cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ischaemia--reperfusion injury in the rat is modulated by superoxide generation and leads to an augmentation of the hypoxic pulmonary vascular response.

1. The effects of the scavengers of reactive oxygen species superoxide dismutase and catalase, the iron chelator desferrioxamine and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and saline (control vehicle) on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, a measure of albumin flux and an index of lipid peroxidation (palmitic:linoleic acid ratio) were investigated after ischaemia-reperfusion in an isolated, blood-perfused rat lung model. 2. Lungs treated immediately before reperfusion with catalase (5,000 units), desferrioxamine (2 mg/kg), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (5 mmol/l) or saline showed a significant augmentation in pre-ischaemia-reperfusion hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (57.7 +/- 6.0%, 82.7 +/- 28.8%, 95.2 +/- 36.6% and 45.95 +/- 10.53% respectively), an increase in albumin flux (0.35 +/- 0.04, 0.31 +/- 0.06, 0.29 +/- 0.04 and 0.33 +/- 0.02) and an increase in pre-ischaemia-reperfusion palmitic:linoleic acid ratio (0.64 +/- 0.08, 0.51 +/- 0.19, 0.5 +/- 0.04 and 0.17 +/- 0.07). Superoxide dismutase (2,750 i.u.) administered immediately before reperfusion prevented completely the changes in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (-0.3 +/- 5.4%), albumin flux (0.09 +/- 0.11) and palmitic:linoleic acid ratio (-0.06 +/- 0.12). In control lungs (2h of continuous perfusion), superoxide dismutase, catalase, desferrioxamine and saline did not affect hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (5.5 +/- 4.9%, 1.0 +/- 3.1%, -5.1 +/- 1.8% and 3.0 +/- 6.6%). However, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester significantly augmented hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (275.1 +/- 39.3%). There was no effect of superoxide dismutase, catalase, desferrioxamine, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or saline in control lungs on albumin flux (0.10 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.01, 0.1 +/- 0.01, 0.12 +/- 0.01 and 0.11 +/- 0.01 respectively) or palmitic:linoleic acid ratio (-0.08 +/- 0.08, 0.73 +/- 0.76, -0.03 +/- 0.12, 0.01 +/- 0.17 and 0.00 +/- 0.0 respectively). 3. We conclude that superoxide dismutase attenuates ischaemia-reperfusion-induced increases in albumin flux and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and prevents consumption of linoleic acid in the isolated, blood-perfused rat lung.
Teaching for Creativity

What Is Creativity? Creativity is a habit (Sternberg, 2006; Tharp, 2005). Habits can be good or bad. My four-year-old daughter Brittany sucks her thumb: That's a bad habit. Creativity, however, is a good habit. The problem is that schools sometimes treat it as a bad habit (Craft, 2005), of the order of sucking one's thumb. And the world of conventional standardized tests we have invented does just that (Sternberg, 1997b; 2010a; Sternberg, Jarvin, & Grigorenko, 2011). If students try being creative on standardized tests, they will get slapped down just as soon as they get their score. That will teach them not to do it again. Oddly enough, a distinguished psychometric tester, J. P. Guilford, was one of the first to try to incorporate creativity into the school curriculum (Guilford, 1950), but his efforts show little fruit today, although more and more educators recognize the importance of teaching for creativity (Plucker & Beghetto, 2015; Reis & Renzulli, 2014). Disciples of Guilford such as MacKinnon (1962) and Torrance (1962) had little more success, although again, there are signs that their efforts may yet bear fruit. It may sound paradoxical that creativity – a novel response – is a habit – a routine response. But creative people are creative largely not as a result of any particular inborn trait, but rather through an attitude toward life (Maslow, 1967; Schank, 1988): They habitually respond to problems in fresh and novel ways, rather than allowing themselves to respond mindlessly and automatically (Sternberg, 2010c; 2013b; Sternberg & Lubart, 1992, 1995a, 1995b, 1995c). Like any habit, creativity can either be encouraged or discouraged. The main things that promote the habit are (1) opportunities to engage in it, (2) encouragement when people avail themselves of these opportunities, and (3) rewards when people respond to such encouragement and think and behave creatively. You need all three. Take away the opportunities, encouragement, or rewards, and you will take away the creativity. In this respect, creativity is no different from any other habit, good or bad.
Reappropriation of the state: The 1970s

[T]he state, born of the colonial occupation, has been the object of multiple processes of reappropriation which move it steadily away from its original form. Jean-Francois Bayart 1989:258 The neocolonial state assumed a dual task. Sustaining processes of economic growth set in motion under colonial rule was the first. The second was creating and maintaining a form of political order that would make this possible. Ann Phillips (1989) argued that its predecessor, the colonial state, had failed to reconcile these dual imperatives, for economic growth tended to destabilize mechanisms of social control (such as indirect rule) that underpinned colonial state power. This contradiction was manifest starkly in the postwar crises of the colonial political economy. Wartime exploitation of the colonies, followed by public investment to break the deadlock of economic stagnation, unleashed social forces that the colonial state could not contain – including new working classes, ambitions indigenous merchant strata, and the postwar nationalist elite. Independence and the political arrangements of the 1960s worked to incorporate these social strata into the sphere of state control. Coalitions forged within the structures of postcolonial states allowed disparate but powerful elements within African societies to share in the benefits of maintaining the economic status quo.
On A Philosophical Model of Hegel's Phenomenological Method: A Reply to Kenneth Westphal

