cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PIWI-interacting RNA 021285 is involved in breast tumorigenesis possibly by remodeling the cancer epigenome

Although PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) account for the largest class of the small non-coding RNA superfamily, virtually nothing is known of their function in human carcinogenesis. Once thought to be expressed solely in the germ line where they safeguard the genome against transposon-induced insertional mutations, piRNAs are now believed to play an active role in somatic gene regulation through sequence-specific histone modification and DNA methylation. In the current study, we investigate the role of piRNA-021285 (piR-021285) in the regulation of the breast cancer methylome. Genotypic screening of a panel of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-containing piRNAs revealed a significant association between SNP rs1326306 G>T in piR-021285 and increased likelihood for breast cancer in a Connecticut-based population (441 cases and 479 controls). Given nascent but compelling evidence of piRNA-mediated gene-specific methylation in the soma, a genome-wide methylation screen was then carried out using wild type (WT) and variant piR-021285 mimic-transfected MCF7 cells to explore whether the observed association could be attributed in part to piR-021285-induced methylation at cancer-relevant genes. We found significant methylation differences at a number of experimentally implicated breast cancer-related genes, including attenuated 5' untranslated region (UTR)/first exon methylation at the proinvasive ARHGAP11A gene in variant mimic-transfected cells. Follow-up functional analyses revealed both concurrent increased ARHGAP11A mRNA expression and enhanced invasiveness in variant versus WT piR-021285 mimic-transfected breast cancer cell lines. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the first evidence supporting a role of piRNAs, a novel group of non-coding RNA, in human tumorigenesis via a piRNA-mediated epigenetic mechanism, which warrants further confirmation and investigation.
Fast acquisition aperture correction in prestack depth migration using beamlet decomposition

Wave-equation-based acquisition aperture correction in the local angle domain can improve image amplitude significantly in prestack depth migration. However, its original implementation is inefficient because the wavefield decomposition uses the local slant stack (LSS), which is demanding computationally. We propose a faster method to obtain the image and amplitude correction factor in the local angle domain using beamlet decomposition in the local wavenumber domain. For a given frequency, the image matrix in the local wavenumber domain for all shots can be calculated efficiently. We then transform the shot-summed image matrix from the local wavenumber domain to the local angle domain (LAD). The LAD amplitude correction factor can be obtained with a similar strategy. Having a calculated image and correction factor, one can apply similar acquisition aperture corrections to the original LSS-based method. For the new implementation, we compare the accuracy and efficiency of two beamlet decompositions: Gabor-Daubechies frame (GDF) and local exponential frame (LEF). With both decompositions, our method produces results similar to the original LSS-based method. However, our method can be more than twice as fast as LSS and cost only twice the computation time of traditional one-way wave-equation-based migrations. The results from GDF decomposition are superior to those from LEF decomposition in terms of artifacts, although GDF requires a little more computing time.
Speech recognition based on fundamental functional principles of the brain

This paper describes application of biologically realistic dynamic synapse neural networks on speech recognition task. The goal is to develop a noise-robust and feasible speech recognition system, based on fundamental functional principles of the brain. This task is accomplished in three steps: first speech signal is decomposed into different frequency bands. Second, short term energy of signals is encoded into the train of spikes and finally, the classification of temporal patterns is done using dynamic synapse neural networks (DSNN). The nonlinear neurotransmitter release function of DSNN is replaced by FD model. The simulation results showed that the performance degradation of DSNN in the presence of Gaussian white noise is less than Mel frequency cepstral coefficients
TIME REVERSAL SYMMETRY

Time reversal independent of the CP symmetry is reviewed. Experimental tests of time reversal symmetry are given. Basic theories of time reversal invariance are provided.
High precision spatial and temporal control of neural circuitry using a semi-automated multi-wavelength nanopatterning system

It has been one of the most discussed and intriguing topics -the quest to control neural circuitry as a precursor to decoding the operations of the human brain and manipulating its diseased state. Electrophysiology has created a gateway to control this circuitry with high precision. However, it is not practical to apply these techniques to living systems because these techniques are invasive and lack the spatial resolution necessary to properly address various neural cell components, cell assemblies or even tissues. Here we describe a new instrument that has the potential to replace the conventional patch clamping technique, the workhorse of neural physiology. A Digital Light Processing system from Texas Instruments and an Olympus IX71 inverted microscope were combined to achieve neuronal control at a subcellular spatial resolution. Accompanying these two technologies can be almost any light source, and for these experiments a pair of pulsed light sources that produced two pulse trains at different wavelengths tuned to activate or inactivate selectively the ChR2 and NpHR channels that were cloned to express light sensitive versions in neurons. Fura- 2 ratiometric fluorescent dye would be used to read-out calcium activity. The Pulsed light sources and a filter wheel are under computer control using a National Instruments digital control board and a CCD camera used to acquire real time cellular responses to the spatially controlled pulsed light channel activation would be controlled and synchronized using NI LabVIEW software. This will provide for a millisecond precision temporal control of neural circuitry. Thus this technology could provide researchers with an optical tool to control the neural circuitry both spatially and temporally with high precision.
The national cost-efficiency of supported employees with intellectual disabilities: The worker’s perspective

