cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T lymphocyte engineering ex vivo for cancer and infectious disease.

Background: Basic research contributions towards the molecular and cellular understanding of immune mediated control of cancer and infectious diseases have created opportunities to develop new forms of T-cell-based vaccination for cancer and chronic infections like HIV. In the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cell therapy clinical trials around the world aimed at enhancing antitumor immunity, restoring immune function to infectious diseases and augmenting vaccine efficacy. Objective: To provide a review of new and emerging methods of T lymphocyte engineering, gene transfer to T cells and clinical trials. Methods: A review of recent clinical trials, along with a brief historical perspective, with a focus on challenges and recent advances in the field and requirements for successful T-cell therapies. Conclusion: Advances in the technological approaches and methods for ex vivo manipulation have led to T lymphocytes endowed with enhanced potency and unique functions, with ...
The Case for Mandatory Diversity Education

Diversity has been well researched in management literature. However, diversity research has had limited practical effects, in part because it has not been disseminated to the public, including man...
Acute parotitis: an unusual paediatric complication

Summary Patients undergoing procedures in the prone position can develop many pressure related complications. This report describes the post-operative course of a 10-year-old girl who developed acute parotitis following a prolonged procedure performed with her in the prone position. The management of this problem is briefly discussed.
Overview of Terrain Relative Navigation Approaches for Precise Lunar Landing

The driving precision landing requirement for the Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology project is to autonomously land within 100 m of a predetermined location on the lunar surface. Traditional lunar landing approaches based on inertial sensing do not have the navigational precision to meet this requirement. The purpose of Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) is to augment inertial navigation by providing position or bearing measurements relative to known surface landmarks. From these measurements, the navigational precision can be reduced to a level that meets the 100 m requirement. There are three different TRN functions: global position estimation, local position estimation and velocity estimation. These functions can be achieved with active range sensing or passive imaging. This paper gives a survey of many TRN approaches and then presents some high fidelity simulation results for contour matching and area correlation approaches to TRN using active sensors. Since TRN requires an a-priori reference map, the paper concludes by describing past and future lunar imaging and digital elevation map data sets available for this purpose.
The Role of Sleep Studies in Children Who Snore

Hypothesis Sleep studies (ie, polysomnography) should be used in children who snore and exhibit symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) to determine the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Legal Inequality’s Newest Face

Judges reveal how blatantly noncitizen offenders receive double punishments: one for their crime and one for their immigrant status.
Psychological Distress and Hypertension: Results from the National Health Interview Survey for 2004-2013.

Background/Aims: Psychological conditions are increasingly linked with cardiovascular disorders. We aimed to examine the association between psychological distress and hypertension. Methods: We used data from the National Health Interview Survey for 2004-2013. Hypertension was self-reported and the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess psychological distress (a score ≥13 indicated distress). We used a logistic regression model to test the assumption that hypertension was associated with psychological distress. Results: Among the study participants completing the survey (n = 288,784), 51% were female; the overall mean age (±SEM) was 35.3 ± 0.02 years and the mean body mass index was 27.5 ± 0.01. In the entire sample, the prevalence of psychological distress was 3.2%. The adjusted odds of reporting hypertension in psychologically distressed individuals was 1.53 (95% CI = 1.31-1.80, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The findings suggest that psychological distress is associated with higher odds of hypertension after adjusting for other risk factors for high blood pressure. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to elucidate the mechanisms by which stress increases hypertension risk.
Cognitive Deficits in Children with Multiple Sclerosis

The association between cognitive functioning and clinical features of 37 children (ages 8-17; mean 14.8 years) with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is reported from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY.
Resistance to Intracellular Infection

charged by cells without help from humoral factors, cells do serve, as functional entities, in the mediation and expression of an important mechanism of acquired resistance. They assume particular importance whenever the host is confronted by parasites that can survive and replicate in cells. This circumstance calls into play a mechanism of defense in which a specifically committed lymphocyte serves as the immunologic go-between that enables mononuclear phagocytes to perform their microbicidal function.
Arrhythmias in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cardiac arrhythmias are commonly associated with chronic obstructive lung disease and these arrhythmias can impair arterial blood oxygenation. The etiology of the arrhythmias is multifactorial. The treatment of the arrhythmias is largely the treatment of the deranged physiology and the underlying pulmonary disease. The association of arrhythmias with chronic obstructive lung disease portends a poor prognosis.
Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the US

Medical error is not included on death certificates or in rankings of cause of death. Martin Makary and Michael Daniel assess its contribution to mortality and call for better reporting
Analyzing the Tourism Competitiveness of Fuzhou National Forest Park

