cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Air bubble in anterior chamber as indicator of full-thickness incisions in femtosecond-assisted astigmatic keratotomy

Femtosecond-assisted astigmatic keratotomy is predictable and precise but may occasionally lead to a full-thickness incision on the cornea and the attendant complications. The presence of an air bubble in the anterior chamber soon after creation of the keratotomy by the femtosecond laser may indicate a full-thickness incision. We present a case in which recognition of this clinical finding early in the procedure might have prevented undesirable complications, such as leakage of aqueous and the potential for intraocular infection. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Distinct Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells Differ in Versican/PG-M Expression

Abstract Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) with distinct phenotypes are present in blood vessels, and distinct culture types appear when SMCs are maintained in vitro. For example, cultured SMCs from rat adult media grow as bipolar cells, which differ in gene expression from the predominantly cobblestone-shaped SMCs from rat pup aortas and rat neointimas that we call π SMCs. Since proteoglycans are present at different concentrations in the normal intima and media and are elevated in atherosclerotic plaque, we sought to determine whether π and adult medial SMC types synthesize different or unique proteoglycans that are characteristic of each phenotype. [35S]sulfate-labeled proteoglycans were purified by ion-exchange chromatography. An adult medial SMC line synthesized a large proteoglycan (0.2 Kav on Sepharose CL-2B) that was not detectable in a π SMC line. Digestion of this proteoglycan with chondroitin ABC lyase revealed three core glycoproteins of 330, 370, and 450 kD. By Western blot analysis, the two smallest of these reacted with two antibodies to the human fibroblast proteoglycan versican. RNAs hybridizing to versican probes were found only in adult medial–type SMCs, including an adult medial type clone from pup aorta, by Northern blot analysis. Both SMC types synthesize RNAs that hybridize to probes for other proteoglycans, such as perlecan, biglycan, and decorin. We conclude that rat π SMC cultures, unlike monkey, human, and rat adult medial SMC cultures, express little or no versican. This difference in expression may be responsible for the different morphologies and growth properties of the two cell types.
Selective peripheral regulation of noradrenaline and adrenaline release by nitric oxide.

SUMMARY 1. Nitric oxide (NO) has complex effects on the sympathoadrenal and cardiovascular systems and may act at both central and peripheral loci. Nitric oxide appears to act directly on blood vessels and indirectly by modulating the sympathoadrenal system. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of catecholamine release from peripheral vascular and adrenal sympathetic nerves to the cardiovascular effects of the NO synthesis inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 mg/kg). Our experiments were perfomed in pithed vagotomized rats to remove the influence of central and baroreflex pathways. 2. Spinal cord stimulations for 30 s periods at 1, 2, 5 and 10 Hz using pulses of 1 msec at 10 V caused marked increases in plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline. NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester did not alter resting plasma catecholamine concentrations. However, L-NAME generally more than doubled stimulation-evoked release of adrenaline while reducing the extent of noradrenaline release relative to vehicle (saline)-treated controls. 3. NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester significantly enhanced the vasopressor responses to spinal cord stimulation. The α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.2 mg/kg) reduced the pressor responses of electrically stimulated L-NAME-treated rats to levels below those of vehicle-treated control rats. 4. In the absence of electrical stimulation, L-NAME raised the blood pressure of pithed rats without altering plasma catecholamines and the pressor effect was briefly attenuated by L-arginine, but was unaffected by prazosin. 5. We conclude that the augmented pressor response to sympathetic stimulation in L-NAME-treated pithed rats is due largely to enhanced adrenal adrenaline release mediated by a peripheral mechanism. Stimulation of α1-adrenoceptors plays a major role in the pressor response to electrical stimulation of L-NAME-treated rats, but this is not due to L-NAME augmentation of noradrenaline release from vascular sympathetic nerves.
Children’s Work: The Less-Considered Childhood Occupation

Children's work has largely been overlooked by researchers of many disciplines due to sociohistorical trends that fostered the notion that childhood should be a time free of work. Likewise, it has received little attention in occupational therapy most likely due to the influence of these historical developments on occupational therapy rhetoric and values. This paper begins by describing the influence of child labor laws and reformation on children's participation in work. Next, using a comprehensive review of the literature gathered from social sciences, a critical examination of the historical and current research on children's work is provided. This synthesis is framed in concepts of occupational science analyzing the evidence that describes the nature, form, function, and meaning of children's work. For occupational therapists working with children with disabilities, this research provides beginning guidelines for occupation-based work interventions and typical expectations for nondisabled children that may be applied using clinical reasoning to populations with disabilities.
Deconstructing switch-reference