This study explored the outcomes achieved by 104,213 individuals with intellectual disabilities who were served by state vocational rehabilitation agencies and wished to be enrolled in supported employment. Result found that 62.08% of participants became employed within their community via supported employment and that these individuals, on average, received greater monetary benefits from working (i.e., wages earned) than monetary costs (i.e., taxes paid, forgone wages, reduction in governmental subsidies). Further, this result was found regardless of the number of disabling conditions present and the state in which they received services. However, employment outcomes (i.e., rates of employment, wages earned, hours worked, and cost efficiency) varied significantly between states.
Phosphatase PPM1A negatively regulates P-TEFb function in resting CD4+ T cells and inhibits HIV-1 gene expression

Processive elongation of the integrated HIV-1 provirus is dependent on recruitment of P-TEFb by the viral Tat protein to the viral TAR RNA element. P-TEFb kinase activity requires phosphorylation of Thr186 in the T-loop of the CDK9 subunit. In resting CD4+T cells, low levels of T-loop phosphorylated CDK9 are found, which increase significantly upon activation. This suggests that the phosphorylation status of the T-loop is actively regulated through the concerted actions of cellular proteins such as Ser/Thr phosphatases. We investigated the role of phosphatase PPM1A in regulating CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation and its effect on HIV-1 proviral transcription. We found that overexpression of PPM1A inhibits HIV-1 gene expression during viral infection and this required PPM1A catalytic function. Using an artificial CDK tethering system, we further found that PPM1A inhibits CDK9, but not CDK8 mediated activation of the HIV-1 LTR. SiRNA depletion of PPM1A in resting CD4+T cells increased the level of CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation and enhanced HIV-1 gene expression. We also observed that PPM1A protein levels are relatively high in resting CD4+T cells and are not up-regulated upon T cell activation. Our results establish a functional link between HIV-1 replication and modulation of CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation by PPM1A. PPM1A represses HIV-1 gene expression by inhibiting CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation, thus reducing the amount of active P-TEFb available for recruitment to the viral LTR. We also infer that PPM1A enzymatic activity in resting and activated CD4+ T cells are likely regulated by as yet undefined factors.
Quantitative analysis using Raman spectroscopy without spectral standardization

Compared with other spectroscopic techniques, Raman spectroscopy has not generally been applied to problems of quantitative analysis, primarily because it is assumed that spectral irreproducibility due to source, sample or optical parameters requires standardization of the Raman signal. However, a custom-built Raman spectrometer with a 785 nm excitation source has yielded a spectral peak height reproducibility of 0.5% relative standard deviation. Quantitative studies of glucose in water, ethanol in water and p-xylene in m-xylene, described here, illustrate the linearity and precision of the Raman system. In order to estimate the linear dynamic range of the instrument, detection limits were determined for benzene in water and in CCl4, demonstrating a range from sub-ppm to 100% concentration. Specific factors affecting spectral reproducibility, and therefore quantitative results, are discussed. The quality of the results presented indicates that Raman spectroscopy should be a more common quantitative spectroscopic technique. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Classification Theorems

Historically, the concept of symmetry evolved slowly from a vague idea to a precise notion as scientists and mathematicians sought to study the symmetry of their world using ever more precise language and methods. The classification theorems in this chapter represent some of the pinnacles of this historic journey. These theorems provide complete classifications of the possible ways in which each kind of planar object we have studied (bounded objects, border patterns, and wallpaper patterns) can be symmetric!
Evidence-based Update of Pediatric Dental Restorative Procedures: Dental Materials

Background: The science of dental materials and restorative care in children and adolescent is constantly evolving, and the ongoing search for ideal restorative materials has led to plethora of research. Aim: To provide an evidence base to assist dental practitioners choose appropriate restorative care for children and adolescents. Study design: This evidence-based review appraises this literature, primarily between the years 1995–2013, for efficacy of dental amalgam, composites, glass ionomer cements, compomers, preformed metal crowns and anterior esthetic restorations. The assessment of evidence for each dental material was based on a strong evidence, evidence in favor, expert opinion, and evidence against by consensus of the authors. Results: There is varying level of evidence for the use of restorative materials like amalgam, composites, glass ionomers, resin-modified glass-ionomers, compomers, stainless steel crowns and anterior crowns for both primary and permanent teeth. Conclusions: A substantial ...
Considering today’s teenager: A contemporary perspective on adolescence

