cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iron–Sulfur Models of Protein Active Sites

In pervasiveness of occurrence and multiplicity of function, iron–sulfur clusters rival biological prosthetic groups such as hemes and flavins. The development of iron–sulfur cluster chemistry paralleled the founding and maturation of the field of bioinorganic chemistry. Starting from the first spontaneous self-assembly of the [Fe4S4(SR)4]2− cluster in 1972, and the identification of the protein-bound Fe4S4 in the same year, the study of iron–sulfur models of protein active sites has evolved into a unique field in which synthetic inorganic chemistry now resembles the total synthesis of natural products in organic chemistry. Some of the models had been built before the crystal structure of the protein was determined. Almost all the models successfully replicated the topology and the electronic properties of the protein active sites. In this article, the models will be discussed in the order of their complexity, from single iron rubredoxin models to Fe2S2, Fe3S4, Fe4S4, and Fe8S7 model compounds. In each section, the chemical synthesis of the model compound will be discussed first, followed by structure comparison and contrast, electrochemical properties, and biochemical activities. Since the major function of iron–sulfur proteins is electron transfer, and the oxidation state of the iron atom determines its reactivity, electrochemical and Mossbauer data will be tabulated in detail. Some of the recent developments in site-differentiated, peptide, and all-ferrous Fe4S4 clusters will be reviewed. Recent studies in modeling the topology of the P-cluster of nitrogenase will also be covered. The challenge posed by iron–sulfur proteins has inspired new iron–sulfur cluster chemistry. No other metal–nonmetal combination has produced more structural types than the iron–sulfur system; the majority of them have yet to be found in biological systems. However, the modeling of the P-cluster and the FeMoco center of nitrogenase have posed a daunting challenge to the analog chemists. Keywords: iron–sulfur; model compounds; rubredoxin; ferredoxin; P-cluster; cubane; cuboidal; peptide model; site-differentiated; electrochemical property; Mossbauer data
Air leaks and the pleural space.

General surgeons and general thoracic surgeons make daily decisions concerning the management of chest tubes and the pleural space. Our medical colleagues often ask us to help manage problems such as air, blood, fluid, pus, or chyle that has invaded the pleural space. Despite the fact that these problems are common, few prospective randomized studies have critically examined them. Moreover, most surgeons manage chest tubes differently after elective pulmonary resection. The treatment strategies and protocols invoked for these mundane custodial problems are based more on where one is trained and by whom, as opposed to scientific facts gathered from the literature. The concept of negative intrathoracic pressure, the use of a water seal for chest tubes, and an understanding of chest drainage systems represents a mysterious ‘‘black hole’’ for many physicians and nurses. It remains a last bastion that is unique to general thoracic surgery in which divergent management strategies are used. This issue is an attempt to apply science and to shed light on some of these problems. The discussion is divided into two parts: air leaks and the pleural space. Treatment of the former topic is contingent on proper control of the latter. The first section highlights predictors of air leaks after pulmonary resection, intraoperative techniques to help prevent them, the management of tubes to help seal them, and techniques to treat persistent leaks. The third article on chest tube management after pulmonary resection is meant to serve as an exhaustive overview of chest tube insertion and management. The second section begins with a historical view of pneumonectomy and continues with a discussion of control of the pleural space after pneumonectomy, the management of empyema after pneumonectomy, postoperative chylothorax, and the physiologic consequences of pneumonectomy. The role of thoracoplasty in the third millennium is reviewed.
Formulation of a Lateral Sponge Layer for Limited-Area Shallow-Water Models and an Extension for the vertically Stratified Case

Abstract A lateral sponge layer is designed to minimize the spurious rejections of nondispersive surface gravity waves in a linear, one-dimension shallow-water limited-area model. The formulation selectively damps out the characteristic variables associated with the reflected waves inside the sponge layer. Through normal-mode analyses and subsequent applications to a forced-wave initial-value problem, the effectiveness of the sponge layer is compared to an established formulation of the open boundary condition. It is shown that for moderate thicknesses, the sponge is more effective than the open boundary condition in reducing the reflections of outgoing waves on all spatial scales. Application of the sponge layer to a vertically stratified model atmosphere is accomplished using a matrix procedure that essentially applies the shallow-water formulation to each vertical eigenmode of the model solution. Results of time-integrations using a multilevel quasi-static model of forced gravity waves, once again, dem...
Optimizing systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma beyond the first-line setting

