cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Receptor interacting protein-2 plays a critical role in human lung epithelial cells survival in response to Fas-induced cell-death (IRM9P.731)

Lung epithelial cell death is critical to acute lung injury. It is known that FasL plays a prominent role in lung cell death and may work in part through activation of the receptor interacting protein-2 (RIP2). RIP2 is serine/threonine kinase with a C-terminal caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD). This CARD contains a highly conserved, predicted tyrosine phosphorylation site. Thus, involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the CARD domain of RIP2 may play a critical role in Fas-mediated apoptosis in the human lung. To test this hypothesis, human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were induced to undergo cell death in response to the Fas agonist antibody CH11 with and without manipulation of endogenous RIP2 concentrations. We show that CH11 increases lung epithelial cell death in a dose-dependent manner as determined by LDH release and nuclear condensation. Fas-induced LDH release was inhibited by RIP2 knock-down. Reduced levels of RIP2 in BEAS-2B cells after treatment with RIP2 siRNA were confirmed by immunoblot. Overexpression of RIP2 in BEAS-2B cells synergized with Fas ligand-induced LDH release in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, mutation of the tyrosine phosphorylation site in CARD of RIP2 protected BEAS-2B cells from Fas ligand induced cell death. Thus RIP2’s CARD tyrosine phosphorylation may represent a new therapeutic target to promote the survival of human lung epithelial cells in disorders that lead to acute lung injury and ARDS.
Smooth muscle tumor of the pleura. A case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Smooth muscle tumors of the serosal membranes are extremely rare and have received little attention in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, only 1 published series of 5 pleural smooth muscle neoplasms has been published to date. We describe a primary pleural neoplasm with smooth muscle differentiation documented by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. This tumor originated in the parietal pleura in a 32-year-old white man and was diagnosed incidentally by chest radiography; the diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy. Four years later, the tumor was noted to have increased in size and disseminated into the chest wall as a separate circumscribed mass located in the pectoral muscle. Both masses were resected and diagnosed as smooth muscle tumors. We conclude that smooth muscle tumor of the pleura is a well-defined entity with a low, but definite malignant potential; therefore, we recommend complete resection and long-term follow-up for a...
Some Starch Derivatives as Potential Soil Stabilizers — A Preliminary Study

Starch derivatives were compared with polyvinyl alcohol and with polyvinyl acetates by wet sieving techniques to obtain an indication of soil stabilizing potential. Certain benzyl ethers of both starch and hydroxyethylated (HE) starch exhibited stabilizing properties. HE starch with 9% benzyl content was the most effective derivative examined, stabilizing 63 and 96% of the soil to at least 10 min of water immersion with abrasion at dose levels of 0.04 g and 0.3 g per 100 g of dry soil, respectively. Einige Starkederivate als mogliche Bodenstabilisatoren – eine vorlaufige Studie. Zur Erlangung von Aufschlussen uber ihre Eignung als Bodenstabilisatoren wurden Starkederivate mittels Nassiebungsverfahren mit Polyvinylalkohol und Polyvinylacetaten verglichen. Bestimmte Benzylether sowohl von Starke als auch von hydroxyethylierter (HE) Starke zeigten stabilisierende Eigenschaften. HE-Starke mit 9% Benzylgehalt war das wirksamste der untersuchten Derivate; es stabilisierte 63 und 96% des Bodens gegen mindestens 10 min Eintauchen in Wasser unter Abrieb in Dosierungen von 0,04 g und 0,3 g je 100 g trockenem Boden.
LITHIUM AND POTASSIUM ABSORPTION, DEHYDROXYLATION TEMPERATURE, AND STRUCTURAL WATER CONTENT OF ALUMINOUS SMECTITES*

U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Denver, Colo. 80225 (Received 18 December 1968) Abstract-X-ray analysis of Li +- and K~-saturated samples, differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and chemical analysis of 83 samples enable a distinction to be made between Wyoming, Tatatilla, Otay, Chambers, and non-ideal types of montmorillonite, and be- tween ideal and non-ideal types of beidellite. The Greene-Kelly Li+-test differentiates between the montmorillonites and beidellites. Re-expansion with ethylene glycol after K+-saturation and heating at 300~ depends upon total net layer charge and not upon location of the charge. Wyoming-type montmorillonites characteristically have low net layer charge and re-expand to 17 A,. whereas most other montmorillonites and beidellites have a higher net layer charge and re-expand to less than 17 *. Major differences in dehydroxylation temperatures cannot be related consistently to the amount of AI :~ -for-Si ~+ substitution, nor to the amount of Mg. Fe. type of interlayer cations, or particle size. The major factor controlling temperature of dehydroxylation seems to be the amount of structural (OH). Of 19 samples analyzed by (GA. montmorillonites and the one ideal beidellite that give dehydroxyla- tion endotherms on their DTA curves between 650 ~ and 760~ all contain nearly the ideal amount of 4(OH) per unit cell, but the non-ideal montmorillonites and beidellites that give dehydroxylation peaks between 550 ~ and 600~ do not. Non-ideal beidellites contain more than the ideal amount of structural (OH) and non-ideal montmorillonites seem to contain less, although the low temperature of dehy- droxylation of the latter could also be due to other structural defects. Change in X-ray diffraction intensity of the 001 reflection during dehydroxylation suggests that the extra (OH) of beidellite occurs at the apex of SiO~ or AIO4 tetrahedrons with the H ~ of the (OH)- polarized toward vacant cation sites in the octahedral sheet.
The fixA and fixB Genes Are Necessary for Anaerobic Carnitine Reduction in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the use of carnitine as a terminal electron acceptor depends on a functional caiTABCDE operon. It had been suggested that the adjacent but divergent fixABCX operon is also required for carnitine metabolism, perhaps to provide electrons for carnitine reduction. We have constructed E. coli fixA and fixB mutants and find that they are unable to reduce carnitine to γ-butyrobetaine under anaerobic conditions.
Cross-Talk in Abscisic Acid Signaling