Hegel's Phenomenology is among the most difficult, if it is not in fact the most difficult, philosophical treatise ever published. Owing to its opacity of form and content, the Phenomenology, which Hegel quite accurately describes as the highway of despair upon which natural consciousness travels to its absolute knowing, has had its share of hitchhikers (§78). In their efforts to comprehend the scenery along this highway, many readers of this text rely on any number of analytical commentaries and expositions. Westphal (2003) offers a welcomed contribution to this kind of secondary literature. As its title suggests, Westphal's text seeks to introduce Hegel's Phenomenology in a novel way, namely with explicit reference to the epistemological issue at its core. This is the Dilemma of the Criterion from Sextus Empiricus' Outlines of Pyrrhonism. (Benson 1996). In addition to introducing the central features and characteristics of the epistemological aim of the Phenomenology, Westphal devotes considerable effort to showing how, that is by what method, Hegel responds to at least Pyrrhonian skepticism. Westphal's examination of Hegel's method is framed by two questions. The first question is: what is Hegel's method? The answer that Westphal offers, namely that Hegel employs a phenomenological method, agrees with a host of classic and contemporary commentators, including Ivan Iljin (1946:126), Alexandre Kojeve (1980: Ch. 7), Kenley R. Dove (1969-70), William Maker (1982), Wendy Lynn Clark and J.M. Fritzman (2002). Nevertheless, Westphal does offer a detailed, sophisticated, and novel account of the characteristics of Hegel's phenomenological method that is unrivaled in the extant literature.
Benner's Framework and Clinical Decision-Making in the Critical Care Environment

Completed as part of a larger dissertational study, the purpose of this portion of this descriptive correlational study was to examine the relationships among registered nurses' clinical experiences and clinical decision-making processes in the critical care environment. The results indicated that there is no strong correlation between clinical experience in general and clinical experience in critical care and clinical decision-making. There were no differences found in any of the Benner stages of clinical experience in relation to the overall clinical decision-making process.
Nonlinear Actin Deformations Lead to Network Stiffening, Yielding, and Nonuniform Stress Propagation

We use optical tweezers microrheology and fluorescence microscopy to apply nonlinear microscale strains to entangled and cross-linked actin networks, and measure the resulting stress and actin filament deformations. We couple nonlinear stress response and relaxation to the velocities and displacements of individual fluorescent-labeled actin segments, at varying times throughout the strain and varying distances from the strain path, to determine the underlying molecular dynamics that give rise to the debated nonlinear response and stress propagation of cross-linked and entangled actin networks at the microscale. We show that initial stress stiffening arises from acceleration of strained filaments due to molecular extension along the strain, while softening and yielding is coupled to filament deceleration, halting, and recoil. We also demonstrate a surprising nonmonotonic dependence of filament deformation on cross-linker concentration. Namely, networks with no cross-links or substantial cross-links both exhibit fast initial filament velocities and reduced molecular recoil while intermediate cross-linker concentrations display reduced velocities and increased recoil. We show that these collective results are due to a balance of network elasticity and force-induced cross-linker unbinding and rebinding. We further show that cross-links dominate entanglement dynamics when the length between cross-linkers becomes smaller than the length between entanglements. In accord with recent simulations, we demonstrate that post-strain stress can be long-lived in cross-linked networks by distributing stress to a small fraction of highly strained connected filaments that span the network and sustain the load, thereby allowing the rest of the network to recoil and relax.
Calmodulin-dependent enzymes undergo a protein-induced conformational change that is associated with their interactions with calmodulin.

The anionic hydrophobic (amphipathic) fluorescent probe 2-(p-toluidinyl)-naphthalene-6-sulfonate was used to investigate the surface hydrophobic properties of calmodulin (CaM)-dependent enzymes as follows: calcineurin, myosin light chain kinase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, CaM-dependent protein kinase II, and the gamma-subunit of phosphorylase kinase. We found that certain domains of these enzymes that interacted with 2-(p-toluidinyl)-naphthalene-6-sulfonate were exposed by a transient proton (H+) increase within the neutral pH range. This H(+)-induced exposure, which could be caused either by direct addition of H+ or by the release of H+ from metal chelators upon their binding of Ca2+, seemed to be more closely linked with a change in pH value (i.e. transient H+ increase) than with the actual equilibrium pH value of the system. Unlike the case with CaM-dependent enzymes, the H(+)-induced conformational change was uncommon in CaM-independent enzymes. When CaM-binding domains were removed from calcineurin and smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase, the resultant enzymes no longer exposed new domains in response to H+ increase. Using dansylated CaM to monitor the formation of CaM-enzyme complexes, we found that complex formation occurred with an uptake of H+ from solution. When CaM-dependent enzymes were evaluated at suboptimal concentrations of Ca2+, addition of H+ enhanced both the formation of CaM-enzyme complexes and the CaM-dependent catalytic activities, but this synergistic H+ effect occurred within only a narrow range of Ca2+ concentrations. These findings suggest that the H(+)-exposed domains in CaM-dependent enzymes are involved in the binding of CaM and that both conformational changes in CaM and its enzyme targets are necessary for complex formation. Further, the findings are consistent with the notion that CaM-binding domains are masked in the nonactivated (uncomplexed) conformations of CaM-dependent enzymes. The interplay between H+ and Ca2+ is discussed in relation to other systems that display interdependent effects of these two ions.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Alters Natural Killer Cell Maturation and Functional Activation