With the use of SWOT analysis,it analyzes the advantages,weak points of Fuzhou National Forest Park and the opportunities and perils faced by the park.It points out factors that will strengthen or weaken the competency of the park,and puts forward countermeasures and tactics to raise the tourism competitiveness of the park.
Creating Meaningful Opportunities for Release: Graham, Miller and California's Youth Offender Parole Hearings

This article presents findings from a study on the implementation of California’s new Youth Offender Parole Hearing law, which aims to provide juvenile offenders with meaningful opportunities to obtain release from adult prison. It contributes to the debate surrounding how to apply the “meaningful opportunity to obtain release” standard that the Supreme Court deliberately left open to interpretation in Graham v. Florida and, to some extent, in Miller v. Alabama. The Supreme Court’s recent opinion in Montgomery v. Louisiana reinforces the idea that juveniles who demonstrate that they are capable of change are entitled to release. The data contained in this Article was obtained by reviewing the transcripts of the first 107 Youth Offender Parole Hearings; this sample represents all but two of the Youth Offender Parole Hearings that took place between January 2014 and June 2014. In the first six months of the law’s implementation, juvenile offenders were found suitable for parole at younger ages than the general population. Further, youth offenders appeared to have a more realistic chance of being released under the new law. This reform is, at the very least, an important step towards offering juvenile offenders more meaningful opportunities to earn their release from prison. At the same time, it does not go far enough. After discussing some limitations of the law, this Article concludes by recommending guidelines that would provide youth offenders more meaningful opportunities for release in parole hearings.
A post hoc analysis of dalteparin versus oral anticoagulant (VKA) therapy for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism (rVTE) in patients with cancer and renal impairment

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common and serious complication in patients with cancer; treatment guidelines recommend extended therapy of ≥6 months with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for treatment and prevention of recurrent VTE (rVTE) in this population. This post hoc analysis used data from the CLOT study—a phase III, randomized, open-label, controlled study (N = 676)—to compare the efficacy and safety of dalteparin, a LMWH, versus vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for prevention of rVTE in patients with cancer and renal impairment (creatinine clearance <60 ml/min). Overall, 162/676 (24 %) patients had renal impairment at baseline. Patients received subcutaneous dalteparin 200 IU/kg once daily during month 1, followed by 150 IU/kg once daily for months 2–6; or VKA once daily for 6 months, with initial overlapping subcutaneous dalteparin 200 IU/kg once daily for ≥5 days until international normalized ratio was 2.0–3.0 for 2 consecutive days. Endpoints included the rates of rVTE (primary) and bleeding events. Overall, fewer dalteparin-treated patients (2/74 [2.7 %]) experienced ≥1 adjudicated symptomatic rVTE compared with VKA-treated patients (15/88 [17.0 %]; hazard ratio = 0.15 [95 % confidence interval 0.03–0.65]; p = 0.01). Bleeding event rates for both treatments were similar (p = 0.47). In summary, compared with VKA, dalteparin significantly reduced risk of rVTE in patients with cancer and renal impairment (p = 0.01) while exhibiting a comparable safety profile. This analysis supports dosing patients with renal impairment in accordance with patients with normal renal function; however, anti-Xa monitoring could be considered to further support safety in selected patients, particularly those with very severe renal impairment.
CHAPTER 21 – Granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor

This chapter deals with Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM–CSF), which is a 22-kDa glycoprotein encoded by a gene on the long arm of human chromosome 5 GM–CSF that stimulates the proliferation, differentiation, and function of multiple myeloid cells including neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, eosinophils and dendritic cells. These properties prove beneficial for a broad array of diseases. The cytokine ameliorates myelosuppression following cytotoxic chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation. GM–CSF may be useful as prophylaxis or adjunctive treatment for serious bacterial and fungal infections, especially in immunocompromized hosts. Its potent immunomodulatory activities might be further exploited in vaccine development against tumors and pathogens. The ability of GM–CSF to enhance endothelial cell and keratinocyte growth may be advantageous for wound healing, and mucositis. The deficiency of GM–CSF underlies the pathogenesis of some forms of human pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), rendering this previously idiopathic disease amenable to replacement therapy.
How to Give a Great PowerPoint Presentation

Good content alone is insufficient to ensure a well-received PowerPoint presentation. Effective lectures also require attention to timing and delivery, a consistent and well-organized structure, and appropriate slide design. Educators can greatly enhance the quality of their presentations with thorough consideration of each of these fundamental areas as they prepare their presentation.
The Role and Function of Fcγ Receptors on Myeloid Cells