"Cross-talk" in hormone signaling reflects an organism's ability to integrate different inputs and respond appropriately, a crucial function at the heart of signaling network operation. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone involved in bud and seed dormancy, growth regulation, leaf senescence and abscission, stomatal opening, and a variety of plant stress responses. This review summarizes what is known about ABA signaling in the control of stomatal opening and seed dormancy and provides an overview of emerging knowledge about connections between ABA, ethylene, sugar, and auxin synthesis and signaling.
A Gracefully Degrading and Energy-Efficient Modular Router Architecture for On-Chip Networks

Packet-based on-chip networks are increasingly being adopted in complex System-on-Chip (SoC) designs supporting numerous homogeneous and heterogeneous functional blocks. These Network-on-Chip (NoC) architectures are required to not only provide ultra-low latency, but also occupy a small footprint and consume as little energy as possible. Further, reliability is rapidly becoming a major challenge in deep sub-micron technologies due to the increased prominence of permanent faults resulting from accelerated aging effects and manufacturing/testing challenges. Towards the goal of designing low-latency, energy efficient and reliable on-chip communication networks, we propose a novel fine-grained modular router architecture. The proposed architecture employs decoupled parallel arbiters and uses smaller crossbars for row and column connections to reduce output port contention probabilities as compared to existing designs. Furthermore, the router employs a new switch allocation technique known as "Mirroring Effect" to reduce arbitration depth and increase concurrency. In addition, the modular design permits graceful degradation of the network in the event of permanent faults and also helps to reduce the dynamic power consumption. Our simulation results indicate that in an 8 × 8 mesh network, the proposed architecture reduces packet latency by 4-40% and power consumption by 6-20% as compared to two existing router architectures. Evaluation using a combined performance, energy and fault-tolerance metric indicates that the proposed architecture provides 35-50% overall improvement compared to the two earlier routers.
Adding Explicit Solvent Molecules to Continuum Solvent Calculations for the Calculation of Aqueous Acid Dissociation Constants

Aqueous acid dissociation free energies for a diverse set of 57 monoprotic acids have been calculated using a combination of experimental and calculated gas and liquid-phase free energies. For ionic species, aqueous solvation free energies were calculated using the recently developed SM6 continuum solvation model (Kelly, C. P.; Cramer, C. J.; Truhlar, D. G. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2005, 1, 1133). This model combines a dielectric continuum with atomic surface tensions to account for bulk solvent effects. For some of the acids studied, a combined approach that involves attaching a single explicit water molecule to the conjugate base (anion), and then surrounding the resulting anion−water cluster by a dielectric continuum, significantly improves the agreement between the calculated pKa value and experiment. This suggests that for some anions, particularly those concentrating charge on a single exposed heteroatom, augmenting implicit solvent calculations with a single explicit water molecule is required, and ...
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS SURVEY RESEARCH

Empirical survey research has been extremely popular in the information systemsfield. However, survey researchers encounter a number of methodologicalproblems in conducting their studies. This paper presents a model of the researchprocess and uses it to organize a discussion of the difficulties encountered in doingIS survey research. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to improve thequality of IS survey research and improve the information systems field at the sametime.
Effective population size of steelhead trout: influence of variance in reproductive success, hatchery programs, and genetic compensation between life‐history forms