The introduction of molecularly targeted therapies (TTs) has transformed the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Within a relatively short period of time, systemic treatment of mRCC has evolved from a disease treated only by cytokines to a disease where TT is the cornerstone of patient management. Since the approval of sorafenib, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), in December 2005, 7 drugs have been introduced that have provided a high level of clinical efficacy in patients with mRCC, with a median survival of ~30 months in an unselected patient population that generally fits trials eligibility. Despite such success, advancements in therapies have reached a plateau: different combinations of targeted agents have not demonstrated additional benefit mainly owing to toxicity concerns, and some novel agents have failed to show benefit over approved drugs in clinics. In this review, we aim to focus on optimizing selection of agents in mRCC after progression on first-line TT. We also review how new drugs may transform existing guidelines and break through the current plateau reached with approved agents.
Telemental health for children and adolescents

Most children and adolescents across the USA fail to receive adequate mental health services, especially in rural or underserved communities. The supply of child and adolescent psychiatrists is insufficient for the number of children in need of services and is not anticipated to grow. This calls for novel approaches to mental health care. Telemental health (TMH) offers one approach to increase access. TMH programmes serving young people are developing rapidly and available studies demonstrate that these services are feasible, acceptable, sustainable and likely as effective as in-person services. TMH services are utilized in clinical settings to provide direct care and consultation to primary care providers (PCPs), as well as in non-traditional settings, such as schools, correctional facilities and the home. Delivery of services to young people through TMH requires several adjustments to practice with adults regarding the model of care, cultural values, participating adults, rapport-building, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Additional infrastructure accommodations at the patient site include space and staffing to conduct developmentally appropriate evaluations and treatment planning with parents, other providers, and community services. For TMH to optimally impact young people's access to mental health care, collaborative models of care are needed to support PCPs as frontline mental health-care providers, thereby effectively expanding the child and adolescent mental health workforce.
Mechanisms of Behavior Change Within Peer-Implemented Alcohol Interventions.

Objective:Colleges continue to experience a high number of referred students because of campus alcohol violations. Subsequently, there has been a trend to use peer-implemented minimal interventions...
Constant light extends life in hamsters with heart disease.

AbstractOur previous work has shown that constant light can prolong the life of hamsters with heart disease. Although we have seen this result several times, constant light was not protective in our most recent experiment. We undertook this study because we had changed some conditions. As in previous experiments, we found that life in constant light extended life for cardiomyopathic hamsters as compared with others living in a 12:12-hr light:dark environment. A second factor affecting survival was the number of hamsters in a group. Hamsters housed in groups of five lived longer than those housed in groups of two under the same lighting conditions. Data from one experiment suggested that a short photoperiod (6:18 light:dark) was also protective. Although these experiments indicate that the protective effects of different light:dark schedules are not simple ones, they are important because their use may prove to be a helpful adjunct in the treatment of congestive heart failure.
The Education of a Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Âlim, Ahmed Cevdet Paşa

In 1924 the doors of the medreses of Turkey were ordered closed by the Grand National Assembly. The century-old movement to modernize and secularize Turkish education reached a crucial watershed with the abandonment of the traditional Islamic system of mektebs and medreses. The bifurcation which had characterized Ottoman education since the early nineteenth century and which had been reflected in the empire's educated elite could not be tolerated in the new, secular republic envisaged by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Business Schools and the Demands of Business Leadership

The financial crisis of 2008 and the global recession that followed — as deep and painful as any since the early decades of the twentieth century — have created profound new challenges for business leaders and raised fundamental questions about the role and responsibility of business schools in producing these leaders. The collapse was the result of a collective failure, not only of financial safeguards and institutions, but of leadership at many levels. This was true in corporate executive offices, in government, as well as in business schools.
Taking a holistic approach to managing difficult stress fractures

Stress fractures and other bony stress injuries occur along a spectrum of severity which can impact treatment and prognosis. When treating these injuries, it should be borne in mind that no two stress fractures behave exactly alike. Given that they are not a consistent injury, standardized treatment protocols can be challenging to develop. Treatment should be individualized to the patient or athlete, the causative activity, the anatomical site, and the severity of the injury. A holistic approach to the treatment of the most difficult stress fractures should be taken by orthopedists and sports medicine specialists. This approach is necessary to obtain optimal outcomes, minimize loss of fitness and time away from sports participation, and decrease the risk of recurrence.
Fiber Optic Imaging of Subcortical Neural Tissue in Freely Behaving Animals

Changes in voltage potentials have been used as representative measures of activity from single neurons, as well as from large populations of neurons. However, electrophysiological techniques are limited in the number of individual cells that can be recorded simultaneously. Correlates of neural activity are also measured in two or three dimensional space with procedures such as Positron Emission Tomography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. However, the spatial resolution of these procedures is insufficient to observe single neurons or small groups of cells, and the temporal resolution is inadequate to examine many functional aspects.
Rasgrf1 Overexpression Amplifies B Cell Receptor Signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Specimens