This paper develops a new view on switch-reference, a phenomenon commonly taken to involve a morphological marker on a verb indicating whether the subject of this verb is coreferent with or disjoint from the subject of another verb. I propose a new structural source of switch-reference marking, which centers around coordination at different heights of the clausal structure, coupled with distinct morphological realizations of the syntactic coordination head. Conjunction of two VPs has two independent consequences: First, only a single external argument is projected; second, the coordinator head is realized by some marker A (the ‘same subject’ marker). Conjunction of two vPs, by contrast, leads to projection of two independent external arguments and a different realization of the coordination by a marker B (the ‘different subject’ marker). The hallmark properties of this analysis are that (i) subject identity or disjointness is only indirectly tied to the switch-reference markers, furnishing a straightforward account of cases where this correlation breaks down; (ii) switch-reference does not operate across fully developed clauses, which accounts for the widely observed featural defectiveness of switch-reference clauses; (iii) ‘same subject’ and ‘different subject’ constructions differ in their syntactic structure, thus accommodating cases where the choice of the switch-reference markers has an impact on event structure. The analysis is mainly developed on the basis of evidence from the Mexican language Seri, the Papuan language Amele, and the North-American language Kiowa.
Direct Gas-Chromatographic Measurement of Acetic, Propionic, and Butyric Acids in Milk Serum and Aqueous Extracts of Cheese

Abstract Acetic, propionic, and butyric acids in milk and ripened cheeses were separated quantitatively by a gas-chromatographic technique, using uncoated porous polyaromatic polymer beads as the column packing. Milk sera and aqueous extracts of ripened cheeses were injected directly on to the column and the eluted fatty acids estimated by a hydrogen flame detector. Quantitative recoveries of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids added to milk were obtained. The sensitivity of the method is sufficient for cheese-ripening studies.
Practical aspects of simulating systems having arrival processes with long-range dependence

Analysis of network traffic indicates that packet arrival processes have significant stochastic dependence. It has been suggested that this dependence is so strong as to be well-modeled by long-range dependent processes. The fact that no finite process can be said to be truly long-range dependent poses potentially serious obstacles to simulation modeling. In this paper, we explore some of these obstacles and propose practical methods for obtaining useful results with simulations of manageable duration.
Development of amphiphylic mimics of insect neuropeptides for pest control.

: Insect neuropeptides regulate virtually all aspects of insect life and are excellent candidates for development of new methods for pest control. However, they do not penetrate insect cuticle and are degraded by enzymes both in the digestive system and hemolymph. We have designed mimics of model neuropeptides by attachment of various lipidic moieties to the amino terminus of the bioactive core of the neuropeptides. These mimics have amphiphylic characteristics that allowed them to penetrate the hydrophobic insect cuticle. The mimics also induced prolonged physiological responses (up to 20 hours) and were resistant to peptidase attack. This knowledge has been used to develop a novel, species-specific approach to insect control.
Anterior-posterior differences in vertebrate segments: specification of trunk and tail somites in the zebrafish blastula.

During vertebrate embryogenesis, the primary body axis grows posteriorly and is concomitantly segmented into somites, the precursors of the vertebral column, skeletal muscle, and dermis. The somites arise sequentially, with the anterior somites that give rise to the cervical vertebrae created early. The more posterior somites that become the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral vertebrae form at progressively later times. During the axis elongation period, the embryo must parse the somite precursors ap
Sidelobe suppression in a desired range/doppler interval

We present simple methods for constructing radar waveforms whose ambiguity functions are free of sidelobes inside a desired range or Doppler interval. We exploit the time-frequency duality between pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) to sequence Golay complementary codes across time or frequency and clear out range/Doppler sidelobes. Proper sequencing of complementary codes in time (PAM design) enables the annihilation of range sidelobes along a desired Doppler interval. The dual design, i.e., OFDM signaling of complementary codes, enables the annihilation of Doppler sidelobes along a desired range interval. The two designs can be used sequentially to bring weak targets out of the sidelobes of nearby strong reflectors inside a range-Doppler interval of interest.
Microbial reductive dehalogenation of polychlorinated biphenyls