The effective population size is influenced by many biological factors in natural populations. To evaluate their relative importance, we estimated the effective number of breeders per year (N b ) and effective population size per generation (N e ) in anadromous steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Hood River, Oregon (USA). Using demographic data and genetic parentage analysis on an almost complete sample of all adults that returned to the river over 15 years (> 15 000 individuals), we estimated N b for 13 run years and N e for three entire generations. The results are as follows: (i) the ratio of N e to the estimated census population size (N) was 0.17–0.40, with large variance in reproductive success among individuals being the primary cause of the reduction in N e /N; (ii) fish from a traditional hatchery program (H trad : nonlocal, multiple generations in a hatchery) had negative effects on N b , not only by reducing mean reproductive success but also by increasing variance in reproductive success among breeding parents, whereas no sign of such effects was found in fish from supplementation hatchery programs (H supp : local, single generation in a hatchery); and (iii) N b was relatively stable among run years, despite the widely fluctuating annual run sizes of anadromous adults. We found high levels of reproductive contribution of nonanadromous parents to anadromous offspring when anadromous run size is small, suggesting a genetic compensation between life-history forms (anadromous and nonanadromous). This is the first study showing that reproductive interaction between different life-history forms can buffer the genetic impact of fluctuating census size on N e .
Predation by Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Viburnum Leaf Beetle, Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Under Laboratory and Field Conditions

To evaluate the potential of Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) as a biological control agent against viburnum leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), laboratory trials were conducted to measure prey consumption of P. maculiventris over nymphal development. Field trials tested the impact of augmentative releases of P. maculiventris nymphs on populations of P. viburni, using both open shrubs and caged branches of Viburnum trilobum. In the laboratory,P.maculiventris nymphs successfully developed while preying onP.viburni larvae and adults. Each nymph consumed an average of 100.6 larvae or 16.9 adults. Immature development duration was comparable between nymphs feeding on P. viburni adults and those given Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae as prey. In Þeld trials, inundative releases of 30 P. maculiventris nymphs on naturally infested V. trilobum shrubs signiÞcantly reduced pest defoliation on shrubs infested with3,000 larvae but had no effect on shrubs with heavier infestations. On caged branches, individual nymphs successfully developed when feeding only onP. viburni larvae. These results show that P. viburni larvae and adults are suitable prey for P. maculiventris and this predator could potentially be developed as a biological control agent against P. viburni.
Committees and party cohesion in the European Parliament

Wie sichern politische Parteien in sich neu herausbildenden gesetzgebenden Korperschaften Parteidisziplin und -kohasion? In etablierten parlamentarischen Demokratien besitzen Parteien haufig ein so hohes Niveau an Einheitlichkeit, dass der Frage, wie und warum eine solche Parteidisziplin entsteht, bis zuletzt wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wurde. In sich neu herausbildenden gesetzgebenden Korperschaften ist die Transformation von rudimentaren Parteiorganisationen in disziplinierte Parteien jedoch keine zwangslaufige. Dieser Artikel untersucht, ob die politischen Gruppen im Europaischen Parlament (EP) Versuche unternehmen, Parteidisziplin durchzusetzen. Spezifischer untersucht der Beitrag, ob MEPs, die laufend gegen die eigene Partei stimmen, von dieser im Rahmen des Prozesses der Ausschussentsendung im EP bestraft werden.
Resistance of Canna spp. to the Skipper Butterfly, Calpodes ethlius (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Thirty-nine cultivars of cannas, Canna spp., were evaluated for resistance to the canna leaf roller, Calpodes ethlius Stoll, which causes extensive leaf damage to cannas throughout southern North America, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The cullivar ‘Wyoming,’ followed in order, by ‘Ambassador,’ ‘Black Velvet,’ ‘Gladside,’ ‘Eureka White,’ ‘Firebird,’ ‘ Freckles,’ and ‘Red King Humbert,’ was the most preferred host for oviposition, whereas ‘La Boheme’ was the least preferred. ‘Wyoming’ sustained the most larval damage, and ‘Crimson Glory,’ ‘Chinese Coral,’ ‘Yellow King Humbert,’ ‘Crimson Beauty,’ ‘Salmon Pink,’ ‘Cherry Red,’ ‘Lucifer,’ and ‘Freckles’ exhibited the least larval damage. Plants with red leaf color were preferred to those with green leaves. Cultivars with yellow, rose red, yellow-red, or pink flowers were least preferred, whereas plants with red, orange, or scarlet flowers were the most preferred oviposition hosts and sustained the highest larval damage even though flower stalks were removed during the oviposition studies.
Modem maestro: G. David Forney Jr., the 2016 IEEE Medal of Honor recipient, turns information theory into practice

IT CAN SOMETIMES SEEM AS THOUGH there's a gaping chasm between theory and reality. But G. David Forney Jr., the recipient of this year's IEEE Medal of Honor, masterfully straddles both realms, his colleagues say. A key figure in the development of the high-speed modem, a device that opened up the Internet and all its associated world-changing technologies, Forney has balanced the practical and the theoretical throughout his career. Over the years, he has not only made critical contributions to communications and information theory but also put some of this recondite mathematical theory into practice. And as a result, he can claim a key role in the greatest communications revolution in modern history. · "He's one of the people who gets to the heart of abstract subjects very quickly," says Thomas Kailath, an emeritus professor of engineering at Stanford and the 2007 IEEE Medal of Honor recipient. "But uniquely, when needed, he also designed and built circuits, wrote code, and got things working. Everything Dave does, he does well." · And yet, as an underclassman at Princeton in the late 1950s, Forney wasn't necessarily set on a career in engineering. He did ultimately decide to pursue a bachelor of science in engineering, but not out of any burning desire to invent or design.
An Automatic Testing Tool Based on Client/Server Architecture