Abstract Abstract 926 The B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is a hallmark of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and results in cell proliferation, survival and resistance to apoptosis. B cell receptor (BCR) signaling in CLL specimens activates the Ras/ERK/MAPK pathway and is critical for survival and growth of CLL cells. Rasgrf1 is a guanine exchange factor that accelerates the removal of inactive GDP from Ras so that active GTP can bind Ras that results in Ras activation. In an Affymetrix microarray expression analysis screen of CLL specimens (n=5) and peripheral blood normal B cells (n=2), Rasgrf1 was found to be over-expressed (ranked within top 100 overexpressed genes) in CLL. This finding was further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR as a 5–300 fold overexpression in CLL specimens (n=20) was noted as compared to normal B cells. Western blot analysis data also showed over-expression of Rasgrf1 protein in CLL specimen lysates but interestingly the expressed protein is of a smaller size in CLL specimens (70-80 kDa) as compared to the Rasgrf1 in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (140 kDa) This truncated protein retains the important c-terminal GEF (guanine exchange factor) domain but lacks the regulatory domains and is known to function as a hyperactive GEF in other tumor model systems. Knockdown of Rasgrf1 in CLL specimens (n=4) resulted in inhibition of the BCR-Ras/ERK/MAPK pathway as determined by a decrease in ERK phosphorylation. Similar Rasgrf1 knockdown experiments with BCR crosslinking also showed identical results in additional CLL specimens. Transient SiRNA mediated Rasgrf1 knockdown also resulted in higher percentage of annexin positive or apoptotic CLL cells as compared to the scrambled SiRNA control transfection. Lysates from the Rasgrf1 knockdown cells showed an increase in PARP cleavage by western blot analysis as well indicating that continued expression of this protein was necessary for survival of the leukemic cells. To confirm that the Rasgrf1 knockdown resulted in a decrease in the GEF function, the active Ras (Ras-GTP) in the CLL specimens was evaluated by an ELISA assay. In two CLL specimens the assay confirmed that the active Ras in the CLL cells was decreased with Rasgrf1 knockdown. Overall the findings implicate a novel GEF protein, Rasgrf1 as an amplifier of BCR signaling in CLL cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Hamilton type gradient estimate for a nonlinear diffusion equation on smooth metric measure spaces

Abstract In this note, we show an Hamilton type gradient estimate for the solution of time-dependent of nonlinear diffusion equation on smooth metric measure space ( M , g , e − f d v ) . As the application, we show a dimension-free Harnack inequality and prove a Liouville property for f-harmonic functions.
It wasn't really about the Pokémon: Parents' Perspectives on a Location-Based Mobile Game

Though prior work shows parents worry about screen media experiences displacing physical activity and time outdoors, this research does not account for location-based mobile games like Pokemon GO, which specifically facilitate outdoor activity. To fill this gap in the research, we surveyed and interviewed parents to understand (1) their values and perceptions of this type of gameplay and (2) how they co-play Pokemon GO with their children. Our findings provide empirical evidence that, in addition to appreciating the increased exercise and time outdoors, parents valued how play led to family bonding experiences. Furthermore, some traditional concerns about screen time persisted in this context, and new concerns about safety in real-world environments emerged. Parents mitigated these concerns with rules and gameplay choices, such as maintaining control of the mobile device, to ensure children were safe. This work contributes an empirical understanding of families as co-users of technology and offers a generative lens to study and design for joint media engagement among family members where gameplay differs from normative notions of screen time.
Process Integrity: A Framework for Extended and Safe Process Operation

Abstract A mathematical theory of process integrity is developed as a tool for safe and extended operation of critical processes. Process integrity becomes a characteristic measure of the ability of the system to function within prescribed operating region. The proposed framework bridges the tools of process reliability with process dynamics and control, thereby allowing improved decision to either perform online process integrity control, and in some cases help determine when a shutdown is needed to avert costly failure situations.
Mechanically robust and superhydrophobic aerogels of poly(ether ether ketone)

Abstract The phase diagram for the thermoreversible gelation of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) in dichloroacetic acid (DCA) was constructed over broad temperature and concentration ranges, revealing that PEEK is capable of dissolving and forming gels in DCA up to a weight fraction of 25 wt%. For PEEK solutions within this concentration range, the time required for gelation decreased with increasing temperature up to 80 °C, above which the gelation time increased considerably. Highly porous aerogels of PEEK were prepared through simple solvent exchange and lyophilization of the PEEK/DCA gels. Aerogel density was controlled by varying the PEEK concentration in solution, and shown to be unaffected by PEEK molecular weight (MW). Annealing PEEK aerogels prepared from relatively low concentration gels resulted in aerogels of increased density. Mechanical properties (in compression) were shown to improve with increasing density, resulting in equivalent compressive moduli at comparable density regardless of preparation method (concentration variation or annealing parameters). Additionally, density-matched aerogels from various MW PEEK showed a correlation between increasing MW and increasing compressive modulus. Contact angle and contact angle hysteresis revealed that PEEK aerogels have a high contact angle, suggesting superhydrophobicity, that decreases with increasing density and a very low contact angle hysteresis that increases with increasing density.
Maternal Empowerment - An Underutilized Strategy to Prevent Kernicterus?