Under anaerobic conditions, microbial reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) occurs in soils and aquatic sediments. In contrast to dechlorination of supplemented single congeners for which frequently ortho dechlorination has been observed, reductive dechlorination mainly attacks meta and/or para chlorines of PCB mixtures in contaminated sediments, although in a few instances ortho dechlorination of PCBs has been observed. Different microorganisms appear to be responsible for different dechlorination activities and the occurrence of various dehalogenation routes. No axenic cultures of an anaerobic microorganism have been obtained so far. Most probable number determinations indicate that the addition of PCB congeners, as potential electron acceptors, stimulates the growth of PCB-dechlorinating microorganisms. A few PCB-dechlorinating enrichment cultures have been obtained and partially characterized. Temperature, pH, availability of naturally occurring or of supplemented carbon sources, and the presence or absence of H2 or other electron donors and competing electron acceptors influence the dechlorination rate, extent and route of PCB dechlorination. We conclude from the sum of the experimental data that these factors influence apparently the composition of the active microbial community and thus the routes, the rates and the extent of the dehalogenation. The observed effects are due to the specificity of the dehalogenating bacteria which become active as well as changing interactions between the dehalogenating and non-dehalogenating bacteria. Important interactions include the induced changes in the formation and utilization of H2 by non-dechlorinating and dechlorinating bacteria, competition for substrates and other electron donors and acceptors, and changes in the formation of acidic fermentation products by heterotrophic and autotrophic acidogenic bacteria leading to changes in the pH of the sediments.
Looking at School from the House Window: Learning from Turkish-American Parents’ Experiences with Early Elementary Education in the United States

This retrospective study is an in-depth investigation of the perspectives of Turkish immigrant parents on their children’s early schooling in the United States (PreK-3). It specifically explores how these parents connect with or are disconnected from school culture, and how their socio-cultural understanding of education and teachers influence their relationships with schools. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 18 parents from 10 families. Findings suggest that Turkish parents negotiated the ways curriculum and instruction is constructed in American schools—such as their assumptions about the lack of academic rigor—while they also embraced sound pedagogies the teachers practiced. Through their experiences with schooling in the United States, Turkish parents reconsidered their sociocultural perspectives on the role of the teacher in their children’s lives based on their experiences with their children’s teachers. The parents also reported their challenges in understanding school culture and curriculum, and described how they negotiated their access to the school culture. The results indicate the need for a stronger partnership between home and school. Teachers could support parents in their struggle to access to the culture of schooling by establishing an eagerness for communication and a reciprocal personal connection with families, who already socioculturally assume the teacher’s role as part of family.
Cholesterol concentration in human serum and blood cells.

Summary1) Direct analyses of cholesterol in blood cells from 38 men yielded average value of 137.7 mg/100 ml and there was no correlation with serum values in these samples. Standard deviation of these cell values was only 6.5 and part of this small value is accounted for by analytical error. Indirect estimates agreed closely but variability was larger. 2) In 2 dietary experiments on 6 men which produced average changes of −63.8 and + 51.8 mg of cholesterol/100 ml of serum, there were no significant changes in cholesterol concentration in the cells.We acknowledge the help of Dr. Joseph T. Anderson in chemical analyses and of Jaakko Kihlberg in the statistical work.
46.1: New Concept for Large Area White OLED Production for Lighting

A new concept of a vertical in-line deposition machine for large area white OLED production has been developed. The machine concept and linear evaporation source designed for up to Gen 4 substrates resulted in material utilization of > 50 %. A vacuum handling and alignment system for shadow masks has been developed.
Intrauterine effects of ultrasound: human epidemiology

Ultrasound imaging has been used clinically as an effective diagnostic tool over the past 30 years. In spite of literally millions of examinations, there is no verified documented evidence of adverse effects in patients caused by exposure to diagnostic ultrasound. A number of epidemiological studies of intrauterine ultrasound exposure have been conducted, including several case-control and prospective randomized control studies. In some studies, an association of one or another bioeffect was identified, such as low birth weight, delayed speech, or increased incidence of left-handedness. However, with the exception of low birth weight, these findings have never been duplicated, and the great majority of such studies have been completely negative.
Extended‐release felodipine in patients with mild to moderate hypertension

Two hundred eighty-six patients with mild to moderate hypertension who had untreated diastolic blood pressure while seated of 95 to 115 mm Hg were randomized to receive placebo or once-daily doses of 2.5, 5, or 10 mg of the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker felodipine extended release (ER). Blood pressure was measured 24 hours after dosing (at trough). Mean reductions in diastolic blood pressure after 8 weeks of double-blind treatment were significantly greater in each of the ER felodipine treatment groups (2.5, 5, and 10 mg ER felodipine: -7.8, -9.5, and -11.3 mm Hg, respectively) than in the placebo group (-5.3 mm Hg). The effect was dose dependent for both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Moreover, much of the peak antihypertensive effect was still present at trough, confirming the 24-hour efficacy of the drug. Felodipine was well tolerated.
A feature-based image registration algorithm using improved chain-code representation combined with invariant moments