A key determinant for the survival of organisms is their capacity to recognize and respond efficiently to foreign antigens. This is largely accomplished by the orchestrated activity of the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. Antibodies are specifically generated in response to foreign antigens, facilitating thereby the specific recognition of antigens of almost infinite diversity. Receptors specific for the Fc domain of antibodies, Fc receptors, are expressed on the surface of the various myeloid leukocyte populations and mediate the binding and recognition of antibodies by innate leukocytes. By directly linking the innate and the adaptive components of immunity, Fc receptors play a central role in host defense and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis through the induction of diverse proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory processes that are initiated upon engagement by the Fc domain. In this chapter, we discuss the mechanisms that regulate Fc domain binding to the various types of Fc receptors and provide an overview of the astonishing diversity of effector functions that are mediated through Fc-FcR interactions on myeloid cells. Lastly, we discuss the impact of FcR-mediated interactions in the context of IgG-mediated inflammation, autoimmunity, susceptibility to infection, and responsiveness to antibody-based therapeutics.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon Concentrations in Some Common Aquaculture Feeds

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon concentrations were measured from 203 samples of starter, fingerling, and grower aquaculture feeds from several countries and for several common species. The feed protein concentrations reported by manufacturers often were slightly greater than the measured crude protein concentrations. The correlation coefficients (R2) between feed nitrogen and carbon concentrations were less than 0.50, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in feed were not correlated. There were considerable differences in elemental concentrations among feeds, but the overall averages for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations, respectively, were as follows: starter feed 41.36, 7.78, and 1.57%; fingerling feed 39.75, 5.95, and 1.36%; grower feed 39.97, 5.36, and 1.22%. Concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in feeds are required in estimating the pollution potential of aquaculture facilities. The crude protein concentration – if provided by the manufacturer – can be used to estimate nitrogen concentration in feed, but carbon and phosphorus concentrations should be measured.
Diencephalic syndrome: a rare cause of failure to thrive

Timely diagnosis of diencephalic syndrome is not often the case for patients presenting with failure to thrive (FTT) because of its rarity and lack of specific symptoms. Herein, we report two cases of diencephalic syndrome (2-year-old girl and 10-month-old boy) presenting with severe emaciation. Both patients had histories of poor weight gain for months despite having good appetites prior to diagnosis. Initial work-up did not reveal the diagnosis. Horizontal nystagmus was noted in both patients: by a neurologist in the first patient and by a family member in the second patient. MRI of the brain showed large suprasellar mass and pilocytic astrocytoma was confirmed by pathology in each case. The patients were started on appropriate chemotherapy with interval improvements in weight gain. These cases illustrate the importance of cranial imaging and consideration of diencephalic syndrome for children presenting with FTT despite normal or increased caloric intake.
FastEtch: A Fast Sketch-Based Assembler for Genomes

De novo genome assembly describes the process of reconstructing an unknown genome from a large collection of short (or long) reads sequenced from the genome. A single run of a Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology can produce billions of short reads, making genome assembly computationally demanding (both in terms of memory and time). One of the major computational steps in modern day short read assemblers involves the construction and use of a string data structure called the de Bruijn graph. In fact, a majority of short read assemblers build the complete de Bruijn graph for the set of input reads, and subsequently traverse and prune low-quality edges, in order to generate genomic “contigs”—the output of assembly. These steps of graph construction and traversal, contribute to well over 90 percent of the runtime and memory. In this paper, we present a fast algorithm, FastEtch, that uses sketching to build an approximate version of the de Bruijn graph for the purpose of generating an assembly. The algorithm uses Count-Min sketch, which is a probabilistic data structure for streaming data sets. The result is an approximate de Bruijn graph that stores information pertaining only to a selected subset of nodes that are most likely to contribute to the contig generation step. In addition, edges are not stored; instead that fraction which contribute to our contig generation are detected on-the-fly. This approximate approach is intended to significantly improve performance (both execution time and memory footprint) whilst possibly compromising on the output assembly quality. We present two main versions of the assembler—one that generates an assembly, where each contig represents a contiguous genomic region from one strand of the DNA, and another that generates an assembly, where the contigs can straddle either of the two strands of the DNA. For further scalability, we have implemented a multi-threaded parallel code. Experimental results using our algorithm conducted on E. coli, Yeast, C. elegans, and Human (Chr2 and Chr2+3) genomes show that our method yields one of the best time-memory-quality trade-offs, when compared against many state-of-the-art genome assemblers.
Examining employment outcomes of offender and nonoffender vocational program graduates

Researchers have found providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders through job training programs to be effective at reducing recidivism. Examining various community-based programs for ex-offenders can be beneficial as they may be able to provide more stable and consistent programming without relying on the justice system. This study examined employment outcomes of graduates with and without criminal histories (n = 617) from a community-based vocational training program. Results showed that ex-offender graduates obtained employment at equal rates to nonoffender graduates and received equal pay to their nonoffender counterparts. This could indicate that for the vocationally educated ex-offender, employment outcomes may be able to equal those of other job-searching individuals with similar backgrounds but without a criminal history. Community-based programs for ex-offenders may be able to provide effective programming to improve vocational attainment within this group, thereby potentially easing the ...
Long-term influence of irrigation systems on postharvest fruit quality attributes in mature 'Autumn Rose Fuji' apple trees.