Background Kernicterus is a common cause of death and morbidity in many Low- Middle-income Countries (LMICs) and still occurs in affluent nations. In either case, the immediate cause is delayed treatment of severe hyperbilirubinemia. In the West, a provider driven "systems approach" has been widely adopted to identify babies at risk prior to discharge from birthing centers with follow up monitoring based on the serum bilirubin level at time of discharge. The situation is more complicated in regions of the world where kernicterus is endemic, especially in LMICs where Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PDd) is common and the system of jaundice management is often fragmented. Objective To examine reasons for errors in jaundice management leading to kernicterus and the potential beneficial role of enlisting more parental participation in management decisions. Method We searched world literature related to pitfalls in jaundice management including deficiencies in providers' and parents' knowledge and behavior. Perspectives from mothers of children with kernicterus supplemented the literature review. Result System failures contributing to kernicterus in affluent countries include a lack of follow up planning, bad advice by providers, and a delay in care seeking by parents. In many LMICs, the majority of births occur at home with unskilled attendants. Traditional practices potentiate hemolysis in G6PDd babies. The danger of severe jaundice is frequently underestimated both by parents and care providers, and cultural and economic barriers as well as ineffective therapies delay care seeking. The failure to provide parents information about identifying severe jaundice and knowledge about the risks and treatment of hyperbilirubinemia has contributed to delayed treatment in both affluent and low-middle-income countries. A recent non-randomized clinical trial, supports teaching all parents skills to monitor jaundice, signs of early neurotoxicity, the importance of breast feeding, avoidance of ineffective or dangerous practices, and when/where to seek help. Conclusion Empowering parents allow them to participate more fully in care decisions and to confront obstacles to care when provider services fail.
The effect of Medicaid payer status on patient outcomes following repair of massive rotator cuff tears

The influence of socioeconomic status and insurance type has not been studied extensively for RCR, particularly not in the high risk massive RCT population. The purpose of this study is to identify relationships between Medicaid payer status and patient outcomes following massive RCR. A retrospective review of shoulder surgery database identified 29 patients undergoing massive rotator cuff repair. Patients were stratified based on insurance type into two cohorts, Medicaid (14 patients) and non-Medicaid (15 patients). Missed routine follow-up appointments and comorbidities were recorded and compared between groups. Group comparisons were made for pre- and postoperative patient-reported and functional outcomes. Outcome scores included American Shoulder and Elbow Shoulder Score (ASES), the Penn Shoulder Score, and the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV). A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant for all statistical analyses. Medicaid patients were on average 7.1 years younger than non-Medicaid patients (49.8 vs. 56.9 years, respectively), and remaining demographics were comparable between groups. Preoperative patient-reported outcomes were only significantly different for ASES and ASES pain (p = 0.010, 0.037). There was excellent average improvement for Medicaid patients but no significant differences compared to non-Medicaid patients for ASES (p = 0.630), PENN scores (p = 0.395), and SSV (p = 0.198). Medicaid patients also had a higher number of missed and canceled appointments (28%) compared to non-Medicaid patients (18%). Medicaid coverage will expand to millions of uninsured Americans under current healthcare reform. Medicaid patients with massive RCT appear to significantly improve with surgical treatment.
The emergence of metabolic heterogeneity and diverse growth responses in isogenic bacterial cells

Microorganisms adapt to frequent environmental changes through population diversification. Previous studies demonstrated phenotypic diversity in a clonal population and its important effects on microbial ecology. However, the dynamic changes of phenotypic composition have rarely been characterized. Also, cellular variations and environmental factors responsible for phenotypic diversity remain poorly understood. Here, we studied phenotypic diversity driven by metabolic heterogeneity. We characterized metabolic activities and growth kinetics of starved Escherichia coli cells subject to nutrient upshift at single-cell resolution. We observed three subpopulations with distinct metabolic activities and growth phenotypes. One subpopulation was metabolically active and immediately grew upon nutrient upshift. One subpopulation was metabolically inactive and non-viable. The other subpopulation was metabolically partially active, and did not grow upon nutrient upshift. The ratio of these subpopulations changed dynamically during starvation. A long-term observation of cells with partial metabolic activities indicated that their metabolism was later spontaneously restored, leading to growth recovery. Further investigations showed that oxidative stress can induce the emergence of a subpopulation with partial metabolic activities. Our findings reveal the emergence of metabolic heterogeneity and associated dynamic changes in phenotypic composition. In addition, the results shed new light on microbial dormancy, which has important implications in microbial ecology and biomedicine.
Bioinformatics Approaches to Predict Drug Responses from Genomic Sequencing