A new feature-based approach to automated image-to-image registration is presented. The characteristic of this approach is that it combines an invariant-moment shape descriptor with improved chain-code matching to establish correspondences between the potentially matched regions detected from the two images. It is robust in that it overcomes the difficulties of control-point correspondence by matching the images both in the feature space, using the principle of minimum distance classifier (based on the combined criteria), and sequentially in the image space, using the rule of root mean-square error (RMSE). In image segmentation, the performance of the Laplacian of Gaussian operators is improved by introducing a new algorithm called thin and robust zero crossing. After the detected edge points are refined and sorted, regions are defined. Region correspondences are then performed by an image-matching algorithm developed in this research. The centers of gravity are then extracted from the matched regions and are used as control points. Transformation parameters are estimated based on the final matched control-point pairs. The algorithm proposed is automated, robust, and of significant value in an operational context. Experimental results using multitemporal Landsat TM imagery are presented.
Multi-Scale Statistical Detection and Ballistic Imaging Through Turbid Media

We exploit recent advances in the physical design of fast optical systems which enable active imaging with "ballistic" light. In this modality, fast bursts of optical energy are propagated into a medium, and the ballistic component of light (which travels with minimal diffusive distortion) is detected after transmission through the target and the medium. To improve the detection rate of the common single pixel optimal detectors, we exploit sampling at a diversity of locations in space, and develop a multi-scale algorithm based upon the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) framework, which takes advantage of the spatial correlation of nearby samples. Experimental results show that objects of different size and shape that are completely unrecognizable using the common single pixel detection techniques, are detectable with very high accuracy using the said multi-scale GLRT technique.
Soft tissue anomalies in a patient with congenital tibial aplasia and talo-calcaneal synchrondrosis

We have carried out the third in a series of anatomical dissections of amputated congenitally deformed human limbs in an attempt to determine the etiological relationship between the bony and soft tissue anomalies. This specimen consisted of a limb with congenital tibial aplasia and an adducted foot with five toes. The arterial and nerve patterns were reminiscent of those seen previously by us. The arteries were characterized by absence of the anterior tibial artery and an incomplete plantar arch. The superficial peroneal nerve terminated at the ankle. Extra branches from the sural, deep peroneal, and medial plantar nerves supplied branches to the dorsum of the foot. There were two extra muscles in the leg. The remaining muscles were normal, with the exception that most muscles normally inserting on the plantar surface of the foot inserted instead into a common tendon sheet. The tibia was replaced by a tendinous band, and the talus and calcaneus were united by a complete synchondrosis. The contralateral limb clinically appeared to have a clubfoot. The combination of an absent anterior tibial artery and an incomplete plantar arch is consistent with our theory that a reduced number of vessels puts the embryonic limb at increased risk of congenital defects due to the reduction in the number of collateral blood routes. Some event, such as extravasation of blood or embolization, may concurrently or subsequently compromise blood flow in the remaining vessels. We have previously observed abnormal arterial patterns similar to that described above in limbs having absence of the tibia and in other patients having clubfeet. The presence of abnormal arterial patterns in a limb with absence of the tibia and a contralateral limb with clubfoot suggests that absent tibia and clubfoot may be etiologically related.
Understanding the roles of non-state actors in global governance: evidence from the Global Partnership for Education

AbstractThe study detailed in this paper examines the growing role of non-state actors in the transnational policy-making landscape through a case study of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) – a partnership of donor and developing country governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, private companies and foundations, dedicated to increasing access to quality education worldwide. Conducted through a constructivist lens, this study examines the roles of non-state GPE partners who collaborate as diverse stakeholders within this single policy-making forum. Via a process-tracing analysis, including an examination of GPE meeting documents and interviews with members of the GPE Board of Directors and Secretariat staff, I trace the past and current roles of non-state partners within the GPE – in particular, civil society, private foundations and private companies. I conclude that the GPE has evolved into a forum in which civil society actors have become relatively influential, while private sec...
Alvocidib (flavopiridol) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Alvocidib, which has orphan drug designation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from the FDA and the EMA, is a plant-derived semisynthetic flavone that acts as a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. It induces apoptosis in CLL cells in vitro and was introduced into clinical trials in CLL as an intravenous infusion in 1997, which proved disappointing. Since the drug avidly binds to plasma proteins, higher serum concentrations were required for clinical antileukemia activity than those suggested by in vitro studies. Subsequent studies utilizing bolus plus infusional doses revealed significant activity against CLL, even in patients with unfavorable characteristics. However, significant toxicity including high rates of major tumor lysis syndrome, cytokine release syndrome and secretory diarrhea were also observed.Areas covered: The chemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of alvocidib are briefly discussed and phase I-II studies in CLL are discussed in detail. To dat...
Structure of Populations of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) with Multiple Resistance Mechanisms to Trichlorfon