Michael J. Nakkula and Eric Toshalis, 2006 Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press US$29.95 (pbk), 286 pp. ISBN 1‐8917‐9231‐8 Youth educators face an increasingly complex and diverse classroom. Unde...
Asphalt Jungle Providing Parking-area Security through Desigh and Common Sense

Given the litigious environment in the United States and the uncertainty of jurors' reasoning, hospitality-industry property owners and operators can't overlook their parking areas when devising risk-management plans. Fortunately, the solutions can be fairly simple.
Imperceptible and Ultraflexible p-Type Transistors and Macroelectronics Based on Carbon Nanotubes

Flexible thin-film transistors based on semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes are promising for flexible digital circuits, artificial skins, radio frequency devices, active-matrix-based displays, and sensors due to the outstanding electrical properties and intrinsic mechanical strength of carbon nanotubes. Nevertheless, previous research effort only led to nanotube thin-film transistors with the smallest bending radius down to 1 mm. In this paper, we have realized the full potential of carbon nanotubes by making ultraflexible and imperceptible p-type transistors and circuits with a bending radius down to 40 μm. In addition, the resulted transistors show mobility up to 12.04 cm2 V–1 S–1, high on–off ratio (∼106), ultralight weight (<3 g/m2), and good mechanical robustness (accommodating severe crumpling and 67% compressive strain). Furthermore, the nanotube circuits can operate properly with 33% compressive strain. On the basis of the aforementioned features, our ultraflexible p-type nanotube transis...
Human Circulating T Follicular Helper Cell Subsets in Health and Disease

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are specialized to provide help to B cells and to induce durable antibody response. Our knowledge on the biology of Tfh cells and their contribution to disease has significantly increased in the past decade. In particular, recent discoveries of functionally distinct subsets within circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells in human blood have provided clues to assess the ongoing Tfh responses in healthy subjects after vaccinations and in patients with autoimmune diseases. The immune pathways associated with Tfh cell differentiation in humans are also getting revealed. In this review, I will first summarize the subsets within human cTfh cells, and discuss their alterations in patients with autoimmune diseases. Then I will discuss the mechanisms associated with the aberrant Tfh responses in human autoimmune diseases.
Studies on the pathogenesis of experimental immune thyroiditis.

Summary1. Among each of 2 groups of guinea pigs immunized with 50 μg and 500 μg of picrylated thyroglobulin in Freund's adjuvant respectively, 57.2% (63 of 110 animals) developed thyroiditis 17 days following the initial dose of antigen. Delayed skin reactivity to intradermal thyroglobulin was observed in 72.7% of the animals. There was no significant difference in incidence of thyroiditis and delayed skin reactivity in the 2 groups of animals. However, circulating antithyroglobulin antibody as determined by passive hemagglutination, was found in 4.6% (2 of 43 animals) in the low antigen group and 30% (18 of 60 animals) in the high antigen group.
The sensitivity of modeled SO2 fluxes and profiles to stomatal and boundary layer resistances

A higher-order closure model for canopy/surface exchange is presented and applied to an oak-hickory forest to model SO2 deposition for typical summertime conditions. The model is then used as a tool to investigate the sensitivity of modeled fluxes (the deposition velocity) and concentration profiles to the parameters used to compute the leaf boundary layer and stomatal resistances. Both the deposition velocity and concentration profiles show little sensitivity to variations in the leaf boundary-layer resistance (r b) since it generally comprises only a small fraction of the total resistance to diffusion from the air to the sub-stomatal cavity. The deposition velocity (V d ) is more sensitive to variations in the minimum stomatal resistance (r s ,min) and light response coefficient (β) than r b .It was found that 50% variations in β give a maximum difference of 0.2 cm s−1 in V d while 30% variations in r s , min produce a maximum difference of near 0.3 cm s−1.
The Relationships of the Australo—Papuan Scrub-Robins Drymodes as Indicated by DNA—DNA Hybridization

The taxonomic relationships of Drymodes were examined by comparing the single-copy DNA sequences of radio-iodine-labelled D. brunneopygia DNA with the DNAs of thirty-seven other genera of oscine passerines (Passeres). Of the taxa examined, the scrub-robins were found to be most closely related to Eopsaltria and Poecilodryas, and to be distant from the true thrushes (e.g. Turdus, Erithacus). Drymodes is a member of a varied assemblage of mostly endemic Australasian taxa that includes the Australian robins, flycatchers, monarchs, fantails, whistlers, shrike-thrushes, pitohuis, shrike-tits, the Crested Bellbird, and the quail-thrushes. The wedgebas, woodswallows, and other groups also may be part of this cluster. The honeyeaters, malurine wrens, and Australian magpies, apparently belong to other groups not yet defined in terms of DNA comparisons. The accentors (Prunella), sylviine warblers (Sylvia), white-eyes (Zosterops), muscicapine flycatchers, wagtails (Motacilla), mimic thrushes (Dumetella), starlings, typical wrens (Troglodytes), emberizine sparrows (Zonotrichia) and dippers (Cinclus) are as distant from Drymodes as are any taxa of oscines the DNAs of which have been compared.
Effect of oral thyroxine and tri-iodo-thyronine on radioactive iodine uptake and serum protein bound iodine in normal human subjects.