Software testing plays an important role in software life cycle. There are many kinds of products for automatic testing in the market, but they cannot collaborate with other procedures of software tiff cycle well. This paper introduces a testing tool based on Client Server architecture and describes how it cooperates with other steps in software development.
Electrical Resistivity and Magnetic Field Effects of NdS3−xVxS4

We wish to report electrical resistivity,ρ, of single crystal (Nd3−xVxS4) where 0 <x<0.33 between 2 and 300K. Samples were prepared either by direct reaction of the elements in closed quartz tubes (between 600 and 800C) or by passing hydrogen sulfide over rare earth oxides (R 0) and grown as ingots from the melt between 1800 and 2100C using Bridgeman techniques. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal all samples possess the high temperature γ - phase or Th3P4 bcc structure. The density of conduction electrons in these solid solution samples range from 1016 to 1021 carriers/cm3. The electrical resistivity was measured by a four point DC-technique with pressure contacts at the gold-coated bars of samples having dimensions of 1 × 2 × 8mm. Overall accuracy of the resistivity measurements is typically 2% from 2 to 40K and 1% from 40 to 300K. The resistivity of all samples was also measured under different magnetic fields up to 7.7kG. For magnetic measurements a magnetometer was used with magnetic fields up to 30kG at temperatures between 4 and 300K.
A HIERARCHY OF EDUCATIONAL TASKS FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISORDERS.

This article presents the concept of a hierarchy of educational task levels for the children with learning disorders. An attempt is made to formulate a set of working hypotheses which would enable educators to outline realistic goals for this type of child. The theoretical framework is an outgrowth of experiences with hospitalized emotionally handicapped children at the Neuropsychiatric Institute School, University of California, Los Angeles.
Follicular fluid inhibin activity and steroid levels in ovarian tissue obtained at autopsy from human infants from 18 to 200 days of age.

The ovaries of 25 human infants from 18 to 200 days of age were obtained at autopsy, and their follicular fluid was subjected to measurement of inhibin activity, estrogen, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone. Significant inhibin activity was present in all samples of follicular fluid (charcoal-treated) (138±19 U/10 μ l follicular fluid; 10,545±2758 U/ovary). There was a tendency for greater inhibin activity, follicular volume, and estrogen in infants from 18 to 59 days than in older infants. There was a significant positive correlation between follicular fluid volume, estrogen, and androstenedione, compared with follicular fluid inhibin content per ovary. It is possible that elevated serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone observed early in life stimulates follicle growth, inhibin, and estrogen production. As a result of elevated inhibin and estrogen, the gonadotropins may be inhibited, which may cause a decline in follicular activity after 4 to 6 months.
Conciliation: Concepts, Frameworks and Models

Three central themes emerge from the outline of Anwar Sadat’s peacemaking initiatives between 1971 and 1977. Firstly, there is the idea that peacemaking often started, or resumed, as the result of a unilateral, sometimes ‘stalemate-breaking’ initiative on the part of one or other of the adversaries,such moves being part of a broad category of actions or statements which I term ‘conciliatory gestures’. Such gestures or actions should be regarded as both the starting point of a peace process and as basic ‘building blocks’ of the initial stages of inter-party conciliation. Hence, an understanding of the underlying dynamics of peacemaking will have to be based on a clear understanding of the nature and use of conciliatory gestures.
The Biggest Deal of the Century: & How to Make It Work

Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s remarks about an initial public offering (IPO) for a stake in Saudi Aramco is a shot across the bow for many – the world’s major international oil companies (IOCs), other nations and their state-owned national oil companies (NOCs), and all those within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia whose fate is tied to a successful outcome.With oil prices so low it may seem an odd time to sell share shares in the world’s largest oil company. But this, the biggest deal of the century, is not about market timing. Nor is this principally a financial transaction. This deal will serve as the catalyst for change – cultural change, organizational transformation, and economic evolution and development. The giant has awoken and the only thing that is certain is that the world will never be the same.An Aramco IPO, now tentatively slated for 2018, revives the decades-old debate about the merits of publicly-traded company ownership and the unique case of state-led enterprises. NOCs and other state-led enterprises already face an enormous challenge in balancing the needs of their public mission with the demands of commercial and economic success. The additional burden of publicly-traded ownership raises the stakes with the difficult balance between public good and public shareowners.
Poverty, partiality, and the purchase of expensive education:

Prioritarianism doesn’t value equality as such – any reason to equalize is due to the benefits for the worse off. But some argue that prioritarianism and egalitarianism coincide in their implicatio...
Infrared laser-absorption sensing for combustion gases