Five populations of Lygus hesperus Knight collected from alfalfa fields in Utah and Idaho were exposed to a range of concentrations of trichlorfon in a contact bioassay using plastic, self-closing bags. Various degrees of resistance were noticed. Esterase activity and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) insensitivity were assayed in 160 individuals from each population. Esterase activity of the most resistant population from Idaho was more than four times that of the susceptible Utah population, and AChE of the most resistant population was only one-third as sensitive to 10-7 M paraoxon. We detected a linear correlation between esterase activity and AChE insensitivity levels with the logarithm of the LC50s. Population structures were discerned from distribution patterns of esterase activities and AChE insensitivities, as well as from slopes of the responses. The susceptible population was very homogeneous and the resistant populations were more heterogeneous. Interactions between the multiple resistance mechanisms are discussed.
A CONCOMITANT PRESENTATION OF THYROID STORM AND DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Manifestations of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism on the cardiovascular system are related to the effects of triiodothyronine(T3). More commonly, the hemodynamic effects of hyperthyroidism include: decreased SVR, increased HR, increased LV contractility and increased blood volume all resulting in
What Should the Introductory Statistics Course Contain

(1988). What Should the Introductory Statistics Course Contain?… The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 26-29.
Analysis on chemical contaminant monitoring result of food in Baotou city from 2010 to 2012

Objective:To understand the pollution of chemical contamination in food in Baotou.Methods: According to "Food safety risk monitoring plan of Inner Mongolia",different kinds of food were collected to monitor and analyze some heavy metals,food additives,pesticide residues and other chemical contaminants in Baotou urban and two counties from 2010 to 2012.Results: As to metals pollution,the over-limit rate was 3.75%(12/320) for lead,2.50%(6/240) for cadmium,31.00%(31/3100) for aluminum.While the over-limit rate of food additives was 4.52%(14/310),including nitrite(5.00%),sodium saccharin(15.56%),benzoic acid and sorbic acid(6.67%).The over-limit rate of vegetable residues was 5.00% and methamidophos was not detected.In addition,the prohibited additives and mycotoxins were found in the limited range.Conclusion: The overall level of chemical contaminations in market food was low,but there are still contamination in some food,more attention should be paid to take specific measures to strengthen supervision to ensure public health.
Supportive medical care in life-threatening illness: A pilot study.

Objective The goal of this pilot study was to identify the processes by which healing occurs in patients who experience a life-threatening illness. Method Healing was examined by using two qualitative studies that employed a semistructured interview process (interviews lasted between 30 and 115 minutes). There were 10 cardiac event survivors and 9 cancer survivors. These participants came from a community hospital setting (cardiac), nonmedical holistic services organization (cancer), and a research hospital (cancer). Before participants could take part in the study, they were administered preliminary screening measurements, the first of which was an instrument similar to the Distress Thermometer. Participants then self-reported their positive life-transforming changes. If one to three changes were reported six months after onset of the illness, participants were deemed to have passed the screening. Finally, participants were tested for speaking volume and clarity. Results An overall theme that was prevalent throughout the interviews was medical support. Participants found that their positive, life-transforming changes were typically connected with supportive caregivers who helped to create a culture of care. They also indicated that an absence of this medical supportive care hindered development of such life-transforming changes. Significance of results Our results indicate that a medical care team will be more effective if a positive culture of care is created. This can be implemented if the team provides comfort, which involves being more engaged in the treatment of patients as well as being more attentive to their psychosocial needs.
Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Surgical Patients

Factors to be considered in the selection of a proper antibiotic for a particular surgical patient include taking into account the pathogen likely to cause infection in the procedure planned, the current antibiotic profile in the local hospital or community, and the risk of adverse side effects. Specific guidelines for the prophylactic use of antibiotics in various categories of wounds are discussed.
Development of measurement techniques and tools for coexistence testing of wireless medical devices

The 2.4 GHz ISM band is crowded with a wide variety of wireless devices operating under various protocols. For many reasons, medical device manufacturers are increasingly incorporating wireless technologies into their devices, many of which operate in the ISM band. Monitoring and characterizing wireless spectrum utilization is vital to better plan wireless network deployments and to assess the risk of interference. This work introduces measurement techniques and tools to aid in providing reliable spectrum utilization characterization for coexistence testing of wireless medical devices. Measurements obtained from developed tools can help the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and medical device manufacturers to gain a better understanding of expected interference factors. Wireless medical device testing with these tools could ensure a reliable device that will enhance patient safety and accelerate introducing innovative wireless medical devices to market.
Matching at Human Leukocyte Antigen-C Improved the Outcomes after Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Recipients of Two to Four of Six Human Leukocyte Antigen-Matched Grafts.