SummarySodium-levo-thyroxine in dosage of 0.075 mg, orally, usually reduced radioactive iodine uptake by the thyroid of normal human subjects; this was associated with a rise of protein bound iodine when a dosage of 0.2 mg or more was given. Tri-iodo-thyronine in dosage as low as 0.008 mg orally also reduces the uptake. This is associated with a decrease in serum protein bound iodine.
Retrospect and Prospect of China Industrial Economy Development Review of Academic Viewpoints at the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of China Industrial Economy Institute

In this paper,the main academic viewpoints of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China Industrial Economy Institute and"retrospect and prospect of China Industrial Economy Development": seminar are reviewed,involving the new stage features,problems of China's economic development and the national macro-control policy orientation;the theoretical contributions and task of indnstry's reform and opening-up and theoretical development on socialism with Chinese characteristics;advancing-front content such as the industrial structure,industry organization,industry system and industrial policy,reform of monopoly industries and industry regulation,as well as the competitiveness of Chinese industries in the global context,etc.,which reflects the status quo and situation of the development of industrial economy since China's reform and opening up 30 years ago.
From Theology to Theologies

The purpose of this article is to restate, with added emphasis, what has been accomplished in the past in order to better understand the positive elements in African traditional religions and to challenge traditional Christian theology. This work is a restatement of the continued need to deepen the avenues of dialogue with African traditional religious teachings and values, paving way for a more formal recognition of African theology from within traditional Christian circles in the West. This article raises a greater awareness of and draws attention to Christian theology, in order to explore more creative ways to engage in dialogue with African traditional religions. This work is undertaken with the hope of creating a greater awareness towards a more formal recognition, study and understanding of African theology in relation to Catholic theology. This article argues that an evolving African theology can mutually enrich Catholic theology and practice, using specific examples of similarities, while, at the ...
Interference-Aware Scheduling and Routing in Unstructured Wireless Networks

A distributed admission-control paradigm for scheduling and routing in unstructured wireless networks which exploits each node's estimates of channel gains and interference levels, and hence of signal-to-interference-plus noise ratios (SINRs), is presented. In contrast with the collision- avoidance approach, the present algorithms allow multiple concurrent transmissions and make transmission power assignments to admitted sessions based on maximizing the least of the resulting sustainable additional interference levels in order to maximze the possible number of future admissions and hence network throughput subject to an energy constraint. A nontrivual generalization to the case of multiple (elastic) traffic classes (where session priorities play an important role in admission decisions and power assignments) is developed. A routing mechanism that chooses the hop-sequence with the best sample statistics of the hop-SINRs is proposed and used in conjunction with the above scheduling algorithm to provide throughputs that are several-fold those of conventional schemes.
Early recovery of T-cell function predicts improved survival after T-cell depleted allogeneic transplant

Infection, relapse, and GVHD can complicate allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Although the effect of poor immune recovery on infection risk is well-established, there ...
Alcohol drinking during adolescence increases consumptive responses to alcohol in adulthood in Wistar rats.

Binge drinking and the onset of alcohol-use disorders usually peak during the transition between late adolescence and early adulthood, and early adolescent onset of alcohol consumption has been demonstrated to increase the risk for alcohol dependence in adulthood. In the present study, we describe an animal model of early adolescent alcohol consumption where animals drink unsweetened and unflavored ethanol in high concentrations (20%). Using this model, we investigated the influence of drinking on alcohol-related appetitive behavior and alcohol consumption levels in early adulthood. Further, we also sought to investigate whether differences in alcohol-related drinking behaviors were specific to exposure in adolescence versus exposure in adulthood. Male Wistar rats were given a 2-bottle choice between 20% ethanol and water in one group and between two water bottles in another group during their adolescence (Postnatal Day [PD] 26-59) to model voluntary drinking in adolescent humans. As young adults (PD85), rats were trained in a paradigm that provided free access to 20% alcohol for 25 min after completing up to a fixed-ratio (FR) 16 lever press response. A set of young adult male Wistar rats was exposed to the same paradigm using the same time course, beginning at PD92. The results indicate that adolescent exposure to alcohol increased consumption of alcohol in adulthood. Furthermore, when investigating differences between adolescent high and low drinkers in adulthood, high consumers continued to drink more alcohol, had fewer FR failures, and faster completion of FR schedules in adulthood, whereas the low consumers were no different from controls. Rats exposed to ethanol in young adulthood also increased future intake, but there were no differences in any other components of drinking behavior. Both adolescent- and adult-exposed rats did not exhibit an increase in lever pressing during the appetitive challenge session. These data indicate that adolescent and early adult alcohol exposure can increase consumptive aspects of drinking but that adolescent exposure may preferentially influence the motivation to drink.
Substance abuse treatment engagement among mothers: Perceptions of the parenting role and agency-related motivators and inhibitors

