cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction: effect of low-intensity laser irradiation.

Background and Objective Low-intensity laser irradiation is claimed to enhance wound healing. Healing after myocardial infarction results in ventricular enlargement and wall thinning. If laser treatment accelerated cardiac healing, we speculated that ventricular remodeling would be attenuated. Study Design/Materials and Methods In vitro, fibroblasts were irradiated for 1 minute twice a day for 4 days (5 mW; wavelength, 780 nm). One day after infarction, rats were randomly assigned to 5 or 10 mW transdermal irradiation twice a day for 4 days or to sham. One week after infarction, we measured the remodeling parameters; cavity volume, infarct thickness, and vascular structure, and the healing parameters; collagen content and inflammation. Results Laser-treated fibroblasts occupied more area than controls. Hearts receiving the 10 mW treatment had smaller volumes than sham hearts. Laser treatment reduced infarct thinning and preserved arterial lumen area; however, collagen was not increased and inflammation was inhibited. Conclusions Low-intensity irradiation attenuated infarct-associated remodeling. In contrast to expectations from in vitro study, these effects were not a result of enhanced healing. Lasers Surg. Med. 27:29–38, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Beyond Gratz and Grutter: Prospects for Affirmative Action in the Aftermath of the Supreme Court's Michigan Decisions

This article explores the meaning of the Supreme Court's Michigan decisions and their implications for higher education in the judicial, political, and social–cultural context. It concludes that the complex and dynamic interplay of judicial policymaking, politics and public opinion, and demographic changes could have important consequences, including unanticipated ones, in the years ahead.
Senate Committees and Turf: Do Jurisdictions Matter?

Committee membership is valuable to members of Congress for many reasons, not the least of which is the ability to exercise disproportionate influence over policies falling within the committee's jurisdiction. Yet at times these jurisdictions are violated. Given that a member values distinct committee jurisdictions, will he or she be more likely to oppose a bill brought to a vote by a violation of jurisdictional norms? In this article, I undertake an investigation of the politics surrounding the Senates extension of Daylight-Saving Time in order to shed light on this question. The empirical analysis shows that while members of the committee that lost jurisdiction are affected by the jurisdictional violation, other members are not. Most observers would agree that committees are less central to the policymaking process in the Senate than in the House of Representatives. Yet at the same time, most observers would also agree that if we want to understand how the Senate works, examining the committee system is a logical place to begin. As Ornstein, Peabody, and Rohde (1993:30) recently noted, "[t]he committee system is the single most important feature affecting legislative outcomes in the Senate.'
Expression of fragile sites in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and normal controls.

A high concordance has been reported between fragile sites and breakpoints involved in chromosomal rearrangements in cancer. A prospective study on the role of fragile sites in the etiology of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), with appropriate comparisons to results obtained from normal controls, analyzed fluorodeoxyuridine-, aphidicolin-, and caffeine-induced fragile sites in the peripheral blood of seven ALL patients (three with cytogenetically normal karyotype and four with pseudodiploid karyotype) and eight normal controls. While extensive variations in the number and distribution of fragile sites was observed within each group, there was no significant difference in the mean total fragile sites and mean fragile sites per cell between the two groups (P>0.05) in all three treatments. Similarly, within the ALL patients, the two karyotypic groups did not exhibit any significant difference in fragility (P>0.05).
BISTABILITY AND COMPETITION OF SPATIOTEMPORAL CHAOTIC AND FIXED POINT ATTRACTORS IN RAYLEIGH-BENARD CONVECTION

For Rayleigh-B\'enard convection in a square cell with a fluid of Prandtl number $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\approx}1$, we report experimental results on the bistability of the spatiotemporal chaotic state of spiral defect chaos (SDC) and a stationary state of ideal straight rolls (ISR). We present the first large aspect ratio experimental confirmation of the theoretical prediction of stable ISR in the parameter regime where typical initial conditions lead to SDC. As a function of the control parameter and for typical experimental initial conditions, we also find a transition in the selection between SDC and ISR which is mediated by front propagation. We characterize the transition with two measures, the spatial correlation length and the spectral pattern entropy, and find that the transition shows similarities to equilibrium phase transitions.
Venus gravity - A harmonic analysis