Abstract We studied the effect of HLA-C matching in 515 patients after double umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. After HLA matching HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 at the allele level, we scored patients according to number of donor-recipient HLA-C matches at 4 possible loci: 2 from each donor unit, at the allele level. Given a direct interaction between HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 matching and HLA-C score, we analyzed HLA-C matching in those receiving at least 1 2/6 to 4/6 HLA–matched unit (n = 389) versus those receiving only 5/6 or 6/6–matched units (n = 126). In those with at least 1 2/6 to 4/6 HLA–matched unit, a better HLA-C matching score was associated with significantly lower risk of death of any cause and nonrelapse mortality and better disease-free survival. There was no association with the risk of relapse, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, and hematopoietic recovery. In contrast, among patients receiving only allele-level 5/6 or 6/6 HLA–matched UCB units, HLA-C match had no demonstrable effect on any outcome. For patients receiving at least 1 allele-level 2/6 to 4/6 HLA–matched UCB unit, matching at HLA-C reduces nonrelapse mortality and improves survival.
Phytoecdysteroids as antifeedants towards several beetles that include polyphagous and monophagous feeding guilds.

Background Plants are thought to produce ecdysteroids as a means of protection from insect herbivores. Some insects will not feed on plants containing high amounts of phytoecdysteroids, and this response could be limited to monophagous and oligophagous insects. The aim of this study was to determine whether phytoecdysteroids could inhibit feeding in several species of beetles that range from monophagous to polyphagous. Results Here we demonstrate that phytoecdysteroids, including 20-hydroxyecdysone, prevent several beetle species from feeding on preferred host plants, including the polyphagous Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (Scarabaeidae). Phytoecdysteroids prevented feeding damage when sprayed onto soybean plants in no-choice and choice assays in a dose-dependent manner. Laboratory assays indicate that other plants could be protected from Japanese beetle herbivory, including linden, wild grape, elm, Virginia creeper and rose leaves. Additional beetle species tested in the family Chrysomelidae included the oligophagous Cerotoma trifurcata and Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and the monophagous Trirhabda canadensis. All species were prevented from feeding when their preferred host plants were treated with phytoecdysteroids. Conclusion This study demonstrates that beetles, representing polyphagous and monophagous feeding guilds, can be prevented from feeding when phytoecdysteroids are applied to the leaf surface. The phytoecdysteroids could be utilized in pest management towards a variety of beetles, including the more pestiferous polyphagous species, if the compounds are placed on the leaf surface. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Permission to be confused: Toward a second wave of critical Whiteness pedagogy

ABSTRACTThis article considers second wave critical Whiteness pedagogy by examining the author's teacher-researcher implementation of teaching project about Whiteness in a large, suburban high school near a major city in the Midwest. The author relies on narrative scholarship in order to both tell and interpret stories about a yearlong project that used Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) and playbuilding to guide a group of mostly white 9th-12th graders through a consideration of Whiteness. This article especially focuses on the way one white student described her participation in the project.
A review of the state-of-the-art in solar-driven gasification processes with carbonaceous materials

Abstract Gasification of carbonaceous feedstock with process heat derived from concentrated solar irradiation has been shown as a promising renewable pathway towards producing synthesis gas (mixtures of H2/CO and some CO2). The carbonaceous feedstock is upgraded in calorific content equal to the enthalpy change of the endothermic reaction, which results in the net storage of solar energy in a chemical form. The process is carbon-neutral when biomass is used and the feedstock is transformed into a fuel with applications to more efficient processes (e.g., Air-Brayton cycle), and the resulting syngas can be converted to liquid hydrocarbon fuels via know catalytic routes. A comprehensive summary is provided of the state-of-the-art in solar gasification, including thermodynamic and kinetic analyses and thermochemical reactor modeling, fabrication and testing for a range of carbonaceous feedstocks.
Are we becoming inaccessible caregivers

This essay is a personal reflection of my mindset as a caregiver, and how that has evolved throughout my training.
Transgender and Gender Diverse Children: Considerations for Affirmative Social Work Practice

Given growing public awareness about transgender and gender diverse identities, it is expected that greater numbers of children and families will seek mental health and social services, including transition-related services, from social workers and other mental health professionals. Transgender and gender diverse children have a range of transition-related needs which require the support of informed practitioners with transgender and gender diverse-specific knowledge and skills. Moreover, the needs and experiences of families and caregivers of transgender and gender diverse children will vary greatly. To date, research suggests a paucity of transgender and gender diverse-specific expertise among social workers and other mental health providers; this seems particularly evident with respect to the needs of transgender and gender diverse children. An affirmative practice framework to guide therapeutic work with transgender and gender diverse children and families is presented. In addition, key clinical practice considerations associated with engagement, assessment, psychoeducation, support and referral are provided. Finally, clinical examples illustrating use of the affirmative practice approach with transgender and gender diverse children are provided.
Similarities Between Large Animal-Related and Motor Vehicle Crash-Related Injuries.