This qualitative study explored 1) the parenting role as a motivator and inhibitor to engaging in substance abuse treatment and 2) parenting-related, agency-imposed barriers and facilitators to substance abuse treatment engagement. Nine focus groups (n=45) were conducted with current and former male and female recipients of treatment services in one south eastern state. Using inductive thematic analysis, transcripts were analyzed to identify key themes related to parenting. Females were overrepresented in our groups and were more vocal than males regarding issues of parenting as these related to treatment. Among mothers, motivations for treatment related to parenting included involvement with child protective services and the desire to be a better parent. Inhibitors for treatment included anxiety over separation from child, debilitating guilt, and parenting demands. Facilitators for participation included mother-child residential programs, services for children, concrete support, and advocacy and emotional support. Barriers for participation included decreased access to the child and barriers specific to mother-child residential programs. To enhance treatment engagement among parents, providers can address agency-level barriers and draw upon the parenting role as intrinsic motivation for change. Policies and services are needed that promote flexibility, choice, and support parents to engage in treatment services.
Consumer behavioral adaption in EV fast charging through pricing

Abstract Despite recent developments surrounding fast electric vehicle charging and an ever growing interest in research, little is known about how people actually use direct current fast chargers (DCFC) or how different pricing may affect their recharging behavior. Understanding consumer behavior in DCFC usage is critical to successful deployment of DCFC and economical pricing of the service usage. This paper analyzes real-world field data to examine DCFC usage in the United States. In particular, it examines changes in recharging behavior between periods when the charging service was free and when it was not. Results from this study show evidence that a flat-rate fee has a negative effect on the usage efficiency of DCFC stations.
The Role of the DMAIC Leadership Process in Organizational Learning: Evidence from Frontline Projects

How does the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) process improvement methodology affect organizational learning? The emerging literature on Six Sigma and organizational learning is sparse regarding the specific impact of DMAIC. We bridge this gap with an embedded, longitudinal multiple-case study that examines the leadership process of four frontline iBPI (incremental Business Process Improvement) projects. The 4I model (intuiting, interpreting, integrating, and institutionalizing) of organizational learning serves as a lens to study how insights from frontline employees unfold through group-level integration and organizational-level institutionalization. We map the flow of key project events to relevant social and psychological processes with the 4I model and identify how organizational learning unfolds within the model’s three levels. Empirical results show that DMAIC facilitates individual- and group- but not organizational-level learning. Practitioners and engaged scholars will find these results helpful for iBPI program design, evaluation, and learning interventions.
Evaluation and Management of Penicillin Allergy

Penicillin allergy is the most commonly reported drug allergy in the United States. Although penicillin allergy is widely reported, 80% to 90% of individuals with self-reported penicillin allergy are actually able to tolerate penicillins after undergoing evaluation for penicillin allergy. Because most patients with self-reported penicillin allergy will have subsequent negative allergy testing results and tolerate penicillins, they may be unnecessarily exposed to broader-spectrum antibiotics. Use of such antibiotics leads to increased risks of developing antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and incur higher health care utilization costs. In this article, we provide an overview of penicillin allergy and its clinical manifestations as well as an approach for the evaluation and management of penicillin allergy.
Risk Factors and Predictive Model Development of Thirty-Day Post-Operative Surgical Site Infection in the Veterans Administration Surgical Population

Abstract Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) complicates approximately 2% of surgeries in the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Surgical site infections are responsible for increased morbidity, length of hospital stay, cost, and mortality. Surgical site infection can be minimized by modifying risk factors. In this study, we identified risk factors and developed accurate predictive surgical specialty-specific SSI risk prediction models for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) surgery population. Methods: In a retrospective observation study, surgical patients who underwent surgery from October 2013 to September 2016 from 136 VA hospitals were included. The Veteran Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) database was used for the pre-operative demographic and clinical characteristics, intra-operative characteristics, and 30-day post-operative outcomes. The study population represents 11 surgical specialties: neurosurgery, urology, podiatry, otolaryngology, general, orthopedic, plastic...
Academic vocabulary in ESL student papers: A corpus-based study