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a devastating disease primarily affecting adults. Immune evasion is a major mechanism of AML persistence, and represents a barrier for long-term clinical success. Natural killer (NK) cells are a key component of the innate immune system and hold promise as a tool for effective anti-leukemia therapy. However, to date, the clinical success of NK therapy has been disappointing, indicating additional immune evasion strategies may affect the ability of NK cells to function in patients. We hypothesized that AML may evade the innate immune system by inhibiting NK cell maturation. To evaluate NK function and maturation during AML progression, our lab utilized a novel knock-in model of AML that expresses both Flt3-ITD and Mll-PTD mutations (PTD/ITD), and develops AML with 100% penetrance and recapitulates human disease. For these studies, both primary PTD/ITD mice and transplanted AML blasts were used. For transplant studies, AML or wild-type (WT) control cells (CD45.2+) were transplanted into irradiated C57BL/6 (CD45.1+) naive recipients. Normal (CD45.1+) NK cells were defined as NK1.1+/CD3- by flow cytometry, and expression of receptors was determined within this population. NK cells in leukemic mice exhibited a reduction in the activating receptors Ly49D and Ly49H in the spleen, blood, LN, and bone marrow. There was also an increase in the inhibitory receptor Ly49C/I and NKG2C/A/E (both p NK maturation was then evaluated by examining CD11b and CD27 protein expression on NK1.1+/CD3- cells in the spleen, bone marrow, blood, and LN. CD11b+/CD27+ (DP) NK cells were reduced in the spleen as well as bone marrow, blood and LN (p Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
What is the Cause of Breast Cancer? A Socioeconomic Analysis

The study here analyses the relationship between incidence of breast cancer, GDP per capita and medical equipment across countries. Results show that the incidence of breast cancer tends to be higher in richer countries. Statistical evidence provides some elements to discuss some possible causes of the high incidence of breast cancer and relationships between socioeconomic observed facts.
A Robust and Affordable Table Indexing Approach for Multi-isocenter Dosimetrically Matched Fields.

Purpose Radiotherapy treatment planning of extended volume typically necessitates the utilization of multiple field isocenters and abutting dosimetrically matched fields in order to enable coverage beyond the field size limits. A common example includes total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) treatments, which are conventionally planned using dosimetric matching of the mantle, para-aortic/spleen, and pelvic fields. Due to the large irradiated volume and system limitations, such as field size and couch extension, a combination of couch shifts and sliding of patients are necessary to be correctly executed for accurate delivery of the plan. However, shifting of patients presents a substantial safety issue and has been shown to be prone to errors ranging from minor deviations to geometrical misses warranting a medical event. To address this complex setup and mitigate the safety issues relating to delivery, a practical technique for couch indexing of TLI treatments has been developed and evaluated through a retrospective analysis of couch position. Methods The indexing technique is based on the modification of the commonly available slide board to enable indexing of the patient position. Modifications include notching to enable coupling with indexing bars, and the addition of a headrest used to fixate the head of the patient relative to the slide board. For the clinical setup, a Varian Exact CouchTM (Varian Medical Systems, Inc, Palo Alto, CA) was utilized. Two groups of patients were treated: 20 patients with table indexing and 10 patients without. The standard deviations (SDs) of the couch positions in longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions through the entire treatment cycle for each patient were calculated and differences in both groups were analyzed with Student's t-test. Results The longitudinal direction showed the largest improvement. In the non-indexed group, the positioning SD ranged from 2.0 to 7.9 cm. With the indexing device, the positioning SD was reduced to a range of 0.4 to 1.3 cm (p < 0.05 with 95% confidence level). The lateral positioning was slightly improved (p < 0.05 with 95% confidence level), while no improvement was observed in the vertical direction. Conclusions The conventional matched field TLI treatment is error-prone to geometrical setup error. The feasibility of full indexing TLI treatments was validated and shown to result in a significant reduction of positioning and shifting errors.
Nomenclatural changes for North American members of the Variolaria-group necessitated by the recognition of Lepra (Pertusariales)

Abstract A distinctive group of species historically classified within Pertusaria subgenus Pionospora have been treated at the genus level under the name Variolaria, and more recently Marfloraea. Recent work has shown that Lepra is the oldest available name for this group. A nomenclatural summary of the members of the group that occur in North America north of Mexico is presented, including formal new combinations for the epithets that have not already been transferred to Lepra (i.e., P. andersoniae, P. commutata, P. floridiana, P. hypothamnolica, P. multipunctoides, V. pustulata, P. subdactylina, P. trachythallina, P. ventosa and P. waghornei). A key to the species occurring in the region is also presented.
Integration of 3D imaging data in the assessment of aortic stenosis: impact on classification of disease severity.