Fulfilling the promises of precision medicine will depend on our ability to create patient-specific treatment regimens. Therefore, being able to translate genomic sequencing into predicting how a patient will respond to a given drug is critical. In this chapter, we review common bioinformatics approaches that aim to use sequencing data to predict sample-specific drug susceptibility. First, we explain the importance of customized drug regimens to the future of medical care. Second, we discuss the different public databases and community efforts that can be leveraged to develop new methods for identifying new predictive biomarkers. Third, we cover the basic methods that are currently used to identify markers or signatures of drug response, without any prior knowledge of the drug's mechanism of action. We further discuss how one can integrate knowledge about drug targets, mechanisms, and predictive markers to better estimate drug response in a diverse set of samples. We begin this section with a primer on popular methods to identify targets and mechanism of action for new small molecules. This discussion also includes a set of computational methods that incorporate other drug features, which do not relate to drug-induced genetic changes or sequencing data such as drug structures, side-effects, and efficacy profiles. Those additional drug properties can aid in gaining higher accuracy for the identification of drug target and mechanism of action. We then progress to discuss using these targets in combination with disease-specific expression patterns, known pathways, and genetic interaction networks to aid drug choice. Finally, we conclude this chapter with a general overview of machine learning methods that can integrate multiple pieces of sequencing data along with prior drug or biological knowledge to drastically improve response prediction.
High-speed infrared thermal imaging during ballistic impact of triaxially braided composites

Ballistic impact experiments were performed on triaxially braided polymer matrix composites to study the heat generated in the material due to projectile velocity and penetration damage. Triaxially...
Shade factors for 149 taxa of in-leaf urban trees in the USA

Abstract Shade factors, defined as the percentage of sky covered by foliage and branches within the perimeter of individual tree crowns, have been used to model the effects of trees on air pollutant uptake, building energy use and rainfall interception. For the past 30 years the primary source of shade factors was a database containing values from 47 species. In most cases, values were obtained from measurements on a single tree in one location. To expand this database 11,024 shade factors were obtained for 149 urban tree species through a photometric process applied to the predominant species in 17 U.S. cities. Two digital images were taken of each tree, crowns were isolated, silhouette area defined and shade factors calculated as the ratio of shaded (i.e., foliage and woody material) pixels to total pixels within the crown silhouette area. The highly nonlinear relationship between both age and diameter at breast height (DBH), and shade factor was captured using generalized additive mixed models. We found that shade factors increased with age until trees reached about 20 years or 30 cm DBH. Using a single shade factor from a mature tree for a young tree can overestimate actual crown density. Also, in many cases, shade factors were found to vary considerably for the same species growing in different climate zones. We provide a set of tables that contain the necessary values to compute shade factors from DBH or age with species and climate effects accounted for. This new information expands the scope of urban species with measured shade factors and allows researchers and urban foresters to more accurately predict their values across time and space.
Prospective Analysis of Adoptive TIL Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma: Response, Impact of Anti-CTLA4, and Biomarkers to Predict Clinical Outcome.

Purpose: Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has consistently demonstrated clinical efficacy in metastatic melanoma. Recent widespread use of checkpoint blockade has shifted the treatment landscape, raising questions regarding impact of these therapies on response to TIL and appropriate immunotherapy sequence.Patients and Methods: Seventy-four metastatic melanoma patients were treated with autologous TIL and evaluated for clinical response according to irRC, overall survival, and progression-free survival. Immunologic factors associated with response were also evaluated.Results: Best overall response for the entire cohort was 42%; 47% in 43 checkpoint-naive patients, 38% when patients were exposed to anti-CTLA4 alone (21 patients) and 33% if also exposed to anti-PD1 (9 patients) prior to TIL ACT. Median overall survival was 17.3 months; 24.6 months in CTLA4-naive patients and 8.6 months in patients with prior CTLA4 blockade. The latter patients were infused with fewer TIL and experienced a shorter duration of response. Infusion of higher numbers of TIL with CD8 predominance and expression of BTLA correlated with improved response in anti-CTLA4 naive patients, but not in anti-CTLA4 refractory patients. Baseline serum levels of IL9 predicted response to TIL ACT, while TIL persistence, tumor recognition, and mutation burden did not correlate with outcome.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the deleterious effects of prior exposure to anti-CTLA4 on TIL ACT response and shows that baseline IL9 levels can potentially serve as a predictive tool to select the appropriate sequence of immunotherapies. Clin Cancer Res; 24(18); 4416-28. ©2018 AACR.
Gas Chromatography—Olfactometry (GC/O) of Vapor Phases