Abstract Infrared laser-absorption spectroscopy (IR-LAS) sensors play an important role in diagnosing and characterizing a wide range of combustion systems. Of all the laser-diagnostic techniques, LAS is arguably the most versatile and quantitative, as it has been used extensively to provide quantitative, species-specific measurements of gas temperature, pressure, composition and velocity in both laboratory- and industrial-scale systems. Historically, most IR-LAS work has been conducted using tunable diode lasers; however, today’s researchers have access to a wide range of light sources that provide unique sensing capabilities and convenient access to nearly the entire IR spectrum (≈ 0.8 to 16 µm). In particular, the advent of room-temperature wavelength-tunable mid-infrared semiconductor lasers (e.g., interband- and quantum-cascade lasers) and hyperspectral light sources (e.g., MEMS VCSELs, Fourier-domain mode-locked lasers, dispersed supercontinuum, and frequency combs) has provided a number of unique capabilities that combustion researchers have exploited. The primary goals of this review paper are: (1) to document the recent development, application, and current capabilities of IR-LAS sensors for laboratory- and industrial-scale combustors and propulsion systems, (2) to elucidate the design and use of IR-LAS sensors for combustion gases through a discussion of the modern sensor-design process and state-of-the-art techniques, and (3) to highlight some of the remaining measurement opportunities, challenges, and needs. A thorough review and description of the fundamental spectroscopy governing the accuracy of such sensors, and recent findings and databases that enable improved modeling of molecular absorption spectra will also be provided.
Association of Air Pollution Exposures With High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Particle Number: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Objective—The relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease may be explained by changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Approach and Results—We examined the cross-sectional relat...
Evaluation of trap crops for the management of wireworms in spring wheat in Montana

The polyphagous larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are major pests of spring wheat in Montana, USA. Presently available insecticides are unable to provide control over wireworm populations, and the use of natural enemies has not been successful under field conditions. In this study, we examined the effect of seven trap crops: pea, lentil, canola, corn, durum, barley, and wheat, for their attractiveness to wireworms compared to spring wheat. Experimental plots were located in two commercial grain fields in Valier and Ledger, Montana, USA and the trials took place from May to August in 2015 and 2016. Wheat plants damaged by wireworms were recorded and their relative locations in wheat rows and adjacent trap crop rows within a plot were determined using destructive soil samples. In 2016, variable row spacing (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 m) between the trap crops (pea and lentil) and wheat was assessed. Shade house bioassays were conducted using potted pea, lentil, and wheat plants to support field trial results. Limonius californicus larvae, released at the center of each pot were sampled 4 and 10 days after sowing. Wheat intercropped with pea and lentil had significantly fewer damaged wheat plants. Wireworm numbers were lower in wheat intercropped with pea compared to the control for both locations and years. Shade house results corresponded with field results, with more wireworms collected from pea and lentil than wheat. In the spacing trials, wheat plant counts were also significantly higher when paired with pea and lentil, particularly at 0.5 m spacing. Regardless of inter-row spacing, significantly fewer wireworms were associated with wheat when intercropped with pea and lentil trap crops.
Abnormal esophageal acid exposure on high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy is common in systemic sclerosis patients.

Background Esophageal dysfunction and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Although high-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) typically normalize esophageal acid exposure, the effectiveness of PPI therapy has not been systematically studied in SSc patients. The aim of this study was to characterize reflux in SSc patients on high-dose PPI using esophageal pH-impedance testing. Methods In this case-controlled retrospective analysis, 38 patients fulfilling 2013 American College of Rheumatology SSc criteria who underwent esophageal pH-impedance testing on twice-daily PPI between January 2014 and March 2017 at a tertiary referral center were compared with a control-cohort of 38 non-SSc patients matched for PPI formulation and dose, hiatal hernia size, age, and gender. Patient clinical characteristics, including endoscopy and high-resolution manometry findings, were assessed via chart review. Key Results On pH-impedance, SSc patients had higher acid exposure times (AETs) than controls. Sixty-one percent of the SSc patients and 18% of the control patients had a total AET ≥4.5% (P < .001). Systemic sclerosis patients also had significantly longer AETs, longer median bolus clearance, and lower nocturnal impedance values. Conclusions & Inferences Abnormal esophageal acid exposure despite high-dose PPI therapy was common among patients with SSc. The lack of increased reflux episodes in the SSc patients, and longer bolus clearance times and lower nocturnal impedance, supports ineffective clearance as the potential mechanism. Systemic sclerosis patients may require adjunctive therapies to PPIs to control acid reflux.
Factors affecting urinary incontinence during robotic radical prostatectomy

In the prospective study recently published by Tyson and colleagues, the authors reviewed 107 patients undergoing robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) by a single surgeon and demonstrated that there was no relationship between the size of the bladder neck (BN) and the rate of incontinence.
The direct cost of epilepsy in children: Evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2003–2014