Background— In patients with aortic stenosis (AS), precise assessment of severity is critical for treatment decisions. Estimation of aortic valve area (AVA) with transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE)-continuity equation (CE) assumes a circular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). We evaluated incremental utility of 3D multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) over TTE assessment of AS severity. Methods and Results— We included 51 patients (age, 81±8 years; 61% men; mean gradient, 42±12 mm Hg) with calcific AS who underwent evaluation for treatment options. TTE parameters included systolic LVOT diameter (D) and continuous and pulsed wave (CW and PW) velocity-time integrals (VTI) through the LVOT and mean transaortic gradient. MDCT parameters included systolic LVOT area, ratio of maximal to minimal LVOT diameter (eccentricity index), and aortic planimetry (AVAp). TTE-CE AVA [(D2×0.786×VTIpw)/VTIcw] and dimensionless index (DI) [VTIpw/VTIcw] were calculated. Corrected AVA was calculated by substituting MDCT LVOT area into CE. The majority (96%) of patients had eccentric LVOT. LVOT area, measured on MDCT, was higher than on TTE (3.84±0.8 cm2 versus 3.03±0.5 cm2, P <0.01). TTE-AVA was smaller than AVAp and corrected AVA (0.67±0.1cm2, 0.82±0.3 cm2, and 0.86±0.3 cm2, P <0.01). Using TTE measurements alone, 73% of patients had congruence for severe AS (DI ≤0.25 and CE AVA <0.8 cm2), which increased to 92% using corrected CE. Conclusions— In patients with suspected severe AS, incorporation of MDCT-LVOT area into CE improves congruence for AS severity.
Rural Veterans' dental utilization, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2014

Introduction Rural residents are overrepresented in the military; however, access to Veteran services is limited in rural areas. There is a need to identify rural Veteran healthcare utilization. This study addresses that need and has two purposes: a) to determine if there is an association between rural dwelling and Veteran utilization of dental services; and b) to determine if there is an association between rural dwelling and the oral health outcome of missing teeth. Methods Data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey were used in this study. Chi square and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Findings Rural Veterans were less likely to have a dental visit during the previous year as compared with metropolitan Veterans in unadjusted analysis (Odds ratio = 0.71, 95% Confidence Interval, 0.64, 0.77) and in adjusted analysis [0.87 (95% Confidence Interval, 0.78, 0.96)]. In cases in which all teeth were missing, rural Veterans had an unadjusted odds ratio of 1.79 [95% Confidence Interval, 1.55, 2.08] and an adjusted odds ratio of 1.37 [95% Confidence Interval, 1.17, 1.62] as compared with metropolitan Veterans. Discussion and policy implications The Veterans Health Administration develops policies for establishing centers for care for Veterans. The policy development should take into consideration that rural Veterans have not been as likely as urban Veterans to utilize dental services and have poorer oral health outcomes.
Plant-produced Zika virus envelope protein elicits neutralizing immune responses that correlate with protective immunity against Zika virus in mice.

Summary The global Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak and its link to fetal and newborn microcephaly and severe neurological complications in adults call for the urgent development of ZIKV vaccines. In response, we developed a subunit vaccine based on the ZIKV envelope (E) protein and investigated its immunogenicity in mice. Transient expression of ZIKV E (zE) resulted in its rapid accumulation in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Biochemical analysis revealed that plant-produced ZIKV E (PzE) exhibited specific binding to a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize various zE conformational epitopes. Furthermore, PzE can be purified to >90% homogeneity with a one-step Ni2+ affinity chromatography process. PzE are found to be highly immunogenic, as two doses of PzE elicited both potent zE-specific antibody and cellular immune responses in mice. The delivery of PzE with alum induced a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response, as the antigen-specific IgG isotypes were a mixture of high levels of IgG1/IgG2c and splenocyte cultures from immunized mice secreted significant levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-6. Most importantly, the titers of zE-specific and neutralizing antibodies exceeded the threshold that correlates with protective immunity against multiple strains of ZIKV. Thus, our results demonstrated the feasibility of plant-produced ZIKV protein antigen as effective, safe and affordable vaccines against ZIKV. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Spatial beam tracking for Hermite–Gaussian-based free-space optical communications