An improved model of Venusian global gravity has been obtained by fitting an eighteenth-degree and eighteenth-order spherical harmonic series to 78 orbital arcs of high altitude (950-1350 km at periapsis) tracking data and 351 orbital arcs of lower-altitude (150-200 km at periapsis) data from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO). Compared to a recently published tenth-degree model of Mottinger et al. (1985), which is based on the 78 high-altitude arcs only, the current model provides a significant improvement in resolution and fidelity. As a measure of this improvement, it is noted that for the low-altitude arcs alone, the variance of the residuals for the present model is reduced to 19 percent of the data variance, compared to 51 percent for the tenth-degree model. Venus differs significantly from the earth in that it exhibits a significant correlation between long-wavelength topography and gravity. The gravity/topography spectral admittances are inconsistent with either Airy or Pratt isostasy, but are consistent with dynamic support by mantle convection.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of transforming growth factor β type II receptor expression in osteoblasts

Variations in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) activity depend on the expression of specific receptors in normal as well as transformed cells. For example, in addition to mutations in TGF-beta type II receptor (TbetaRII) that abrogate normal TGF-beta function, its expression decreases during the transition from replication to extracellular matrix production, or in response to other growth regulators in bone. Therefore, to understand how TbetaRII expression is controlled, we cloned the rat TbetaRII gene promoter and defined basic aspects of its structure and activity. Among several cis-acting elements, mutations within an upstream E-box that specifically binds USF nuclear factors or a downstream Sp1 binding site significantly reduced TbetaRII promoter activity in primary cultures of fetal rat osteoblasts. Treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), which induces further osteoblast differentiation, significantly reduced cell surface TbetaRII. However, BMP-2 did not alter TbetaRII promoter activity, steady state TbetaRII mRNA, or total TbetaRII protein, but caused an intracellular relocation of TbetaRII. Select transcriptional elements thus regulate TbetaRII gene expression, whereas post-translational events controlled by BMP-2 rapidly modify the amount of TbetaRII protein on the bone cell surface. Consequently, several processes can alter functional TbetaRII levels in order to regulate the biological effects of this important growth factor.
Expression profiling of UVB response in melanocytes identifies a set of p53-target genes.

Epidermal melanocytes execute specific physiological programs in response to UV radiation (UVR) at the cutaneous interface. Many melanocytic responses, including increased dendrite formation, enhanced melanogenesis/melanization, and cell cycle arrest impact the ability of melanocytes to survive and to attenuate the UVR insult. Although some of the molecules that underlie these UVR programs are known, a coherent view of UVR-induced transcriptional changes is lacking. Using primary melanocyte cultures, we assessed for UVR-mediated alterations in over 47,000 transcripts using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 microarrays. From the 100 most statistically robust changes in transcript level, there were 84 genes that were suppressed >2.0-fold by UVR; among these transcripts, the identities of 48 of these genes were known. Similarly, there were 99 genes that were induced >2.0-fold by UVR; the identity of 57 of these genes were known. We then subjected these top 100 changes to the Ingenuity Pathway analysis program and identified a group of p53 targets including the cell cycle regulator CDKN1A (p21CIP), the WNT pathway regulator DKK1 (dickkopf homolog 1), the receptor tyrosine kinase EPHA2 , growth factor GDF15 , ferrodoxin reductase ( FDXR ), p53-inducible protein TP53I3 , transcription factor ATF3 , DNA repair enzyme DDB2 , and the β -adrenergic receptor ADBR2 . These genes were also found to be consistently elevated by UVR in six independent melanocyte lines, although there were interindividual variations in magnitude. WWOX , whose protein product interacts and regulates p53 and p73, was found to be consistently suppressed by UVR. There was also a subgroup of neurite/axonal developmental genes that were altered in response to UVR, suggesting that melanocytic and neuronal arborization may share similar mechanisms. When compared to melanomas, the basal levels of many of these p53-responsive genes were greatly dysregulated. Three genes – CDKN1A , DDB2 and ADRB2 – exhibited a trend towards loss of expression in melanomas thereby raising the possibility of a linked role in tumorigenesis. These expression data provide a global view of UVR-induced changes in melanocytes and, more importantly, generate novel hypotheses regarding melanocyte physiology.
Conformational Analysis of Some Monochloroalkanes