Objective Many Americans sustain large animal-related injuries (LARIs) from blunt trauma. We compare the injuries and management of LARI in our region of the United States with those of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Methods A 15-year retrospective study of trauma patients with LARI matched to MVC controls by Injury Severity Score (ISS), age, and sex was conducted. Values were statistically compared, and differences were considered statistically significant at P Results There were 156 LARI cases, of which 87% were related to horses, 8% to bulls, and the remainder to deer, mules, bison, cows, and rams. In the LARI group, the age was 42±18 years (mean±SD), ISS was 7±4, and 61% were females. The MVC group had a significantly longer length of hospital stay (5±5 vs 4±3 days) and blood alcohol concentration (35±84 vs 3±20 g/L). There were no significant differences in injury patterns between LARI and MVC; however, additional radiological studies (RS) were performed on MVC (9±6 vs 7±5). LARI patients were more often transferred from rural locations (39% vs 25%) and traveled further to our trauma center (40±32 vs 24±29 km) than did MVC patients. Conclusions LARI has a similar pattern of injury to MVC, but fewer RS. LARI typically occurred further away, requiring transfer from rural areas to our institution. We recommend a similar approach for the evaluation of LARI and MVC.
Understanding Moisture-Associated Skin Damage, Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injuries, and Skin Tears.

GENERAL PURPOSE:To provide information on superficial skin issues related to moisture-associated skin damage, medical adhesive-related skin injury, and skin tears.TARGET AUDIENCE:This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with
The Psychic Life of the Political: A Conversation with Derek Hook

In his interview Derek Hook argues for a more sustained psychosocial engagement with the temporalities of overlapping and entangled histories that comprise psychological systems of knowledge. Through his scholarship, he observes the complex relationship between human desire and power as it continually forms and returns in the complex flow of political and psychological streams of human experience (Hook 2012a, b, c, 2013c, d). The interview with Hook offer the reader a critical engagement with crucial aspects of psychosocial discourse, including such issues as the racialization of space, remembrance, the body, human identity, oppression, structural violence, and mental illness, in order to explore the psychical mechanisms that undergird and substantiate these modes of reality.
Esophagectomy versus endoscopic resection for patients with early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma: A National Cancer Database propensity-matched study

Abstract Objectives Endoscopic resection has been rapidly adopted in the treatment of early-stage esophageal tumors. We compared the outcomes after esophagectomy or endoscopic resection for stage T1a adenocarcinoma. Methods We queried the National Cancer Database for patients with T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent esophagectomy or endoscopic resection and generated a balanced cohort with 735 matched pairs using propensity-score matching. We then performed a multivariable Cox regression analysis on the matched and unmatched cohorts. Results We identified 2173 patients; 1317 (60.6%) underwent esophagectomy, and 856 (39.4%) underwent endoscopic resection. In the unmatched cohort, patients who underwent esophagectomy were younger, more often not treated in academic settings, and more likely to have comorbidities (30.4% vs 22.5%, P = .002). They had longer hospital stays and more readmissions than patients who underwent endoscopic resection. Factors positively affecting overall survival were younger age, resection at an academic medical center, and lower Charlson–Deyo comorbidity score. In the matched cohort, patients who underwent esophagectomy had longer hospital stays and were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days (7.0% vs 0.6%, P P = .003), but this was reversed for survival greater than 90 days (hazard ratio, 1.34; P = .02). Conclusions In patients with early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma, survival appears equivalent after endoscopic resection or esophagectomy, but endoscopic resection is associated with shorter hospital stays, fewer readmissions, and less 90-day mortality. In patients surviving more than 90 days, esophagectomy may provide better overall survival.
A novel fluorescence microscopy image deconvolution approach

Superresolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) is an attractive and affordable alternative to more established superresolution imaging methods. It provides moderate resolution enhancement and an efficient estimation of the optical point spread function (PSF). Moreover, further resolution enhancement could be achieved by deconvolution of the SOFI image. In this paper, we propose a novel image deconvolution approach based on the shearlet transform and the fractional-order total variation (FOTV) to further improve SOFI images. Since SOFI PSF estimation is imperfect in practice, we also propose a prior-guided semi-blind deconvolution method. Numerical experiments on simulated images with microtubule-like structures have shown that our proposed algorithms can recover filamentous features with high accuracy and outperforms other state-of-the-art deconvolution methods.
Correlation and Gene Co-Expression Networks

A correlation network is a network whose adjacency matrix is constructed on the basis of pairwise correlations between numeric vectors. The numeric vectors may represent observed quantitative measurements of variables. For example, the gene expression levels (transcript abundances) across different conditions can be represented by a numeric vector. In general, the relationship between a pair of numeric vectors can be measured in many ways, in particular, using a correlation coefficient (e.g., the Pearson-, Spearman-, or biweight mid-correlation) or using the concordance index. Mouse gene expression data are used to illustrate how network concepts can be used to describe the pairwise relationships among gene expression profiles. While cluster trees and heat maps can be used to visualize relationships between variables, concepts of correlation networks can be used to quantify them. Brain cancer gene expression data are used to illustrate the topological effects of hard- and soft-thresholding. We provide an overview of weighted gene coexpression network analysis and different gene network (re-)construction methods.
Stable heteroclinic channels for slip control of a peristaltic crawling robot