Abstract Knowledge of core academic vocabulary plays a major role in many gate keeping tests for higher education and is critical to successful academic performance. While researchers have described the linguistic characteristics of academic language use from a variety of perspectives, including the use of academic vocabulary, many of the investigations focus on the texts that students are exposed to or discuss how to teach those words. Yet, relatively few studies explore how students actually use these words in their scholarly papers. The goal of the present study is to investigate academic vocabulary use by non-native English speaker writers situated in a higher educational classroom setting. First, we explore relationships between the amount of academic vocabulary employed and the perceived quality of student writing. Second, we examine differences in the use of academic words across assignments, drafts, and levels of instruction. Results showed significant relationships between academic vocabulary use and essay scores in some text-types, and differences in the way academic vocabulary is used across text-types and levels of instruction, independent of the drafts. A closer analysis showed that rhetorical purposes have a strong impact on the amount of academic vocabulary used. Also, no difference between drafts calls for pedagogical considerations.
Growing the Pie? The Effect of Responsibility Center Management on Tuition Revenue

Responsibility center management (RCM) budgeting systems devolve budget responsibility while creating funding formulas that provide incentives for academic units to generate revenues and decrease c...
Maximizing Utilization in Pancreas Transplantation: Phenotypic Characteristics Differentiating Aggressive From Nonaggressive Transplant Centers.

BACKGROUND Maximizing pancreas utilization requires a balance between judicious donor selection and transplant center aggressiveness. We sought to determine how such aggressiveness affects transplant outcomes. METHODS Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we studied 28 487 deceased-donor adult pancreas transplants. Donor and recipient demographic factors indicative of aggressiveness were used to score center aggressiveness. We compared outcomes of low (> 1 SD below mean), medium (± 1 SD from mean), and high (> 1 SD above mean) aggressiveness centers using bivariate and multivariable regressions. RESULTS Donor and recipient aggressiveness demonstrated a roughly linear relationship (R = 0.20). Center volume correlated moderately with donor (rs = 0.433) and recipient (rs = 0.270) aggressiveness. In bivariate analysis, there was little impact of donor selection aggressiveness on graft survival. Further, for simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplants, centers with greater recipient aggressiveness selection had better graft survival. High-volume centers had better graft survival than low-volume centers. In multivariable analysis, donor aggressiveness did not have an effect on graft survival, whereas graft survival for medium (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.53-0.83) and high (HR, 0.67; CI, 0.51-0.86) recipient aggressiveness performed better than low-aggressiveness centers. There was a clear volume effect, with high-volume centers (>20 transplants/year; HR, 0.69; CI, 0.61-0.79) performing better than low-volume centers. CONCLUSIONS Center practice patterns using higher-risk donors and recipients did not negatively affect outcomes. This effect is likely mediated through efficiencies gained with the increased transplant volumes at these centers.
Measuring Research Variables

“In its broadest sense, measurement is the assignment of numerals to objects or events according to rules (Stevens).” This definition of measurement accurately expresses the basic nature of measurement. A numeral is a symbol of the form: 1,2.3, ..., or I, II, III .... etc. There are four general levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio that we have already discussed in Chapter 6.
Grading Practices: Teachers' Considerations of Academic and Non-Academic Factors.

GRADING PRACTICES: TEACHERS’ CONSIDERATIONS OF ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC FACTORS By Diana Marie Yesbeck, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Director: James McMillan, Ph.D. Professor, Foundations of Education School of Education In the current era of student accountability, coupled with high-stakes testing, schools have focused on the alignment of standardized curriculums and assessments. However, developing standardized grading practices are still under examination. Grading serves as an important responsibility, yet many teachers still find the process a challenge of determining which academic and non-academic factors correctly represent student achievement. This qualitative study was designed to examine the grading factors teachers consider when determining student final grades. Middle school language arts teachers from one mid-sized suburban school district in Virginia participated in qualitative interviews. The interviews addressed the following topics: (1) the purposes of grades, (2) the grading factors teachers consider when they grade, (3) the teachers’ influences in
Face Challenging Perception and Media Feature Preference for The Task of Delivering Bad News: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Delivering bad news is a frequently occurring, unpleasant and challenging communication task. Literature on bad news communication attributes the challenge of delivering bad news to individuals’ concern about hurting other’s face, a concept originated and dominant in China but applicable to other cultures. As the interactions at the workplace become increasingly computermediated, communication media may be leveraged to deliver bad news. The existing literature offered some insights on technology (including communication media) preference as well as cultural differences in it. However, existing research focused on the technology aspect. This study examines cultural differences in technology preference due to the task aspect. Specifically, focusing on the task of delivering bad news, this study distinguishes between the two mechanisms via which cultural differences may emerge, i.e., task perception (i.e., face challenging perception) and task response (in terms of media feature preference). Data is collected using surveys from clients of a multinational public relations company. Results show that there is no cultural difference (China versus non-China) in face challenging perception, that individuals’ face challenging perception increases their preference for high rehearsability and for less natural symbol sets, and that, holding face challenging perception constant, there is marginally supported cultural difference in the preferences for rehearsability but no difference in the preference for symbol sets. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Curating Dialogue: The Bridge Project's Radical Movements