Aroma is a perception of a response to certain chemicals when they are present above their detection threshold in the vapor phase as they come in contact with receptors in the olfactory epithelium. The response to odor active volatiles (odorants) that enter through the nostrils (orthonasal sensation) from a food is often different from the perception resulting from volatiles that enter from the mouth and respiratory system (retronasal sensation). This is due to different physical and chemical conditions that affect flavor release from the food system in the mouth (e.g. pH, enzymes, temperature, mastication) (Roberts and Acree, 1995). Figure 1 illustrates these two different pathways. An orthonasal aroma composition can be represented by static headspace like that experienced when a bottle of wine is first opened and sniffed, or a dynamic system such as smelling wine in a glass after it has been poured. In contrast, the odor of wine as it is drunk is a retronasal aroma and always results from the dynamic release of odorants. Both the odorant concentrations and their ratios are different in equilibrium and dynamic systems, therefore the appropriate measurement must be chosen (Roberts and Acree, 1996).
Electromechanical Processes in the Cochlea

We propose a feedback model for cochlear mechanics in which the hair cell cilia exert an active restoring force in response to displacement. The restoring force is described by first order kinetics and leads to an increase in sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the basilar membrane response. Several different experimental results from our laboratory suggest that hair cell membrane potential plays an important role in this feedback process. They include the measurement of acoustic emissions in response to passing sinusoidal electric current through the cochlea and the modulation of the sound pressure level (SPL) of single tones by electrical current. The latter effect saturates at levels of the acoustic stimulus similar to the level at which the cochlear microphonic saturates. The experimental data suggest that saturation of the transduction process at high SPL could account for the saturating nonlinearity observed by others in basilar membrane displacement. These electromechanical effects may also explain the generation of acoustic harmonics and distortion products as well as the positive cochlear summating potential.
A proficiency-based surgical boot camp May not provide trainees with a durable foundation in fundamental surgical skills.

Abstract Background Pre-internship boot camps have become popular platforms to rapidly teach skills to surgical interns. This study aimed to analyze psychomotor skill retention four months after completing a boot camp program. Methods Surgical interns (n = 20) took a baseline pre-test and then trained to proficiency (based on time and errors) for 5 knot tying, 4 simple suturing, and 2 running suturing tasks during a three-day boot camp. Three months later, all interns took a retention test. Results Proficiency scores significantly improved on all task types from pre-test to post test and significantly regressed on all task types from post-test to retention test. Normalized scores decreased as the tasks became more complex (knot tying = 93.5, simple suturing = 89.1, running suturing = 85.2, p = 0.05). Conclusions Boot camp style training can rapidly teach fundamental surgical skills to novices; however, skills regress significantly over time with a greater degree of regression seen on more complex skills.
Redesign of EdD and PhD Educational Leadership Programs

Over the past three decades, numerous calls have been issued from professional associations, government entities, researchers, and university faculty and administrators to strengthen the preparatio...
IL-6 Is Not Significantly Associated with Quality of Life Symptoms in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients Following Tocilizumab

Introduction Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) produces pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 which can activate central nervous system (CNS) pathways to cause depressed mood, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Tocilizumab (toci), an IL-6 receptor antagonist, is an FDA approved treatment for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a serious complication of CAR-T cell therapy. However, toci results in transient elevations of IL-6 in the CNS and there is concern that this may worsen neurotoxicity. Objective We hypothesized that increased circulating IL-6 levels would be associated with more severe symptoms among a cohort of alloHCT recipients receiving toci. Methods Data were obtained from a parent clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of toci to prevent aGVHD in a cohort of 35 patients undergoing alloHCT. A subset of 25 patients from this cohort completed quality of life (QOL) measures pre-HCT and at day +28 post-transplant (D+28). IL-6 levels were measured pre-HCT and at D+28. The relationships between IL-6 and depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep were correlated in four ways using Spearman correlation: 1) cross-sectionally at baseline and at D+28; 2) change in both QOL and IL-6 from baseline to D+28; 3) baseline IL-6 level with D+28 QOL; and 4) baseline IL-6 level with change in QOL from baseline to D+28. Results Contrary to the hypothesis, IL-6 was not significantly associated with any of the QOL measures at baseline or D+28. There was a trend toward a relationship between depression and IL-6 at baseline (Fig 1; r=-0.40; p=0.06), although the association was not in the hypothesized direction; i.e., higher IL-6 was associated with less depression. Similarly, the correlations between baseline to D+28 change in IL-6 and change in QOL, baseline IL-6 and D+28 QOL, and baseline IL-6 and change in QOL were not significant. Conclusions IL-6 was not significantly associated with depression, anxiety, pain, or sleep in this cohort of alloHCT recipients receiving toci, although there was a trend toward an association between higher IL-6 and lower depression at baseline. This finding suggests that the symptoms and neurotoxicity experienced by individuals who receive toci for CRS may not be IL-6 mediated. Blockade of peripheral IL-6 receptors may lead to increased release of other cytokines, increased CNS IL-6 levels, or actions of other physiological systems and warrants further investigation.
Entering the Reoperative Hostile Abdomen Laparoscopically