In a long-term study between 2008 and 2011, effects of various evapotranspiration-based (ETc) irrigation systems on yield and fruit quality attributes of fully matured ‘Autumn Rose Fuji’ apple tree...
An approach for composing predictive models from disparate knowledge sources in smart manufacturing environments

This paper describes an approach that can compose predictive models from disparate knowledge sources in smart manufacturing environments. The capability to compose disparate models of individual manufacturing components with disparate knowledge sources is necessary in manufacturing industry, because this capability enables us to understand, monitor, analyze, optimize, and control the performance of the system made up of those components. It is based on the assumption that the component models and component sources used in any particular composition can be represented using the same collection of system ‘viewpoints’. With this assumption, creating this integrated collection is much easier than it would be. This composition capability provides the foundation for the ability to predict the performance of the system from the performances of its components—called compositionality. Compositionality is the key to solve decision-making/optimization problems related to that system-level prediction. For those problems, compositionality can be achieved using a three-tiered, abstraction architecture. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated in an example in which a multi-criteria decision making method is used to determine the optimal process parameters in an additive manufacturing process.
Gender Differences in Cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies are a group of disorders constituting a wide variety of specific diseases, but the available evidence indicates that significant gender related differences are present in several cardiomyopathies which is attributed to multiple factors. Firstly, the mode of inheritance may affect the sex ratio of cardiomyopathy manifestation. Secondly, sex hormones seem to have profound effects on the prevalence and severity of cardiomyopathies. Thirdly, gender effects may confound sex differences in cardiomyopathies. Where sex refers to biological differences between males and females, gender refers to the identity and behavioral aspects of differences between the sexes, and is subject to socio-cultural and psychological influences. This chapter describes the role of these factors in the manifestation of gender differences in various cardiomyopathies.
Understanding Perceived Spatial Layout of Scenes: A Prerequisite for Prostheses for Blind Travelers

When normally sighted people observe a natural scene, their perceptions include seeing the supporting ground surface and the arrangements of the objects on that surface, where each object is in relation to the others, to the ground surface, and to themselves. Seeing this arrangement is what is meant by the visually perceived layout of a scene. It is the major source of information to the visual system that provides control of locomotion through natural settings. Blind travelers have no comparable visually perceived layout, and must acquire information about the arrangements of the objects and the ground plane of the scene from vastly degraded visual sources, and more typically from non-visual sources, and from special devices designed to provide layout information. In the development of these prosthetic devices for blind travelers, designers have had to make ad hoc decisions both about how information of the physical layout of scenes is to be represented to the blind traveler and what information to represent, ad hoc because the designers do not know which sources of information are necessary, how that information is normally represented for sighted travelers, or whether blind travelers optimally use the same information.
Biomechanics of the ACL and ACL Reconstruction: New Concepts and Applications

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) possesses a complex geometry that encompasses portions of differing lengths which display differing functions depending on knee orientation and external loading. It is well documented as a major stabilizer of knee motion, and is, not surprisingly, also the most commonly injured knee ligament. Due to the inability of the ACL to heal spontaneously when torn at its mid-substance, it has been extensively studied during the last few decades. In this chapter, important biomechanical concepts and studies relating to the ACL will be reviewed and the clinical application of this knowledge will also be discussed. Particular attention will be placed on the measurement of structural properties of the femur-anterior cruciate ligamenttibia complex (FATC) as well as on the evaluation of the role of the ACL in overall knee kinematics. Assessment of ACL contribution through measurements of length, strain, and force changes in the ACL will be discussed, as well as the application of recently introduced robotic technology. Through review of these areas, a more detailed picture of the complete contribution of the ACL to total knee function will be provided.
Association of Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics With Differences in Use of Outpatient Dermatology Services in the United States.