Abstract Introduction Epilepsy is frequent in children and often requires complex healthcare interventions. There is a paucity of recent and detailed healthcare expenditures among children with epilepsy in the United States (US). Methods Data on children (aged ≤ 17 years) from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component (MEPS-HC) from 2003 to 2014 were analyzed. Unadjusted overall and specific cost components were compared between children with epilepsy and those without epilepsy. We used a two-part model with gamma distribution and log link for the estimation of independent incremental cost incurred by epilepsy in children. Unadjusted and adjusted mean expenditures and aggregate burden of epilepsy were estimated. Results Out of 54,393,387 (weighted) US children, 457,873 (0.84%) had epilepsy. Children with epilepsy had nearly six times higher healthcare expenditure than those without epilepsy ($2024 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1917–2130] vs. $12,577 [95% CI: 7922–17,231]). Unadjusted inpatient expenditure for epilepsy ($4418 [95% CI: 1550–7285) was ten times higher than that for children without epilepsy, representing more than one-third of unadjusted total direct cost. The adjusted difference in medical expenditure between children with and those without epilepsy was $8317 (95% CI: 3701–13,363). The annual unadjusted aggregate cost of epilepsy in children was approximately $5.8 billion. The annual adjusted difference in cost of epilepsy between children with and those without epilepsy was $3.8 billion. Conclusion Unadjusted and adjusted medical expenditure among children with epilepsy is high. The high expenditure is essentially driven not only by inpatient expenditure but also by home healthcare, outpatient, and medication healthcare expenditures.
A Strategic Problem in Approval Voting

Problems of multi-candidate races in U.S. presidential elections—exemplified by Ralph Nader’s spoiler effect in 2000—motivated the modern invention and advocacy of approval voting; but it has not previously been recognized that the first four U.S. presidential elections (1788–1800) were conducted using a variant of approval voting. That experiment ended disastrously in 1800 with an infamous Electoral College tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The tie, this paper shows, resulted less from miscalculation than from a strategic tension built into approval voting, which forces two leaders appealing to the same voters to play a game of Chicken. All outcomes are possible, but none is satisfactory- mutual cooperation produces a tie, while all-out competition degrades the system to single-vote plurality, which approval voting was designed to replace. In between are two Nash equilibria that give the advantage to whichever candidate enjoys an initial lead or, in the case of initial parity, to the candidate who is less cooperative and more treacherous.
Transforming the Business Education Value Chain with E-Learning Technologies

Today’s colleges and universities face a variety of challenges in meeting student needs as well as the heightened expectations of their other stakeholders. Increased operating costs, rising tuition, greater competition, and rigorous accreditation standards are forcing institutions to make their key educational processes more effective and efficient. E-learning platforms (e.g., Blackboard/WebCT, eCollege, and ANGEL) offer potential solutions to these twenty-first century operational dilemmas. Yet, many business administrators and educators remain reluctant to fully embrace such classroom learning platforms due to the perceived time and training investments required to master these technologies. Therefore, this chapter presents a brief and focused example of a contextually specific e-learning application which will benefit educators.
Successful rebuilding after disaster, even in the heart, starts with infrastructure

Mammalian heart regeneration has been the subject of intense debate and investigation among cardiovascular scientists for more than a century (1). While it is now widely accepted that the mammalian heart does have the capacity for self-renewal, replacement of injured tissue with new cardiomyocytes happens at a very low rate in the adult heart, and is not sufficient for the recovery of cardiac function after massive loss of cells (2).
Customized endovascular repair of common iliac artery aneurysms

Abstract Open technique for elective repair of iliac artery aneurysms can be safely performed with good outcomes but not inconsequential morbidity. An endovascular approach has been shown to have both periprocedural and postoperative advantages with equivalent outcomes. Endovascular repair of common iliac arteries (CIAs) without sacrificing the hypogastric artery using an iliac branch device is a complex endovascular technique requiring a proximal seal zone that may be absent in larger CIA aneurysms. We present two cases in which CIA aneurysms were repaired with a customized endovascular technique using the benefit of the aortic bifurcation for stability in addition to providing a long proximal seal zone with the AFX device (Endologix, Irvine, Calif) paired with the iliac branch device (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) for internal iliac artery preservation.
Magnet-Free Circulators Based on Linear Time-Varying Circuits

In this paper, magnet-free circulators based on spatiotemporal modulation of three-port resonant junctions are demonstrated. Optimal single-ended implementations based on series or parallel LC tanks connected in a wye or a delta topology, respectively, are developed. Also differential implementations based on combining two single-ended circuits in either a voltage-or a current-mode architecture, resulting in pseudo-linear time-invariant devices with enhanced performance, are presented. Moreover, CMOS integrated and MEMS implementations, suitable for low-cost and large-scale production, are presented. Also, broadband implementations based on combining a narrowband junction with conventional bandpass filters are developed. The proposed circuits are all validated with theoretical, simulated and measured results, with unprecedented performance nearly in all metrics in comparison to the current state of the art.
Technological capabilities and international expansion: the moderating role of family and non-family firms’ social capital