Port placement for laparoscopic surgery in patients who have had prior surgeries can be complicated by the presence of anterior abdominal wall adhesions. To avoid inadvertent bowel injury, it is important to choose the location of the first laparoscopic port carefully. An important principal for laparoscopic port placement in the reoperative abdomen includes placement of ports away from prior operative sites. There is no statistical difference in rates of bowel injury between access to the abdomen achieved by open or closed laparoscopic entry, and method of entry should be determined by individual surgeon comfort and familiarity with entry method.
Transformational Leadership: Perceptions of Building-Level Leaders:

This research explored the transformational leadership traits of principal participants in the Northeast of the United States. The mixed methods case study utilized two data sources: The Leadership...
Changes in Prevalence of Marijuana Consumption Modes Among Colorado High School Students From 2015 to 2017

This study examines data from the Health Kids Colorado Survey to assess changes in modes of marijuana consumption among high school students in Colorado from 2015 to 2017.
Determination of right ventricular function with adjusted systolic to diastolic duration ratio after transannular patch repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND Early detection of right ventricular dysfunction after transannular patch for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF-TAP) is essential for management. OBJECTIVES To evaluate echocardiographic metrics of ventricular function correlate with functional MRI measurements, in patients with TOF-TAP. METHODS A retrospective review of patients with TOF-TAP between 2007 and 2017 who had an echocardiogram and MRI within six months were analyzed. Systolic to diastolic ratio (SD ratio) was measured from the tricuspid regurgitation and adjusted for heart rate. Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE), Fractional Area Change (FAC), and shortening fraction (SF) were additionally measured. Echocardiographic measurements were correlated with MRI assessment of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDi), and right to left ventricle volume ratio (RV/LV). RESULTS Of the 53 patients (mean age 12.8 years) that met inclusion criteria, 45 (85%) had available TR jets for SD ratio analysis. The HR adjusted SD ratio negatively correlated with RVEF (r = -.359, P = .016), LVEF (r = -.317, P = .038) and positively with RV/LV EDV ratio (r = .347, P = .024). TAPSE, FAC, and SF measurements did not show significant correlation. CONCLUSION In patients with TOF-TAP, there is a moderate negative correlation between heart rate adjusted SD ratio and MRI metrics of ventricular function, suggesting that decreased filling time is a marker for reduced right ventricular function. The SD ratio may be a useful echocardiographic tool for serial evaluation of in this population.
Assortative mating at loci under recent natural selection in humans

Genetic correlation between mates at specific loci can greatly alter the evolutionary trajectory of a species. Genetic assortative mating has been documented in humans, but its existence beyond population stratification (shared ancestry) has been a matter of controversy. Here, we develop a method to measure assortative mating across the genome at 1,044,854 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), controlling for population stratification and cohort-specific cryptic relatedness. Using data on 1683 human couples from two data sources, we find evidence for both assortative and disassortative mating at specific, discernible loci throughout the entire genome. Then, using the composite of multiple signals (CMS) score, we also show that the group of SNPs exhibiting the most assortativity has been under stronger recent positive selection. Simulations using realistic inputs confirm that assortative mating might indeed affect changes in allele frequency over time. These results suggest that genetic assortative mating may be speeding up evolution in humans.
Gender Bias and Venture Funding: Discussing Bias in the Entrepreneurship Classroom:

We report on the findings from an in-class experiment that represents a learning innovation which can enable classroom-based conversations about bias in the domain of entrepreneurship. More specifi...
Olympic philosophy: the ideas and ideals behind the ancient and modern olympic games: by Heather L. Reid, Sioux City, Iowa, Parnassos Press, 2020, 458 pp., $39.99 (Paperback), ISBN 9781942495345

This book is a collection of 26 previously published essays on ‘Olympic philosophy,’ both ancient and modern. Because the essays were published over the past 20 years in various journals and books,...
High plant diversity and slow assembly of old-growth grasslands

