is generally considered preventable. Whereas the non-vascular surgery literature is rich in providing data about the impact of VTE prophylaxis on VTE outcomes, vascular surgery data are relatively sparse on this topic. This study sought to evaluate the evidence for VTE prophylaxis specifically for the population of vascular surgery patients. Methods A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases in December 2018. Included were studies reporting primary and secondary outcomes for common vascular surgery procedures (open aortic operation, endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR], peripheral artery bypass, amputation, venous reflux operation). A meta-analysis was performed comparing the patients who did not receive VTE prophylaxis and had VTE complications with patients who developed VTE despite receiving prophylaxis. Results From 3757 uniquely identified articles, 42 publications met the criteria for inclusion in this review (1 for the category of all vascular operations, 5 for open aortic reconstructions, 2 for EVAR, 1 for open aortic surgery or EVAR, 3 for abdominal or bypass surgery, 2 for peripheral bypass surgery, 2 for amputations, 1 for vascular trauma, and 25 for surgical treatment of superficial venous disease). Five studies met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated slightly lower relative risk for development of VTE among patients receiving VTE prophylaxis (relative risk, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-1.87). After open aortic reconstruction, the risk of VTE is 13% to 18% and is not reduced by VTE prophylaxis. For EVAR patients, the risk of VTE without prophylaxis is 6%. For patients undergoing peripheral bypass surgery and not receiving therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation, the risk of VTE is Conclusions Overall, there is a paucity of literature that addresses the effectiveness of VTE prophylaxis specifically in the population of vascular surgery patients. Our meta-analysis of the literature does not demonstrate a statistically significant benefit of VTE prophylaxis among the vascular surgery patients evaluated; however, it does suggest a low incidence of VTE among patients who receive VTE prophylaxis. Clinicians should identify the patients at high risk for development of postoperative VTE as the risk-benefit ratio may favor VTE prophylaxis in a selected group of patients. Clinicians should use their judgment and established VTE risk prediction models to assess VTE risk for patients. Vascular surgeons should consider reporting VTE incidence as a secondary outcome in publications.
The effect of perceived control and stress on college students' willingness and intention to binge drink

iv INTRODUCTION 1 Binge Drinking on U.S. College Campuses 1 Perceived Control 2 Locus of Control as a Proxy for Perceived Control 3 Perceived Control and Alcohol Use 3 Control and Stress 5 Stress and Alcohol Use 6 The Effect of Perceived Control on Alcohol Use: Mediated or Direct? 8 Perceived Control and Alcohol Use: A Physiological Hypothesis 9 Stress as a Moderator of the Perceived Control – Alcohol Use Relation 11 Prototype / Willingness (Prototype) Model 13 Perceived Control and Processing Style 15 STUDY OVERVIEW AND HYPOTHESES 18 METHOD 22 Participants 22 Pre-test Measures 22 Experimental Measures 26 Design 27 Procedure 30 RESULTS 33 Descriptive Statistics 33 Correlations 35 Manipulation Checks 36 Randomization Checks 39 Hypothesis Tests 39 Internal Analysis 41 Moderation Analyses 44 DISCUSSION 49 Perceived Control x Stress Interaction 49 Moderation by Locus of Control 53 Moderation by Propensity to Cope using Alcohol 54 Limitations 55 Future Directions 57 Conclusions 60
Silencing the intestinal GUCY2C tumor suppressor axis requires APC loss of heterozygosity.

Most sporadic colorectal cancer reflects acquired mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene, while germline heterozygosity for mutant APC produces the autosomal dominant disorder Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) with a predisposition to colorectal cancer. In these syndromes, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) silences the remaining normal allele of APC, through an unknown mechanism, as the initiating step in transformation. Guanylyl cyclase C receptor (GUCY2C) and its hormones, uroguanylin and guanylin, have emerged as a key signaling axis opposing mutations driving intestinal tumorigenesis. Indeed, uroguanylin and guanylin are among the most commonly repressed genes in colorectal cancer. Here, we explored the role of APC heterozygosity in mechanisms repressing hormone expression which could contribute to LOH. In genetic mouse models of APC loss, uroguanylin and guanylin expression were quantified following monoallelic or biallelic deletion of the Apc gene. Induced biallelic loss of APC repressed uroguanylin and guanylin expression. However, monoallelic APC loss in Apcmin/+ mice did not alter hormone expression. Similarly, in FAP patients, normal colonic mucosa (monoallelic APC loss) expressed guanylin while adenomas and an invasive carcinoma (biallelic APC loss) were devoid of hormone expression. Thus, uroguanylin and guanylin expression by normal intestinal epithelial cells persists in the context of APC heterozygosity and is lost only after tumor initiation by APC LOH. These observations reveal a role for loss of the hormones silencing the GUCY2C axis in tumor progression following biallelic APC loss, but not in mechanisms creating the genetic vulnerability in epithelial cells underlying APC LOH initiating tumorigenesis.
Vision Impairment and Blindness Prevalence in the United States: Variability of Vision Health Responses across Multiple National Surveys.

Purpose To support survey validation efforts by comparing prevalence rates of self-reported and examination evaluated presenting visual impairment (VI) and blindness measured across national surveys. Design Cross-sectional comparison. Participants Participants in the 2016 American Community Survey, the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the 2016 National Health Interview Survey, the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health. Methods We estimated VI and blindness prevalence rates and confidence intervals for each survey measure and age group using the Clopper-Pearson method. We used inverse variance weighting to estimate the central tendency across measures by age-group, fitted trend lines to age-group estimates, and used the trend-line equations to estimate the number of United States persons with VI and blindness in 2016. We compared self-report estimates with those from NHANES physical evaluations of presenting VI and blindness. Main Outcome Measures Variability of prevalence estimates of VI and blindness. Results Self-report estimates of blindness varied between 0.1% and 5.6% for those younger than 65 years and from 0.6% to 16.6% for those 65 or older. Estimates of VI varied between 1.6% and 24.8% for those younger than 65 years and between 2.2% and 26.6% for those 65 years or older. For summarized survey results and NHANES physical evaluation, prevalence rates for VI increased significantly with increasing age group. Blindness prevalence increased significantly with increasing age group for summarized survey responses but not for NHANES physical examination. Based on extrapolations of NHANES physical examination data to all ages, we estimated that in 2016, 23.4 million persons in the United States (7.2%) had VI or blindness, an evaluated presenting visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye before correction. Based on weighted self-reported surveys, we estimated that 24.8 million persons (7.7%) had presenting VI or blindness. Conclusions Prevalence rates of VI and blindness obtained from national survey measures varied widely across surveys and age groups. Additional research is needed to validate the ability of survey self-report measures of VI and blindness to replicate results obtained through examination by an eye health professional.