Importance Knowledge regarding differences in dermatologic care for patients with a broad range of dermatologic conditions is limited. Objective To elucidate nationwide differences in use of outpatient dermatologic care. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective analysis of nationally representative data from the 2007 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Health care use outcomes for dermatologic conditions (skin cancers, infections, dermatologic inflammatory conditions/ulcers, and other skin disorders) were examined via multivariable logistic regression analyses of outpatient and office-based dermatologist visit rates accounting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, educational level, income, insurance status, region, self-reported condition, and self-reported health status. Participants were 183 054 MEPS respondents who visited a dermatologist from 2007 to 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure was whether the patient received outpatient care for any dermatologic condition (by payment). The secondary outcomes were annual health care use by individuals with dermatologic conditions (including per capita expenditure for the visit). Results Of 183 054 MEPS respondents (mean [SD] age, 34 [23] years; 52.1% female), 19 561 (10.7%) self-reported a dermatologic condition; 9645 patients had a total of 11 761 outpatient visits to dermatologists. Hispanic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.49-0.61) and black (aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.38-0.46) patients were both less likely to receive outpatient care for their dermatologic condition relative to non-Hispanic white patients. Male patients were less likely to receive outpatient dermatologic care than female patients (aOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.62-0.70), and Midwestern patients were less likely to receive outpatient dermatologic care than Northeastern patients (aOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.91). Patients with Medicaid or Medicare coverage (aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.68-0.83) and uninsured patients (aOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.33-0.47) were both less likely to receive outpatient dermatologic care than privately insured patients. Increasing educational level and income were associated with increased odds of receiving outpatient care for the dermatologic condition. Conclusions and Relevance These findings highlight wide-ranging differences in use of dermatologic care in the United States across various demographic and socioeconomic lines. Results of this study suggest an urgent need to further characterize potential dermatologic health care differences and improve use of outpatient dermatologic care among disadvantaged populations.
COMPRESSING UNSTRUCTURED MESH DATA USING SPLINE FITS, COMPRESSED SENSING, AND REGRESSION METHODS

Compressing unstructured mesh data from computer simulations poses several challenges that are not encountered in the compression of images or videos. Since the spatial locations of the points are not on a regular grid, as in an image, it is difficult to identify near neighbors of a point whose values can be exploited for compression. In this paper, we investigate how three very different methods — spline fits, compressed sensing, and kernel regression — compare in terms of the reconstruction accuracy and reduction in data size when applied to a practical problem from a plasma physics simulation.
Early mobilisation in intensive care during renal replacement therapy: A quality improvement project.

Abstract Objective To improve mobility for patients undergoing renal replacement therapy within intensive care. Design A quality improvement study utilising a step-wise mobility protocol within a before-and-after audit design. Setting Twenty-four bed Trauma/Surgical intensive care unit within a level one trauma and academic centre. Main outcome Improvement of compliance to the mobility plan following introduction of a step-wise mobility protocol. Results A total of fifty-six renal replacement therapy patients were measured on a randomly selected day each week during the nine month before-and-after protocol audit period. Before introducing the protocol, compliance to mobility was 12.5%, compared to 62.5% after the protocol was introduced. There were no identified negative outcomes, such as catheter loss, filter loss or bleeding, associated with mobilising these patients following implementation of the protocol. Conclusion The use of a step-wise mobility protocol was effective and safe strategy to increase mobility in the renal replacement therapy patient population.
Our 2018 Cancer Cytopathology Young Investigator

Background The Paris System for Urine Cytopathology (the Paris System) has succeeded in making the analysis of liquid-based urine preparations more reproducible. Any algorithm seeking to automate this system must accurately estimate the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N:C) ratio and produce a qualitative "atypia score." The authors propose a hybrid deep-learning and morphometric model that reliably automates the Paris System. Methods Whole-slide images (WSI) of liquid-based urine cytology specimens were extracted from 51 negative, 60 atypical, 52 suspicious, and 54 positive cases. Morphometric algorithms were applied to decompose images to their component parts; and statistics, including the NC ratio, were tabulated using segmentation algorithms to create organized data structures, dubbed rich information matrices (RIMs). These RIM objects were enhanced using deep-learning algorithms to include qualitative measures. The augmented RIM objects were then used to reconstruct WSIs with filtering criteria and to generate pancellular statistical information. Results The described system was used to calculate the N:C ratio for all cells, generate object classifications (atypical urothelial cell, squamous cell, crystal, etc), filter the original WSI to remove unwanted objects, rearrange the WSI to an efficient, condensed-grid format, and generate pancellular statistics containing quantitative/qualitative data for every cell in a WSI. In addition to developing novel techniques for managing WSIs, a system capable of automatically tabulating the Paris System criteria also was generated. Conclusions A hybrid deep-learning and morphometric algorithm was developed for the analysis of urine cytology specimens that could reliably automate the Paris System and provide many avenues for increasing the efficiency of digital screening for urine WSIs and other cytology preparations.
Observing Possible Thermodynamic Controls on Tropical Marine Rainfall in Moist Environments

AbstractRadar and rawinsonde data from four ground-based observing stations in the tropical Indo-Pacific warm pool were used to identify possible associations of environmental state variables and t...
Conclusion and Next Steps

This chapter gives some concluding remarks and suggests the next steps in the journey towards building better artificially intelligence.
(Re)producing the sexuality binary: on bisexual experiences in U.S. gay and heterosexual spaces

The geographies of sexuality literature is a great source of information for the experiences of gay men and lesbians as they navigate heteronormativity in both private and public spaces, and engage...
Four Offaly Saints: The Lives of Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Ciarán of Seir, Colmán of Lynally and Fíonán of Kinnitty

Padraig O Riain attributes the origins of this attractive and compact volume to a request by the Heritage Officer of Offaly County Council to create a similar work for Co. Offaly as he had for Tipp...
Initial Opioid Prescriptions Predict Continued Narcotic Use: Analysis of 24,594 Reduction Mammaplasty Patients.