Abstract Molecular mechanics calculations were made for 2-chloro-2,3-dimethylbutane, 2-chloro-2,4-dimethylpentane, and 2-chloro-2,5-dimethylhexane in order to compare the results with conclusions obtained from vibrational spectra concerning the conformational behavior of these compounds. The structures, relative energies, and heats of formation were also calculated.
Illustration motifs for effective medical volume illustration

The enormous amount of 3D data generated by modern scientific experiments, simulations, and scanners exacerbates the tasks of effectively exploring, analyzing, and communicating the essential information from these data sets. The expanding field of biomedicine creates data sets that challenge current techniques to effectively communicate information for use in diagnosis, staging, simulation, and training. In contrast, medical illustration succinctly represents essential anatomical structures in a clear way and is used extensively in the medical held for communicative and illustrative purposes. Thus, the idea of rendering real medical data sets using traditional medical illustrative styles inspired work in volume illustration. The main goal of the volume illustration approach is to enhance the expressiveness of volume rendering by highlighting important features within a volume while subjugating insignificant details, and rendering the result in a way that resembles an illustration. Recent approaches have been extended to interactive volume illustration by using PC graphics hardware volume rendering to accelerate the enhanced rendering, resulting in nearly interactive rates.
The thoracolumbar spine in Marfan syndrome

We analyzed the prevalence, inheritance, progression, and functional implications of spinal deformity in Marfan syndrome using four different groups of patients. We studied 113 patients who had Marfan syndrome, eighty-two of whom were skeletally immature, in order to characterize the alignment and function of the spine. The patients were selected from a clinic that provides total care with no bias toward the presence of orthopaedic conditions. Scoliosis was identified in fifty-two of the eighty-two patients, and the prevalences for the sexes were equal. The thoracic portion of the curve was convex to the right in all but two patients. The mean kyphosis was greater than that in the general population. Five distinct sagittal profiles were identified on the basis of whether the thoracic kyphosis was within, greater than, or less than normal limits and whether the transition between the kyphosis and lordosis occurred at or caudad to the normal level or whether the curves were reversed. Spondylolisthesis was present in five patients (6 per cent), with a mean slip of 30 per cent. Fourteen pedigrees were studied in depth. There was no familial pattern of the scoliosis. A separate group of fifty-six patients with scoliosis, for whom serial follow-up radiographs were available, was studied for progression. Patients who had a curve of more than 30 degrees had mild progression, and those who had a curve of more than 50 degrees had marked progression (mean, 3 +/- 4 degrees per year). Pain and function of the back were studied in thirty patients who were thirty-five to forty-five years old; these patients were found to be more impaired than matched controls. The presence of scoliosis was associated with pain in the region of the curve in these patients.
High level expression of human epithelial β-defensins (hBD-1, 2 and 3) in papillomavirus induced lesions

Background: Epithelial defensins including human β-defensins (hBDs) and α-defensins (HDs) are antimicrobial peptides that play important roles in the mucosal defense system. However, the role of defensins in papillomavirus induced epithelial lesions is unknown. Results: Papilloma tissues were prospectively collected from 15 patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) and analyzed for defensins and chemokine IL-8 expression by quantitative, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. HBD-1, -2 and -3 mRNAs were detectable in papilloma samples from all RRP patients and the levels were higher than in normal oral mucosal tissues from healthy individuals. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that both hBD-1 and 2 were localized in the upper epithelial layers of papilloma tissues. Expression of hBD-2 and hBD-3 appeared to be correlated as indicated by scatter plot analysis (r = 0.837, p < 0.01) suggesting that they were co-inducible in papillomavirus induced lesions. Unlike hBDs, only low levels of HD5 and HD6 were detectable in papillomas and in oral mucosa. Conclusion: Human β-defensins are upregulated in respiratory papillomas. This novel finding suggests that hBDs might contribute to innate and adaptive immune responses targeted against papillomavirus-induced epithelial lesions.
Activation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Inhibits High-Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Currents of Chicken Nucleus Magnocellularis Neurons