The dynamic growth of Asia Pacific markets has attracted US firms’ entry and expansion, aiming to exploit their resources and capabilities. This study empirically examines the effect of technological capabilities on these firms’ scale and scope of internationalization in this region. The results show that family firms have weaker technological capabilities compared to non-family firms and do not benefit as much from these capabilities in their internationalization efforts. Further, the results indicate that organizational social capital moderates the relationship between technological capabilities and the scale and scope of internationalization. The results highlight firm heterogeneity, signaling that family and non-family firms differ significantly in many of the relationships explored.
three – FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTIONS

Publisher Summary Any presentation of data that presents the frequency with which individual score occurs is called a frequency distribution. By showing the frequency of each different score value, a frequency distribution allows a pattern of frequencies to be recognized. A graph is another form of a frequency distribution. All graphs have an X axis, sometimes called the abscissa. The X axis is the horizontal line at the bottom of the graph, which indicates points on the scale of the variable of interest. The X axis does not have to represent a quantitative variable. There is also a Y axis, sometimes called the ordinate, which is placed vertically, perpendicular to the X axis. In a frequency distribution presented in the form of a graph, the Y axis indicates the frequencies of the various points on the X axis. In a graph, either a point, a circle, or a cross is placed above each X axis value at some appropriate height on the Y axis. The points are usually connected using straight lines between points. When the points are connected, the resulting figure is called a frequency polygon.
Activity of vincristine, L-asparaginase, and dexamethasone against acute lymphoblastic leukemia was enhanced by the Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 in vitro and in vivo

510 Relapse remains a major problem in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Adding a drug that can modulate drug resistance to combination chemotherapy used for therapy of ALL could enhance the durability and frequency of complete remissions. We evaluated ABT-737, a small-molecule Bcl-2 family protein inhibitor, in combination with vincristine, dexamethasone, and L-asparaginase (VXL) in ALL cell lines (1 established at multiple-relapse) using the DIMSCAN cytotoxicity assay. Multi-log synergistic cytotoxicity (combination index 25% or toxicity-related events. Leukemia Growth Delay (LGD) was calculated as the median event-free survival of treated minus control groups. ABT-737 alone achieved LGDs of 26.6 days (ALL-7) and 2.6 days (ALL-19). VXL achieved LGDs of 71.6 days (ALL-7) and 36.5 days (ALL-19). VXL + ABT-737 achieved LGDs of 115.6 days (ALL-7) and 67.7 days (ALL-19). The LGDs for ABT-737 + VXL were 17.4 days (ALL-7) or 28.6 days (ALL-19) greater than the sum of individual LGDs for VXL and ABT-737. In conclusion, ABT-737 synergistically enhanced cytotoxicity of VXL in ALL cell lines and enhanced activity of VXL against ALL xenografts. Combining VXL with an inhibitor of the Bcl-2 family of proteins warrants clinical investigation in relapsed ALL.
Mindfulness-based programs for substance use disorders: a systematic review of manualized treatments.

Substance use disorders are prevalent and returning to substance use (i.e., relapse) following treatment is common, underscoring the need for effective treatments that will help individuals maintain long-term reductions in substance use. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been increasingly developed and evaluated for the treatment of substance use disorders. The aim of this article was to update a systematic review conducted by Li et al. in 2017 on the outcomes of randomized control trials of MBIs for substance use disorders. In addition, we provided a session-by-session examination of the most widely used MBI protocols. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases from January of 2016 through April of 2020. Studies were included based on the following criteria: 1) examined the effects of an MBI, 2) employed a randomized controlled trial design with repeated measures, including secondary data analyses of randomized controlled trials, and 3) enrolled participants seeking treatment for substance use disorders. The search identified 902 publications and 30 studies were eligible for inclusion and data extraction. MBIs appear to be as effective as existing evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders at reducing the frequency and quantity of alcohol and drug use, substance-related problems, craving for substance use, and at increasing the rate of abstinence. Future directions include additional large scale randomized controlled trials, investigation of the most suitable settings and protocols, examination of patient populations that may benefit most from MBIs, and dissemination and implementation research.
Outcomes of a phase II study of intraperitoneal paclitaxel plus systemic capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases.

165Background: The addition of intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel (PTX) to systemic chemotherapy comprising taxane/fluoropyrimidine doublet has shown promising results for patients with gastric cancer...
Contribuciones relativas de las vías de transmisión de la COVID-19 entre el personal sanitario que presta atención a pacientes.