Background The objective of this study was to establish whether a particular perioperative opioid regimen was associated with a higher risk of opioid refilling in the reduction mammaplasty patient population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on subjects that underwent bilateral reduction mammaplasty with no history of opioid use in the year before surgery. Patients were followed for a period of 4 months after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to establish factors associated with prescription refilling. Predictive probabilities of opioid refilling, given various perioperative opioid regimens, were explored. Results A total of 24,594 subjects met all criteria for inclusion in the study, 13 percent of whom demonstrated continued opioid use following surgery. The probability of refill in patients receiving 15 to 59 daily morphine milligram equivalents perioperatively was significantly lower than in those receiving less than 15 daily morphine milligram equivalents (e.g., 15 mg of codeine every 4 hours) or more than 60 daily morphine milligram equivalents (e.g., 10 mg of oxycodone every 6 hours). Conclusions The probability of refilling prescription opioids is increased by nonmodifiable risk factors, such as age. However, modifiable risk factors exist as well, most notably the amount of narcotic prescribed during the perioperative period. Overprescribing was found to be common in the reduction mammaplasty patient population. Limiting outpatient opioid exposure to a range of 15 to 59 daily morphine milligram equivalents (e.g., 5 mg of hydrocodone every 6 hours) during the perisurgical period may reduce the probability that the surgeon will need to prescribe further narcotics. Further studies are needed to validate our findings. Clinical question/level of evidence Risk, III.
On the genetic basis of political orientation

Scholars have long been interested in the underpinnings of political ideology. Over the past fifteen years or so, political scientists, psychologists, sociologists, and economists have started to take seriously the idea that ideology might be influenced by genes. In this article, we review the literature on the genetics of ideology. We begin by describing twin studies and more sophisticated approaches that have now emerged, which consistently show that ideology is about 40% heritable. Next, we examine the state of research on genetic influences on ideology over the life cycle and mechanisms that could link genes and ideology. We conclude by discussing the preliminary genome-wide studies that have been conducted. Existing research has provided important insights into the link between biology and ideology, but additional research is needed in order to provide a more nuanced understanding of the role of biology in the formation of political ideology.
At the heart of meaning-making: an acceptance and commitment approach to developing adaptive meaning following acute cardiac events

Abstract This chapter discusses meaning-making in survivors of acute cardiac events. It first examines adjustment to acute cardiac events in the context of both psychological distress/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and well-being including consideration of whether these events are traumas that can result in PTSD. Then, it examines meaning-making as a behavior that can be changed through the application of acceptance and commitment therapy. Developing psychological flexibility and functional coherence are considered as possible keys to adaptive meaning-making. The chapter concludes with the case of Jenny, a 36-year-old married mother of two children, who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, and her journey to healing through the creation of adaptive meaning.
Mitigating the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences: How Restorative Practices in Schools Support Positive Childhood Experiences and Protective Factors

Many students in the United States suffer from mental health issues resulting from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Often, students exhibit negative behavior as a result of these issues and ma...
Democracy, Epistemology and Deweyan Pragmatism

In this chapter I argue that theories of epistemic democracy tend to make either underdeveloped or inadequate ontological, epistemological, and political assumptions about social reality, human cognition, and democratic citizenship, rendering their theoretical framework and arguments unfit for the problem of democratic judgment. In the first part of the chapter I discuss and point out weaknesses of contemporary epistemic theories of democracy. In the second part of the chapter I lay out the preliminaries of an account of the epistemic dimensions of democracy that offers an alternative theory of democracy to purely epistemic theories; this alternative theory is critically informed by John Dewey’s pragmatism and will guide me throughout the rest of the book. I introduce a Deweyan perspective on the epistemic dimension of democracy by presenting the way in which a pragmatist perspective in general, and the Deweyan conceptions of democracy and epistemology in particular, can avoid some of the most fundamental problems of the theories of epistemic democracy. The chapter introduces three key elements of a Deweyan argument for democracy. The first is a focus on diversity of experiences and perspectives as an epistemic resource in constructing political problems and solutions, which preconditions the argument that equality and inclusion tend to be conditions that make democratic judgments and decisions better. The second is a focus on judgment as a form of cognitive action that occurs within a process of inquiry and that takes place against the background of experiences that are qualitatively saturated. The third is the acknowledgement that democratic politics (even under ideal circumstances) involves trade-offs between equality and inclusion on the one hand and the desire for better judgments and decisions on the other, without offering a clear-cut criterion for how to resolve these trade-offs in the abstract.
A Proximate Mirror: Greenhouse Gas Rules and Strategic Behavior Under the US Clean Air Act