A renowned gender theorist and a female drag performer move language and gestures as they trade stories and share bodywork. A gender-ambiguous performer and a trans and queer scholar volley moments...
Pigments in American tattoo inks and their propensity to elicit allergic contact dermatitis.

Background Tattoos have become increasingly common in the United States. Historically, tattoo inks were comprised of metallic pigments, which have the potential to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Data have been lacking on the current use of these pigments in tattoo ink. Objective Identify pigments currently used in tattoo inks manufactured in or sold by wholesalers in the United States and investigate cases of allergic contact dermatitis caused by these pigments. Methods Using specific key words, we performed an internet search. Pigment information listed in tattoo product inserts was collated and evaluated. Results In total, 1416 unique inks were surveyed. The average bottle of ink contained 3.0 pigments. We identified 44 distinct pigments, of which 10 contained metallic pigments, including iron, barium, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and titanium. The remaining 34 pigments contained carbon, azo, diketopyrrolopyrrole, quinacridone, anthraquinone, dioxazine, or quinophthalone dyes. A literature search revealed that 11 of the 44 (25%) pigments had been suspected to cause contact dermatitis. Five were confirmed by patch testing. Conclusion These findings highlight the diversity of pigments currently used in tattoos. Relatively few inks contained metallic pigments to which allergic contact dermatitis has historically been attributed. Patch-test clinicians should be aware of these new pigments.
Housel and hyhtplega : The Play of the Eucharist in the Exeter Book

This article examines the productive difficulties with which the Exeter Book riddles generate a state of mind appropriate for theological meditation, by considering the reversed violence of Eucharistic remembering and the ludic pleasures of the enigmatic text. I examine closely Riddle 85, which has been unanimously solved as ‘fish and river’ on account of its clear debt to the twelfth Aenigma of Symphosius, and, having acknowledged the attractiveness and the limitations of the one other commonly suggested solution, ‘soul and body’, propose a new solution, ‘the housel inside the body’. This proposed solution shares with ‘soul and body’ the meditation upon the material encountering the immaterial, but it better accounts for the seeming interchangeability of the two parts of this riddle’s solution, by considering the mutual inhering of Christ and communicant in the Eucharist. I read Riddle 85 in the context of AElfric’s writing on the Eucharist, and also consider the hyhtplega, or joyful play, by which Christ leaps in Christ II, and by which the would-be riddle-solver must contemplate simultaneously a multiplicity of solutions.
Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents in Children

Several factors determine the dose of drugs in children, but size and age are the most important. Size is most commonly dealt with by weight-based dosing, although surface area is used for some drugs. Young age causes pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences from adults. Pharmacokinetic changes are due to many factors, but the most important are differences in body composition and immature metabolic pathways. These changes are greatest in neonates, who require smaller doses based on weight than older children. Infants may require larger doses based on weight than all other age groups. Although the metabolism of most drugs is reduced at young ages, suxamethonium, remifentanil and atracurium are exceptions, because their metabolic enzymes are fully active at birth. Sevoflurane is by far the most commonly used volatile agent, and is the only agent available in most countries for inhalational induction. Propofol is an important anesthetic agent in children. It suppresses airway reflexes, reduces emergence delirium and reduces nausea and vomiting. However many drugs, including propofol, are not licensed for all ages and all purposes in children.
Extracellular dopamine kinetic parameters consistent with amphetamine effects.