Las vias de transmision de la COVID-19 desde pacientes infectados al personal de la salud son actualmente objeto de debate, pero su consideracion resulta fundamental para la seleccion del equipo de...
A brief history of usable climate science

Recently, certain members of the scientific community have framed anthropogenic climate change as an invitation to reimagine the practice of science. These calls to reinvent science coalesce around the notion of usable knowledge, signaling the need to ensure that research will serve the needs of those impacted by climate change. But how novel is this concept? A historical analysis reveals that the goal of usability is haunted by Euro-American conceptions of instrumental knowledge dating back to the nineteenth century. Even as climate research institutions have embraced the radical epistemic ideal of usability over the past 40 years, they have clung to older definitions of research that are at odds with its anti-individualist implications.
Retaining interest in caring for underserved patients among future medicine subspecialists: Underserved Medicine and Public Health (UMPH) program

BACKGROUND Accessing subspecialty care is hard for underserved patients in the U.S. Published curricula in underserved medicine for Internal Medicine residents target future-primary care physicians, with unknown impact on future medicine subspecialists. METHODS The aim was to retain interest in caring for underserved patients among Internal Medicine residents who plan for subspecialist careers at an urban university hospital. The two-year Underserved Medicine and Public Health (UMPH) program features community-based clinics, evening seminars, reflection assignments and practicum projects for 3-7 Internal Medicine residents per year. All may apply regardless of anticipated career plans after residency. Seven years of graduates were surveyed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS According to respondents, UMPH provided a meaningful forum to discuss important issues in underserved medicine, fostered interest in treating underserved populations and provided a sense of belonging to a community of providers committed to underserved medicine. After residency, 48% of UMPH graduates pursued subspecialty training and 34% practiced hospitalist medicine. 65% of respondents disagreed that "UMPH made me more likely to practice primary care" and 59% agreed "UMPH should target residents pursuing subpecialty careers." CONCLUSIONS A curriculum in underserved medicine can retain interest in caring for underserved patients among future-medicine subspecialists. Lessons learned include [1] building relationships with local community health centers and community-practicing physicians was important for success and [2] thoughtful scheduling promoted high resident attendance at program events and avoided detracting from other activities required during residency for subspecialist career paths. We hope Internal Medicine residency programs consider training in underserved medicine for all trainees. Future work should investigate sustainability, whether training results in improved subspecialty access, and whether subspecialists face unique barriers caring for underserved patients. Future curricula should include advocacy skills to target systemic barriers.
Mass Independent Fractionation of Mercury Isotopes as Source Tracers in Sediments

Since the discovery of isotopic fractionation of mercury in nature, mass dependentfractionation (MDF) and mass independent fractionation (MIF) of mercury isotopes are used as a tracer to understand the mercury cycle. MIF is a powerful tool in understanding the Hg transformations and reaction mechanisms. Here we look into the MIF of the two odd isotopes of mercury (199Hg and 201Hg) in sediment samples collected from lakes and springs of Florida, Lake Erie, and Yucatan Peninsula. The Δ199Hg and Δ201Hg of the sediments range from + 0.52‰ to -0.48‰. From the isotopic signature we interpret the possible source of Hg in the Yucatan Peninsula carbonate to be Hg(II) from the water column. Hg in the Florida lakes and spring sedimentsprimarily comes from litterfall. Lake Erie appears to have an anthropogenic source. This study suggests that the MIF signature of Hg isotopes can be used to qualitatively determine the primary source(s) of Hg in sediments.
Heterodimerization of α2A- and β1-Adrenergic Receptors

β- and α2–adrenergic receptors are known to exhibit substantial cross-talk and mutual regulation in tissues where they are expressed together. We have found that the β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR) and α2A-adrenergic receptor (α2AAR) heterodimerize when coexpressed in cells. Immunoprecipitation studies with differentially tagged β1AR and α2AAR expressed in HEK-293 cells revealed robust co-immunoprecipitation of the two receptors. Moreover, agonist stimulation of α2AAR was found to induce substantial internalization of coexpressed β1AR, providing further evidence for a physical association between the two receptors in a cellular environment. Ligand binding assays examining displacement of [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding to the β1AR by various ligands revealed that β1AR pharmacological properties were significantly altered when the receptor was coexpressed with α2AAR. Finally, β1AR/α2AAR heterodimerization was found to be markedly enhanced by a β1AR point mutation (N15A) that blocks N-linked glycosylation of the β1AR as well as by point mutations (N10A/N14A) that blockN-linked glycosylation of the α2AAR. These data reveal an interaction between β1AR and α2AAR that is regulated by glycosylation and that may play a key role in cross-talk and mutual regulation between these receptors.
Unit invariant characterization of spatial redundant manipulator singularities

A general methodology is presented for the classification of redundant spatial manipulator singular configurations. The techniques derived are shown to be independent of attitude description, measurement units, and coordinate reference frame provided by the forward kinematic equations. Conditions for null vector admissibility and escapability, i.e, reconfiguration into a nonsingular posture via self-motion, are derived through analysis of the manipulator Jacobian matrix only. A general approach to singularity classification based on perturbation techniques is presented. For one-degree-of freedom redundant manipulators, a singularity characterization procedure based on methods from dynamical systems theory is derived. >