The problem of spatial tracking for Hermite–Gaussian free-space optical (HG-FSO) links is addressed. Since HG waveforms allow for the simultaneous presence of orthogonal spatial channels, FSO-HG has the potential of offering a considerable increase in system capacity as compared with the standard FSO systems. To harness this capacity gain, the problem of spatial tracking becomes of paramount importance as the presence of spatial error significantly impacts the orthogonality of the HG waveforms. We, then, consider spatial tracking using a standard quad-detector arrangement and assume that the background noise and/or receiver thermal noise are large enough to warrant a Gaussian detection statistics. The performance is assessed in terms of the probability density function of the spatial tracking error for HG order of up to 3. In assessing performance, it is assumed that the impact of the cross-talk among the spatial modes is negligible under the steady-state condition. Numerical results are presented to assess the viability of the tracking loop. Numerical results show that among the HG waveforms with orders ranging from 1 to 3, the second-order HG waveform offers the best tracking performance and, hence, must be selected for the purpose of tracking in HG-FSO systems.
A DRAM based physical unclonable function capable of generating >10 32 Challenge Response Pairs per 1Kbit array for secure chip authentication

A DRAM based Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) utilizing the location of weak retention cells is demonstrated in 65nm CMOS. A new authentication scheme is proposed for the DRAM PUF where a random pattern is written to a small section of the DRAM and then retention failures are induced. To further increase the number of Challenge Response Pairs (CPRs), the data pattern including retention failures is transferred to a different memory location where additional retention failures are induced. This scheme enables more than 1032 unique CRPs from a 1Kbit array. To improve the stability of the PUF response, a zero-overhead repetitive write-back technique along with bit-masking was utilized. Voltage and temperature induced instabilities were mitigated by adjusting the read reference voltage and refresh time before each authentication operation. The proposed DRAM PUF has a bit cell area of 0.68μm2.
Attentional selection of multiple objects in the human visual system

Classic theories of object-based attention assume a single object of selection but real-world tasks, such as driving a car, often require attending to multiple objects simultaneously. However, whether object-based attention can operate on more than one object at a time remains unexplored. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to address this question as human participants performed object-based attention tasks that required simultaneous attention to two objects differing in either their features or locations. Simultaneous attention to two objects differing in features (face and house) did not show significantly different responses in the fusiform face area (FFA) or parahippocampal place area (PPA), respectively, compared to attending a single object (face or house), but did enhance the response in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Simultaneous attention to two circular arcs differing in locations did not show significantly different responses in the primary visual cortex (V1) compared to attending a single circular arc, but did enhance the response in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). These results suggest that object-based attention can simultaneously select at least two objects differing in their features or locations, processes mediated by the frontal and parietal cortex, respectively.
Rapid Guest Exchange and Ultra-low Surface Tension Solvents Optimize Metal-organic Framework Activation

Exploratory research into the critical steps in metal–organic framework (MOF) activation involving solvent exchange and solvent evacuation are reported. It is discovered that solvent exchange kinetics are extremely fast, and minutes rather days are appropriate for solvent exchange in many MOFs. It is also demonstrated that choice of a very low surface tension solvent is critical in successfully activating challenging MOFs. MOFs that have failed to be activated previously can achieve predicted surface areas provided that lower surface tension solvents, such as n-hexane and perfluoropentane, are applied. The insights herein aid in the efficient activation of MOFs in both laboratory and industrial settings and provide best practices for avoiding structural collapse.
Chimeric mouse/human Fab antibodies that selectively binds to the surface of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MPF6P.649)

The current diagnostic tools for Tuberculosis (TB) are time consuming and not suitable for point of care devices. Antibody-based diagnostic approaches could solve this issue. We have used antibody phage-display to isolate chimeric mouse/human Fab antibodies that binds to the surface of live Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) . For that purpose, mice were immunized with live or heat killed (HK) Mtb and splenic mRNA was used to generate 2 phage-display Fab libraries. Several rounds of bio panning were performed against whole cell live and HK Mtb and a substraction round was performed against non-tuberculous Mycobacteria. Of the 24 clones analyzed we found 6 Fab-expressing phages that specifically bind to live Mtb over HK or non-tuberculous Mycobacteria. Further characterization of these Fab antibodies consisted of recombinant expression and purification in E coli and selective binding to Mtb-specific subcellular fractions. This is the first study on Mtb-specific Fab antibodies that specifically bind a live and virulent Mtb strain. These molecules could represent a good platform to set up highly specific TB biomarkers.
Innovation in functional categories: slash, a new coordinator in English

This article presents an analysis of the distribution and syntactic behavior of the English expression slash, as in John is a linguist slash musician. The interpretation of this ‘effable slash’ is largely equivalent to intersective and, but it differs from other connective devices like Latin cum, N–N compounding and the orthographic slash . A corpus study of American English finds that slash is productive in this use. Its syntactic properties confirm its status as coordinator, but it is distinguished from standard coordinators and and or, in that it imposes category restrictions on the conjuncts: it cannot coordinate full clauses or noun phrases with determiners. I propose that words like slash, period and quote form a class of ‘effable punctuation’ that entered the spoken language from writing. In sum, by incorporating slash into the grammar of English, I argue that slash is a rare example of innovation in a ‘very closed’ functional category.
Effective Characteristics of Formal Mentoring Relationships: The National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Research Mentor Program