The development of climate policy in the United States mirrors international developments, with efforts to initiate a coordinated approach giving way to jurisdictions separately taking actions. The centerpiece of US policy is regulation in the electricity sector that identifies a carbon emissions rate standard (intensity standard) for each state but leaves to states the design of policies, including potentially the use of technology policies, emissions rate averaging, or cap and trade. Differences in policies among states within the same power market could promote predatory behavior resulting in a geographic shift in generation and investment in new resources. This paper examines the coordination problem using a detailed partial equilibrium model of operations and investment. We demonstrate that leading jurisdictions have available a rich set of design options that can protect them against strategic predation and, in fact, give them opportunities to proactively advance climate goals, to the economic detriment of laggards.
Adenovirus-vectored T cell vaccine for hepacivirus shows reduced effectiveness against a CD8 T cell escape variant in rats

There is an urgent need for a vaccine to prevent chronic infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its many genetic variants. The first human vaccine trial, using recombinant viral vectors that stimulate pan-genotypic T cell responses against HCV non-structural proteins, failed to demonstrate efficacy despite significant preclinical promise. Understanding the factors that govern HCV T cell vaccine success is necessary for design of improved immunization strategies. Using a rat model of chronic rodent hepacivirus (RHV) infection, we assessed the impact of antigenic variation and immune escape upon success of a conceptually analogous RHV T cell vaccine. Naive Lewis rats were vaccinated with a recombinant human adenovirus expressing RHV non-structural proteins (NS)3-5B and later challenged with a viral variant containing immune escape mutations within major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted epitopes (escape virus). Whereas 7 of 11 (64%) rats cleared infection caused by wild-type RHV, only 3 of 12 (25%) were protected against heterologous challenge with escape virus. Uncontrolled replication of escape virus was associated with durable CD8 T cell responses targeting escaped epitopes alone. In contrast, clearance of escape virus correlated with CD4 T cell helper immunity and maintenance of CD8 T cell responses against intact viral epitopes. Interestingly, clearance of wild-type RHV infection after vaccination conferred enhanced protection against secondary challenge with escape virus. These results demonstrate that the efficacy of an RHV T cell vaccine is reduced when challenge virus contains escape mutations within MHC class I-restricted epitopes and that failure to sustain CD8 T cell responses against intact epitopes likely underlies immune failure in this setting. Further investigation of the immune responses that yield protection against diverse RHV challenges in this model may facilitate design of broadly effective HCV vaccines.
Application of modified SeDeM expert diagram system for selection of direct compression excipient for liquisolid formulation of Neusilin® US2

Abstract In the present investigations, the SeDeM expert diagram system, modified to include two important compression properties, i.e. mean yield pressure, Py, and compactibility parameter, σtmax, was used to identify a diluent most suitable for the direct compression of a liquisolid formulation of Neusilin® US2 (50NEU). The mean incidence values of 50NEU demonstrated that it had poor flowability and compactibility, and was highly hygroscopic. Three commonly used directly compressible tablet diluents, viz. lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, and dibasic calcium phosphate, selected based on their index of good compressibility (IGC) values were evaluated for their usefulness for direct compression of 50NEU. Mathematical equations based on the linear and power mixing rules were used to calculate the percentage of diluent required for direct compression. The powder blends prepared using lactose monohydrate resulted in fragile tablets, dibasic calcium phosphate exhibited poor compactibility, however, powder blends containing microcrystalline cellulose resulted in tablets with acceptable compactibility. This demonstrated the significance of a rational selection of excipients based on their SeDeM parameters rather than the IGC values. Additionally, the study results showed that the modified SeDeM expert system was superior to the conventional SeDeM system for the selection of diluent for direct compression.
Assessment of an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) Treating Medium-Strength Synthetic Wastewater under Cyclical Membrane Operation.