Published behavioral experiments document that amphetamine-induced increases in locomotor activity are preserved or enhanced in animals with major depletions of stored dopamine but intact dopamine synthesis. Conversely, amphetamine effects are substantially attenuated after inhibition of dopamine synthesis when most of the dopamine stores are preserved. Such data suggest that amphetamine mobilizes newly synthesized dopamine into extracellular signaling space. The first goal of this project is to determine kinetic parameters of dopamine secretion into and removal from extracellular space compatible with the majority of amphetamine-elicited increases in extracellular dopamine deriving from newly synthesized dopamine. The strategy uses a computational model of extracellular space surrounding a single dopamine varicosity. Model output was compared to published micro-dialysis data for effects of amphetamine on levels of extracellular dopamine. A family of solutions was found, characterized by a biphasic dose-response relationship for rate of dopamine release. Maximum rates of dopamine release occurred at doses of 0.5-1.0 mg/kg amphetamine. The second goal is to develop a hypothesis by which newly synthesized dopamine gains access to extracellular space. The model chosen involves amphetamine-induced shunting of DOPAC secretion to dopamine secretion into extracellular space. The quality of the hypothesis was evaluated by goodness of match of model output to published data for amphetamine alone and after inhibition of dopamine synthesis or storage. In summary, the results provide conditions required for and a potential mechanism for newly synthesized dopamine to be a major fraction of amphetamine-elicited increases in extracellular dopamine.
Efficient Join Processing Over Incomplete Data Streams

For decades, the join operator over fast data streams has always drawn much attention from the database community, due to its wide spectrum of real-world applications, such as online clustering, intrusion detection, sensor data monitoring, and so on. Existing works usually assume that the underlying streams to be joined are complete (without any missing values). However, this assumption may not always hold, since objects from streams may contain some missing attributes, due to various reasons such as packet losses, network congestion/failure, and so on. In this paper, we formalize an important problem, namely join over incomplete data streams (Join-iDS), which retrieves joining object pairs from incomplete data streams with high confidences. We tackle the Join-iDS problem in the style of "data imputation and query processing at the same time". To enable this style, we design an effective and efficient cost-model-based imputation method via deferential dependency (DD), devise effective pruning strategies to reduce the Join-iDS search space, and propose efficient algorithms via our proposed cost-model-based data synopsis/indexes. Extensive experiments have been conducted to verify the efficiency and effectiveness of our proposed Join-iDS approach on both real and synthetic data sets.
Relationship of Overall Cardiovascular Health and Hearing Loss in The Jackson Heart Study Population

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the relationships among the overall cardiovascular health scoring tool, Life's Simple 7 (LS7), and hearing in an African-American cardiovascular study cohort. METHODS Using the Jackson Heart Study's cohort of African Americans, the relationships between the LS7 scoring metric and hearing of 1314 individuals were assessed. Standard audiometric data was collected and hearing loss was defined as a four-frequency average of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz greater than 25 dBHL (PTA4). Measures of reported tinnitus and dizziness were also collected. The LS7 scoring tool, which consists of seven individual categories (abstinence from smoking, body mass index, physical activity, healthy diet, total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, normotension, and absence of diabetes mellitus), was used as measure of overall cardiovascular health. Each category of the LS7 was broken down into poor, intermediate, and ideal subgroups as in accordance with the American Heart Association Strategic Planning Task Force and Statistics Committee. Unadjusted and adjusted gamma regression and logistic regression models were constructed for determining relationships between LS7 and hearing loss. RESULTS Higher total LS7 scores (per 1-unit increase) were associated with lower PTA4 in gamma regression analyses (RR = 0.942, 95% CI, 0.926-0.958, P < .001). This held true even after adjustments for age, sex, education, and history of noise exposure. Using logistic regression analyses to compare LS7 scores to presence of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo; only hearing loss showed a statically significant relationship after adjustments for age, sex, education, and history of noise exposure. CONCLUSIONS This study shows a significant, graded association between higher life's simple seven scores and lower incidence of hearing loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2b. Laryngoscope, 2019.
Trends in Gabapentin Prescribing in a Commercially Insured U.S. Adult Population, 2009-2016.

BACKGROUND: Gabapentin is prescribed for a variety of conditions and is often used off label. It is important to understand the prevalence of gabapentin prescribing and the characteristics of indiv...
Lessons for Better Pain Management in the Future: Learning from the Past

The treatment of noncancer pain in the United States and globally is met with significant challenges, resulting in profound physical, emotional, and societal costs. Based on this need, numerous modalities have been proposed to manage chronic pain, including opioid and nonopioid interventions as well as surgical approaches. Thus, the future of pain management continues to be mired in evolving concepts and constant debates. Consequently, it is crucial to understand the past as we move towards the future. The evolution of lessons for better pain management at present and for the future starting from the 1990s to the present date are reviewed and emphasized with a focus on learning from the past for the future. This review summarizes the evolution of multiple modalities of treatments, including multidisciplinary programs, multimodal therapy, interventional techniques, opioid therapy, other conservative modalities, and surgical interventions. This review emphasizes the individual, patient-centered development of an effective pain treatment plan after proper evaluation to establish a diagnosis. It includes measurable outcomes that focus on improvements in the quality of life and activities of daily living, as well as improvement in pain and function and, most importantly, return to productive citizenship. It is crucial that the knowledge of best practices be advanced, along with emphasis on lessons learned in the past to provide best practices for better pain management.