Context: Mentoring is a beneficial mechanism to support junior faculty members as they navigate job expectations, institutional nuances, and the professional landscape during the first few years as a faculty member. Whereas effective characteristics of informal mentoring relationships are generally understood, less is known about factors that contribute to formal mentoring relationships. Objective: Gain mentor and mentee perceptions of effective mentoring in a formal setting. Design: Qualitative phenomenology. Setting: Higher education institutions. Patients or Other Participants: Six mentees (4 women and 2 men with 3 ± 4 years in their current faculty position) and 4 mentors (2 women and 2 men with an average of 10 ± 3 years in their current faculty position) participating in the 2015 National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation mentor-program cohort. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed one telephone interview before starting the mentor program and one interview upon program completion ...
Transistor Doping-Predictions for Superconductivity in the Charge Order Model

Transistor doping of potential superconductors promises to illuminate inherent levels and limits for the materials in question. Here some of these limits are quantitatively predicted on a charge order or “radical” model for a variety of experiments. This model is based on a universal Tc scaling with anionic radical concentration. It is applicable to systems with covalently bonded, high electronegativity components. For the cuprates its general features are a linear increase of Tc with holes, which are normalized per total hole carrying species (e.g., O− radical density). This dependence proceeds up to optima, corresponding to a uniform alternate hole charge order limit and Tc decreases thereafter with various slopes. The optima are quantitatively calibrated through the deleterious influence of the Blocking layer as measured by its O content. Amongst the predictions is a general limit of Tcmax ∼ 167 K for oxide superconductors, obtainable in infinite layer type compounds (CaCuO2). Other predictions are optimal Tc ∼ 83 K for La2CuO4 and maximum values potentially near 500 K for borides or carbides.
Anti-biofilm AgNP-polyaniline-polysulfone composite membrane activated by low intensity direct/alternating current

Biofouling is a serious problem in membrane bioreactor systems, which reduces membrane permeability, increases energy costs, and decreases the lifetime of membranes. This study developed and evaluated a conductive ultrafiltration membrane activated by electric current for biofilm control. The polysulfone(PSF)-based membrane was incorporated with polyaniline (PANI) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as the electrical conductivity enhancer and the antimicrobial agent, respectively. Compared to the bare PSF membrane, the AgNP-PANI-PSF membrane showed lower porosity but higher surface hydrophilicity. The membranes were connected to power sources providing either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) at an intensity level of 60 μA. The AgNP-PANI-PSF membrane activated by electric current (DC and AC) effectively prevented bacterial colonization by six orders of magnitude, and limited the silver leaching under 0.1 mg L−1 after 24 hour tests. The AC activation maximized the anti-biofilm efficacy of the AgNPs, and the DC activation minimized the silver loss from the membrane. This study indicated that the electrically-activated AgNP-PANI-PSF membrane can be further developed as an alternative solution for membrane fouling control.
Readability of informed consent forms for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: A nationwide survey.

e22152Background: Given the importance of informed consent in cancer care, we sought to characterize readability and specificity of consent forms for radiation therapy, hypothesizing that readabili...
Surgical Management of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Lesions: A Review of Outcomes

Purpose Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) lesions of the wrist are primarily managed nonsurgically. Patients with persistent pain and/or instability may elect to undergo surgery (debridement, open repair, or arthroscopic repair). The current literature is unclear as to the preferred surgical technique. The purpose of this study was to review the literature and determine whether any surgical procedure was superior to others in the surgical management of TFCC lesions. Methods We performed a thorough literature review of PubMed and EMBASE databases for all articles on surgical management of TFCC lesions. Outcomes of interest included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores, pain visual analog scale, modified Mayo wrist scores, grip strength, and range of motion. Results We screened 1,762 articles and included 43 studies, for a total of 1,261 wrists. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores were 15.4 (n = 410), 24.1 (n = 63), and 17.6 (n = 72), in the arthroscopic repair, open repair, and debridement groups, respectively. Visual analog scale pain scores were 2.4 (n = 289), 1.7 (n = 60), and 2.8 (n = 120), respectively. Modified Mayo wrist scores were 84 (n = 299), 80 (n = 154), and 88.6 (n = 118), respectively. Grip strength was 83.4% (n = 494), 82.9% (n = 94), and 92% (n = 80) of the contralateral hand, respectively. Finally, range of motion flexion-extension was 137° (n = 309), 133° (n = 107), and 130° (n = 57), and pronation-supination was 161° (n = 264), 153° (n = 68), and 167° (n = 57), respectively. Conclusions Overall, patients had improvement regardless of the surgical technique employed, as measured by patient-reported and functional outcomes. According to this literature review, there is insufficient evidence to claim superiority of one surgical technique over others; treatment should be tailored to the specific lesion type. We have laid the groundwork for future prospective trials comparing surgical techniques for the management of TFCC lesions. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
A dimensional risk approach to assessing early adversity in a national sample