A lab-scale (6.2 L) anaerobic membrane bioreactor combined with a tubular, cross-flow, PVDF ultrafiltration membrane was developed and operated to assess the long-term fouling behavior of a cyclically operated anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The AnMBR was operated at 35 ± 1 °C for 200 days with a synthetic influent of 501 mg·L−1 COD to mimic municipal wastewater. The system exhibited high treatment performance with an average COD removal efficiency of 86.5 ± 6.4% (n = 20) and an average permeate COD concentration of 63.9 ± 31.1 mg·L−1. A clear permeate with an average turbidity of 0.6 ± 0.2 NTU, was achieved. Permeate TN and TP concentrations were 22.7 ± 5.1 mg·L−1 and 6.9 ± 2.0 mg·L−1 corresponding to removal efficiencies of 20.6% and 49.3%, respectively, likely due to membrane rejection of particulate, colloidal, and organic fractions. A stable membrane flux of 4.3 L.m−2.h−1 (LMH) was maintained for 183 days without gas-lift, gas sparge, or chemical cleaning. Cyclical operation with frequent relaxation (60 s for every 30 min of the permeate production run) and periodic permeate backwash (15 s for every 186 min) maintained stable membrane operation with an average TMP of 0.25 bar and a fouling rate of 0.007 kPa/h for the entire operating period. The comparison revealed frequent backwashing and relaxation is a sustainable strategy for operation of the AnMBR.
Model Strategi Pemasaran Jasa Pendidikan Islam pada SD Nasima Semarang

Educational services marketing strategies are becoming increasingly crucial in line with the role of educational institutions. However, only a few educational institutions have implemented strategies in marketing their educational services to the public. This study examines the marketing strategy of educational services at Nasima Elementary School Semarang. This research uses a qualitative case study approach. Data related to marketing management of educational services obtained from interviews, observation, and documentation, then tested by triangulation and then analyzed. The results of this study indicate two marketing strategies by SD Nasima Semarang, namely: internal marketing and external marketing. In internal marketing, the strategy implemented is to provide direct admission policies for TK Nasima alumni, giving discounts, parenting classes, and optimizing the roles of homeroom teachers, teachers, and guardians of students. As for external marketing, the strategy is to establish partnerships with kindergartens in the Nasima market area, distribute brochures, load information about Nasima schools, install banners, strategic billboards, hold educational exhibitions, free trial classes, and open houses. The Nasima Elementary School Education Model has quite a significant opportunity because many middle-class people are aware that religion needs good quality Islamic education. On the other hand, the challenge is the provision of good quality and innovative education. In this case, SD Nasima is the first education in Semarang to hold a full-day school.
Development of Weighing Systems with Improved Dynamic Range Using High-Resolution Resonant MEMS Strain Sensors

The application of high-resolution MEMS strain sensors based on micromechanical resonators fabricated with wafer-level vacuum packaging to the construction of large dynamic range weighing systems is explored. Resonant sensors with sub-nano strain resolution are adopted to build a load cell prototype using a standard aluminum structure normally utilized in commercial weighing systems. A differential strain measurement configuration is implemented with two sensors oriented at 90° between them and fabricated on the same chip for temperature compensation. The load cell equipped with the resonant MEMS sensors shows an excellent dynamic range of 108 dB, effective temperature compensation and good weight measurement reproducibility.
Does high-speed railway strengthen the ties among nearby regions? Evidence from China

Abstract The High-Speed Railway (HSR) has been widely rolled out in China. It has redefined inter-region connections by greatly reducing the travel time. Using data for China's 288 prefectures from 2003 to 2018, this paper examines the impacts of China's HSR system on Marshall's three micro foundations of agglomeration – labor market pooling, input sharing and knowledge spillover. The baseline model adopts a staggered difference-in-difference approach. In order to test the validity of the parallel assumption and deal with the sequential timing of HSR construction, this article conducted an event-study analysis, which compares the growth trends pre- and post- HSR operation. Finally, a propensity score analysis is conducted to reduce the concern about the endogeneity of route placement. Results show that HSR has increased passenger traffic by train and invention-type patent filings. However, the HSR has reduced rail freight shipping, which suggests a potential crowding-out effect of HSR constructions.
Christianity and law : an introduction

Introduction John Witte, Jr. 1. Law and religion in Judaism David Novak 2. Law in early Christianity Luke Timothy Johnson 3. Western canon law R. H. Helmholz 4. Natural law and natural rights Brian Tierney 5. Conscientious objection, civil disobedience, and resistance Kent Greenawalt 6. The Christian sources of general contract law Harold J. Berman 7. Proof, procedure, and evidence Mathias Schmoeckel 8. Family law and Christian jurisprudence Don S. Browning 9. Poverty, charity and social welfare Brian S. Pullan 10. Property and Christian theology Frank S. Alexander 11. Christian love and criminal punishment Jeffrie G. Murphy 12. Christianity and human rights Michael J. Perry 13. Religious liberty David Little 14. Modern church law Norman Doe 15. Religious organizations and the state: the laws of ecclesiastical polity and the civil courts William Bassett 16. Christianity and the large scale corporation David A. Skeel, Jr.