Earth's ancient grasslands and savannas-hereafter old-growth grasslands-have long been viewed by scientists and environmental policymakers as early successional plant communities of low conservation value. Challenging this view, emerging research suggests that old-growth grasslands support substantial biodiversity and are slow to recover if destroyed by human land uses (e.g., tillage agriculture, plantation forestry). But despite growing interest in grassland conservation, there has been no global test of whether old-growth grasslands support greater plant species diversity than secondary grasslands (i.e., herbaceous communities that assemble after destruction of old-growth grasslands). Our synthesis of 31 studies, including 92 timepoints on six continents, found that secondary grasslands supported 37% fewer plant species than old-growth grasslands (log response ratio = -0.46) and that secondary grasslands typically require at least a century, and more often millennia (projected mean 1,400 y), to recover their former richness. Young (<29 y) secondary grasslands were composed of weedy species, and even as their richness increased over decades to centuries, secondary grasslands were still missing characteristic old-growth grassland species (e.g., long-lived perennials). In light of these results, the view that all grasslands are weedy communities, trapped by fire and large herbivores in a state of arrested succession, is untenable. Moving forward, we suggest that ecologists should explicitly consider grassland assembly time and endogenous disturbance regimes in studies of plant community structure and function. We encourage environmental policymakers to prioritize old-growth grassland conservation and work to elevate the status of old-growth grasslands, alongside old-growth forests, in the public consciousness.
"A Toxic Trend"?: Generational Conflict and Connectivity in Twitter Discourse Under the #BoomerRemover Hashtag

Background and objectives This study examines the #BoomerRemover hashtag on Twitter to understand discourses of intergenerational conflict and unity that emerged during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic. The research highlights conflict and connection surrounding generational cohorts via social media, particularly in a time of crisis. Research design and methods The study used an inductive-dominant qualitative content analysis to examine 536 tweets collected between March 9 and April 9, 2020 under #BoomerRemover. Results Data analysis revealed five forms of conflictive generational discourse: derogatory endorsement of the #BoomerRemover moniker, conflict regarding the nature and origins of the moniker, conflict surrounding the virus, political conflict, and generational jabs. Two forms of intergenerationally unifying discourse were identified: implicit and explicit pleas for connectivity. Discussion and implications The analysis of discourse under #BoomerRemover revealed more nuanced expressions surrounding generational cohorts than widely reported in media outlets. Some users tweeted the hashtag in ways that reflected conflict, with #BoomerRemover acting as a vector through which stereotypes were perpetuated and magnified. However, a number of users tweeted the hashtag to call for intergenerational connectivity, highlighting the complexity of online discourse. These results yield implications for the study of online generational discourse, particularly in light of the unique circumstances surrounding the pandemic.
Not all boomers: temporal orientation explains inter- and intra-cultural variability in the link between age and climate engagement

Some previous work suggests that older adults, relative to younger adults and teenagers, are less engaged with climate change; yet, this pattern is not consistently found across all countries or populations. Here, we consider whether temporal orientation might act as a boundary condition for age effects on climate change engagement. We assess whether cultural (study 1) and inter-individual (study 2) differences in temporal orientation moderate the tendency for older adults to be less engaged with climate change than younger adults. Study 1 (N = 44,387) reveals that among European countries, countries with a greater long-term orientation tend to show a weaker (i.e., less negative) relationship between age and the salience of climate change (i.e., cognitive engagement with the topic). Study 2 (N = 798) demonstrates that in the USA, the negative relationship between age and climate action intentions becomes smaller in magnitude (i.e., less negative) among those higher in consideration of future consequences, but increases in those higher in consideration of immediate consequences. These findings support the notion that it is a confluence of age and present orientation (and low future orientation) that that drives age-related declines in climate engagement.
How did beliefs and perceptions about e-cigarettes change after national news coverage of the EVALI outbreak?

Introduction Exposure to media content can shape public opinions about tobacco. In early September 2019, the outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) became headline news in the United States. Methods In August and September 2019, we conducted two cross-sectional online surveys with current and former smokers assessing attitudes and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Study one (n = 865) was collected before the EVALI outbreak was widely covered and study two (n = 344) was collected after the outbreak had become nation-wide news. We examined differences in perceptions and beliefs between time points. Results E-cigarette harm perceptions increased between study one (mean = 2.67) and study two (mean = 2.90, p < .05). Ever-users of e-cigarettes largely account for this change. Endorsement of the belief that e-cigarettes were risky and more likely to cause lung damage compared to cigarettes increased between studies (p < .05). Seventy eight percent of participants at study two were aware of the vaping illness story. Being aware of the story was associated with more endorsement of the belief that e-cigarettes were risky to use, but not that using e-cigarettes would make the participant more likely to get damaged lungs. Discussion When the stories about the health and safety of tobacco products dominate the public information environment, it presents an opportunity to change beliefs that are frequently targeted by paid health campaigns. Changes in participant’s perceptions of e-cigarettes were associated with coverage of this large news story, underscoring the importance of working to ensure that coverage is a scientifically accurate as possible.