Abstract We examine how incidence and accumulation of two domains of risk factors—deprivation and threat of harm—predict early childhood development, testing a framework put forth by McLaughlin and Sheridan (2016). Using the ECLSK: 11 (N = 18,200, M = 5.6 years; 48.7% female), a nationally representative sample of kindergarteners, we consider behavioral and cognitive indicators that represent different learning processes. We find partial support for the hypothesis that deprivation (but not threat) risks predict higher-order learning outcomes, with both incidence and accumulation of risk negatively predicting reading scores but mixed associations for executive function outcomes. We find support that incidence of threat (but not deprivation) risks negatively predict emotional and behavioral outcomes as hypothesized. When modeled cumulatively, however, both deprivation and threat risks predict behavioral outcomes. Finally, in line with hypothesized processes, both deprivation and threat risks negatively predict math scores, which represent pattern-learning processes. Implications for research in childhood adversity are discussed.
Phase 2 study of pembrolizumab and circulating biomarkers to predict anticancer response in advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Checkpoint inhibitors have shown modest activity in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, the authors report a prospective single-institution clinical/translational phase 2 study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced HCC and circulating biomarkers closely related to response. Methods Pembrolizumab was administered at a dose of 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks among patients who may have developed disease progression while receiving, were intolerant of, or refused sorafenib. The circulating levels of cytokines, chemokines, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and PD-L2 were correlated with response, tumor PD-L1 expression, and other clinicopathological features. Results A total of 29 patients were treated and 28 patients were evaluable for response. The most common laboratory grade 3/4 adverse events were increases in aspartate aminotransferase and/or alanine aminotransferase and serum bilirubin, which for the most part were reversible. In terms of efficacy, one patient achieved a complete response and 8 patients achieved partial responses for an overall response rate of 32%. Four other patients had stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 4.5 months and the median overall survival was 13 months. Response did not correlate with prior sorafenib therapy, PD-L1 tumor staining, or a prior history of hepatitis. Correlative studies revealed that high baseline plasma TGF-β levels (≥200 pg/mL) significantly correlated with poor treatment outcomes after pembrolizumab. Tumor PD-L1 and plasma PD-L1/PD-1 levels were associated with plasma IFN-γ or IL-10. Conclusions Pembrolizumab was found to demonstrate activity in patients with advanced HCC. Toxicity generally was tolerable and reversible. A set of immunological markers in blood plasma as well as PD-L1 staining indicated that baseline TGF-β could be a predictive biomarker for response to pembrolizumab.
Regulation of mitochondrial fragmentation in microvascular endothelial cells isolated from the SU5416/hypoxia model of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a morbid disease characterized by progressive right ventricle (RV) failure due to elevated pulmonary artery pressures (PAP). In PAH, histologically complex ...
Acute Kidney Injury During Pregnancy

PR-AKI is associated with significant fetal and maternal morbidity. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their complications, notably HELLP syndrome, are the leading cause of PR-AKI. In women with existing kidney disease, worsening of renal function during pregnancy is common, and differentiating it from preeclampsia can be a challenge. This poses a dilemma as treatment options are very different in the two conditions, with premature termination of pregnancy or early delivery being indicated in some cases of preeclampsia. Preconception assessment is essential in women with CKD, to determine whether pregnancy may pose an unacceptably high maternal or fetal risk. It provides an opportunity to evaluate disease activity, initiate interventions, and adjust medications to those that are least harmful to the fetus. P-TMA is a clinically challenging cause of PR-AKI. Several breakthroughs in our understanding of different mechanisms underlying P-TMA and preeclampsia have led to better management of these patients.
Clinical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with Child-Pugh class B treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy.

560Background: Caution is usually employed in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to the inherent liver radiosensitivity, especially in patients with Child Pugh (CP) B...
Waiting for Something Positive.

Waiting for Something Positive Those of us who have found our role diminished as our elective cases have been canceled are being redeployed to the areas of the hospital with the greatest need. I wa...
Talking & Writing in the Classroom.

Susan E. Fello, sfello@iup.edu, currently teaches undergraduate and graduate classes at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She taught grades 4-6 for thirty-one years in the public schools. Additionally, she has experience in t the local district's gifted education program helping students improve their mathematical abilities. Kelli R. Paquette, L kpaquett@iup.edu, currently teaches undergraduate and graduate classes at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In addition to having public education teaching experience, she is a certified 6+1 Writing Traits consultant.
Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Hemodynamic Responses to Submaximal Exercise Testing With the Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease: The Framingham Heart Study.