Using whole cell patch-clamp recordings, we pharmacologically characterized the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) currents of chicken nucleus magnocellularis (NM) neurons using barium as the charge...
Energy Loss Processes in Ferroelectric Ceramics

By a study of ageing effects in which permittivity, elastic compliance and the electrical and mechanical loss coefficients decrease with time, the principal ferroelectric loss process in low fields is identified as microhysteresis associated with small-amplitude domain boundary movement. Larger fields produce macrohysteresis effects due to large-scale boundary movement, and the permittivity, compliance and loss coefficients are increased. Although boundary movement is responsible for almost all the energy loss, its contribution to permittivity and compliance is usually small compared with induced effects within each domain. Thus a change in the magnitude of boundary movement alters the permittivity and compliance only slightly, but changes the loss coefficients considerably.
VASCULARIZATION OF THE CORNEA OF THE RAT IN RIBOFLAVIN DEFICIENCY, WITH A NOTE ON CORNEAL VASCULARIZATION IN VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY

Vascularization of the cornea of the rat in the absence of antecedent pathology is probably a specific and the most reliable criterion of riboflavin deficiency. Its initiation and repair may be used for testing the biological activity of compounds structurally related to riboflavin. The facts that the invading capillaries are easily visible in the living animal and that the growth and regression of the blood vessels are under dietary control and for a considerable period of time unaccompanied by other pathological reactions, make this method very suitable for the study of problems related to capillary growth. We believe that the best hypothesis in explanation is that the vascularization is a response to asphyxia of the tunica propria.
Media Literacy and the Broadcast “Nation”: Making Sense of What We Have Signed on For

In this paper, the author provides a response to Dunn (2013) and Martin (2013). Focusing on the relationship between the media and intercollegiate sport, the author examined the impact of intercollegiate athletics on the finances, mission, and outcomes of the broader institutions in which they are housed. Recommendations for future action are offered.
On Chazan's Review of Perspectives on the Past

them as such. To the contrary, it is the fact they practice both a highly developed form of agriculture and residential mobility that led us to address the issue of the relationship between agriculture and sedentism. Surely Bentley and Netting do not assume that incipient agricultural systems are the only agricultural systems relevant to an understanding of the emergence of sedentism. As long as they share relevant variables, ethnographic cases can shed light on prehistoric cultural evolutionary processes even if the systems in question show quite different levels of development. Second, they seem to imply that we portray small-scale farmers as irrational and thereby lend support to misguided efforts to undermine small-scale farming because we propose that the desire to take advantage of microenvironmental variability is not the principal factor motivating the Raramuris of Rejogochi to farm dispersed fields. This suggestion is belied by our account of the Raramuris' dynamic, flexible, creative, and productive adaptation to their environment and by our longstanding opposition to any further diminishment of the Raramuris' land base and their political sovereignty.
Athens and Chalkis: a study in imperial control

The basic contention of this article is that, contrary to a widely held and influential view, the Chalkis Decree does not constitute evidence that Athens tried to impose democracies on rebellious allies after their subjugation. It contains an exchange of oaths between Athens and Chalkis, confirming an 'agreement' (homologia), the contents of which are lost. The oaths show Athenian concern for the protection of the Athenian democracy and its friends at Chalkis, and impose some judicial but no political restrictions on Chalkis to secure Athenian domination and assure the priority of Athenian interests. In fact, the Athenians acknowledge the right of the Chalkidians to insist on the performance of civic duties in Chalkis on the part of aliens (xenoi) resident there. The Athenians among these resident xenoi, who are exempted from these obligations, are neither colonists nor kleruchs, as is sometimes alleged, but most probably individual settlers who had been given land in Chalkidian territory by Tolmides in the 450s.
B6D2F1 Mice Are a Suitable Model of Oxidative Stress–Mediated Impaired Endothelium-Dependent Dilation With Aging