Stable Heteroclinic Channels (SHCs) are continuous dynamical systems capable of generating rhythmic output of varying period in response to sensory inputs or noise. This feature can be used to control state transitions smoothly. We demonstrate this type of controller in a dynamic simulation of a worm-like robot crawling through a pipe with a narrowing in radius. Our SHC controller allows for improved adaptation to a change in pipe diameter with more rapid movement and less energy loss. In an example narrowing pipe, this controller loses 40% less energy to slip compared to the best-fit sine wave controller.
Immunosuppression: Trends and Tolerance?

Advances in pharmacologic immunosuppression are responsible for the excellent outcomes experienced by recipients of liver transplants. However, long-term follow-up of these patients reveals an increasing burden of morbidity and mortality that is attributable to these drugs. The authors summarize the agents used in contemporary liver transplantation immunosuppression protocols and discuss the emerging trend within the community to minimize or eliminate these agents from use. The authors present recently published data that may provide the foundation for immunosuppression minimization or tolerance induction in the future and review studies that have focused on the utility of biomarkers in guiding immunosuppression management.
Coronavirus-Induced Demyelination and Spontaneous Remyelination

MHV-A59 coronavirus infection produces a transient episode of demyelination that is followed by spontaneous remyelination. This paradigm provides a complex lesion environment to examine cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in successful CNS remyelination. Our work in this model has focused on the roles of platelet-derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2 in regulating oligodendrocyte progenitor responses required for remyelination.
A Pilot Study of Inspiratory Muscle Training to Improve Exercise Capacity in Patients with Fontan Physiology.

While the Fontan procedure has improved life expectancy, patients with single ventricle physiology have impaired exercise capacity due to limited increase in pulmonary blood flow during activity. Enhancing the “thoracic pump” using inspiratory muscle training (IMT) may ameliorate this impairment. Adult nonsmokers with Fontan physiology were recruited through Boston Children's Hospital's outpatient clinic. Participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing and pulmonary function testing, followed by 12 weeks of IMT and then repeat testing. The primary endpoint was change in % predicted peak oxygen consumption (VO2). Secondary endpoints were changes in other exercise metrics. Eleven patients (6 male) were enrolled. Median ages at time of enrollment and Fontan completion were 28.8 years (25.7, 45.5) and 7.8 years (3.9, 16.5), respectively. Average baseline maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was normal; only 2 patients had MIP
Organochlorine Contaminants in Loggerhead Sea Turtle Blood: Extraction Techniques and Distribution Among Plasma and Red Blood Cells

Few studies have described the organochlorine (OC) contaminant concentrations found in sea turtle tissues. These studies have relied on the opportunistic sampling of either eggs or tissues from stranded carcasses. In this study, the use of whole blood samples as well as both blood components (plasma and red blood cells) were examined as a non-destructive alternative for monitoring OCs in free-ranging loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Blood samples were collected from juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (n = 12) captured in Core Sound, North Carolina, USA and analyzed for 55 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 24 OC pesticides by gas chromatography with electron capture detection and mass spectrometry. Using pooled loggerhead sea turtle whole blood, three different liquid:liquid extraction techniques were compared. Results were similar in terms of recovery of internal standards, lipids, and OC concentrations. An extraction technique, employing formic acid and 1:1 methyl-tert-butyl-ether:hexane, was found to be satisfactory. This method was applied to the extraction of OCs from whole blood, plasma, and red blood cell (RBC) samples from five loggerhead sea turtles. Plasma contained the highest OC concentrations on a wet mass basis, followed by whole blood and RBCs. The majority of each OC compound was found in the plasma rather than the RBCs, suggesting that OC compounds preferentially partition into the plasma. On average (SD), 89.4% (3.1%) of total PCBs, 83.4% (11.9%) of total chlordanes, 74.3% (15.1%) of mirex, 72.6% (4.8%) of total DDTs, and 80.1% (16.6%) of dieldrin were found in the plasma. The concentrations of total PCBs, mirex, total chlordanes, and total DDTs measured in both components of the blood significantly correlated to those in whole blood. These are the first reported OC concentrations in sea turtle blood. They were found to be similar to previously reported levels in blood components of humans and of reptiles from relatively clean sites, but lower than those measured in blood of fish-eating birds and marine mammals. The results indicate that blood, preferably plasma, can be used to detect and monitor OC contaminants in loggerhead sea turtles.