Abstract Objective To relate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and hemodynamic responses to exercise to the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods We evaluated 2715 Framingham Offspring Study participants followed up (mean, 24.8 years) after their second examination (1979-1983) until the end of their ninth examination (2011-2014). Participants (mean age, 43 years; 1397 women [51.5%]) without prevalent CKD or cardiovascular disease at baseline were included. We examined the associations of CRF and hemodynamic response to exercise with incident CKD using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression with discrete intervals. Results Compared with low CRF (first tertile), participants with moderate (second tertile) or high (third tertile) CRF had a lower risk of CKD (hazard ratios [95% CIs]: 0.74 [0.61-0.91] and 0.73 [0.59-0.91], respectively). Participants with chronotropic incompetence (hazard ratio, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.06 to 1.79]), higher exercise systolic blood pressure (hazard ratio per SD, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.34]), and impaired heart rate recovery (hazard ratio, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.08 to 2.10]) had a higher risk of CKD compared with those with chronotropic competence, lower exercise systolic blood pressure, and normal heart rate recovery, respectively. These associations remained robust when the exercise variables were mutually adjusted for. The third tertile of a standardized exercise test score comprising the statistically significant variables was associated with a higher risk of CKD compared with the first tertile (hazard ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.45 to 2.36). Conclusion Higher CRF and favorable hemodynamic responses to submaximal exercise in young adulthood may be markers of lower risk of CKD in later life.
Physical-Layer Cyberattack and Interference Resilient Automotive Radars

In this paper, we present a physical-layer attack and interference resilient automotive radar system, and derive analytical upper bounds for the probability of not detecting an attack, and the probability of false attack alarm. We consider a quite general attack model and prove that if the attack signal level is above a defined relative threshold, both the probability of false attack alarm and the probability of not detecting an attack converge to zero exponentially with the number of samples acquired during a single chirp, and the number of chirps used in a frame. We also derive an analytical formula for this relative threshold, and prove that by selecting shorter frame durations, and using lower noise RF equipment, the threshold can be made as small as possible. Basically, by proper selection of radar parameters arbitrarily small attack signals can be detected almost always with almost no false alarms. We also present a numerical example using real measured data obtained from two 77 GHz automotive radars operated at the same time. Also using real data, we show that the proposed system reduces the negative effects of undetected weak attacks which are below the above mentioned threshold.
DReCa: A General Task Augmentation Strategy for Few-Shot Natural Language Inference

Meta-learning promises few-shot learners that can adapt to new distributions by repurposing knowledge acquired from previous training. However, we believe meta-learning has not yet succeeded in NLP due to the lack of a well-defined task distribution, leading to attempts that treat datasets as tasks. Such an ad hoc task distribution causes problems of quantity and quality. Since there’s only a handful of datasets for any NLP problem, meta-learners tend to overfit their adaptation mechanism and, since NLP datasets are highly heterogeneous, many learning episodes have poor transfer between their support and query sets, which discourages the meta-learner from adapting. To alleviate these issues, we propose DReCA (Decomposing datasets into Reasoning Categories), a simple method for discovering and using latent reasoning categories in a dataset, to form additional high quality tasks. DReCA works by splitting examples into label groups, embedding them with a finetuned BERT model and then clustering each group into reasoning categories. Across four few-shot NLI problems, we demonstrate that using DReCA improves the accuracy of meta-learners by 1.5-4%
Effects of word position and flanking vowel on the implementation of glottal stop: Evidence from Hawaiian

Abstract Much of the literature on the phonetic realization of phonemic or allophonic glottal stop has shown that it is often not produced with full glottal closure. Some studies of languages like English or German suggest that full glottal closure might be more likely in stressed syllables or positions of prosodic prominence (Garellek, 2014; Kohler, 1994), but the conditioning factors in the realization of contrastive glottal stop are less well understood. This study focuses on Hawaiian, which has phonemic glottal stop that is contrastive in both word-initial (/ʔaka/ ‘laugh’ vs. /aka/ ‘shadow’) and word-medial position (/pua/ ‘flower’ vs. /puʔa/ ‘to excrete’) (Parker Jones, 2018). Glottal stop realization is examined with respect to three factors: word position, different vs. identical flanking vowel (/puʔa/ ‘to excrete’ vs. /puʔu/ ‘hill’), and duration of the target /V(#)ʔV/ sequence. Recordings from the Ka Leo Hawaiʻi Hawaiian language radio program that aired from 1972 to 1988 were examined. Results show that the majority of phonemic glottal stops are produced as a period of creaky voice, most often in a modal voice-creaky voice-modal voice configuration, but also as modal-creaky or creaky-modal. Full glottal stops were more likely in word-initial position, and identical flanking vowels led to longer periods of creaky voice. Shorter target intervals led to longer proportions of creaky voice. These findings for phonemic glottal stop are consistent with research on the timing of contrastive voice quality in vowels, which has shown that modal-nonmodal-modal patterns are preferred to ensure that vowel quality, voice quality, and tone (for languages with all three) are recoverable (Silverman, 1995/1997). The effects of word position and flanking vowel are also related to recoverability and segmentation. The potential articulatory configurations common to glottal stops and creaky voice which may explain why they are on a continuum are also discussed.