To determine if B6D2F1 mice represent a suitable model of oxidative stress-mediated impaired endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) with aging, mice were studied at 6.9 +/- 0.3 and 31.9 +/- 0.6 months. EDD to acetylcholine (ACh) was 26% (p < .001) and 12% (p < .001) lower, respectively, in isolated carotid (n = 10-11) and femoral (n = 10) arteries from older mice, and reductions in arterial pressure to systemic ACh infusion were smaller in older mice (n = 6-10; p < .01). Nitrotyrosine was marked in aorta of older mice (p < .05, n = 4). Superoxide production in carotid arteries was greater (p < .05), and TEMPOL restored dilation in carotid arteries and systemically in older mice. N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) reduced carotid artery dilation in young more than older mice, whereas TEMPOL restored the effects of l-NAME in older mice. Carotid artery stiffness was increased in older compared with young mice (p = .04). Our results provide the first comprehensive evidence that B6D2F1 mice are a useful model for investigating mechanisms of reduced nitric oxide-dependent, oxidative stress-associated EDD and increased arterial stiffness with aging.
Erratum to: Non Existence of a Density Expansion of the Transport Coefficients in a Moderately Dense Gas

1. On page 4, line 5: “Finally the Jn(f . . . f ) in (4) are integrals over infinite space over the positions and the velocities of all (n − 1) particles in the cluster, except over particle 1, and possess the cluster property i.e. each particle in the cluster must have at least one collision with another cluster particle (including particle 1) and in addition an irreducibility property of the collisions in the cluster is needed (cf. footnote 4 and [14, 15]); if not, their contributions to Jn vanish.” 2. On page 4, line 14: “It should be emphasized again that the structure of the Jn is similar to that of the corresponding virial coefficients in equilibrium involving n interacting particles, in that they have both the cluster property, i.e. they vanish unless all n particles interact or collide at least once with another particle in the cluster and in addition an irreducibility property of the collisions in the cluster is needed (cf. footnote 4 and [14, 15]).”
Neurotransmission: Emerging Roles of Endocannabinoids

Postsynaptic release of endocannabinoids can inhibit presynaptic neurotransmitter release on short and long timescales. This retrograde inhibition occurs at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses and may provide a mechanism for synaptic gain control, short-term associative plasticity, reduction of synaptic crosstalk, and metaplasticity.
The use and misuse of neck dissection for head and neck cancer.

Management of the Carotid Artery in Neck Dissection Neck dissection, or cervical lymphadenectomy, is a time-honored procedure used to treat metastastic carcinoma to the neck. Under most circumstances, the site of origin lies within the upper aerodigestive tract, thyroid gland, salivary glands, or the surrounding cutaneous structures. Contemporary approaches to neck surgery have included modifications of the classical radical neck dissection involving preservation of certain lymphatic regions, sparing nonlymphatic structures, or in some situations, removal of additional structures. As other modalities are proving to be effective treatment strategies for metastatic neck cancer, there is also a pressing need to define the role of neck dissection as part of a multimodality approach. Given this evolving role of neck dissection, this article is intended to outline the use and, in some situations, the misuse of these procedures in the management of patients with head and neck carcinoma. We served as panelists when this topic was presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons, October 2000.
Acid-fast staining of haplosporidian spores in relation to oyster pathology

Abstract Infected tissues from the oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), were subjected to a modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbol fuchsin technique in order to determine whether haplosporidian parasites produced spores with acid-fast properties. Minchinia costalis ( Wood and Andrews, 1962 ) Sprague, 1963 , sporoplasm was found to be quite acid-fast, remaining bright red after the acid destaining procedure. A combined staining technique employing the Ziehl-Neelsen procedure with Harris' hematoxylin and eosin was devised and applied to oyster samples collected from Pocomoke Sound, Maryland over a 3-year period. Although 235 of these oysters were infected with a haplosporidian-like organism labeled MSX, no spores with acid-fast properties were observed.
Normal Growth and Physiology

In analyzing a chest radiograph, it is important to have an understanding of some of the basic principles of respiratory physiology, and to appreciate how certain pathophysiological processes can cause distinct disease states, each with its own specific clinical signs and symptoms. These can be divided into broad categories, which include obstructive lung disorders, restrictive lung disorders, disorders of gas diffusion, shunts, and ventilation-perfusion abnormalities. For the pediatric radiologist, lung mechanics and in particular those related to changes in lung volume are of crucial significance. The radiograph of the noncooperative young child is never obtained at the optimal full inflation typical for the older person who inhales to full lung capacity (thus, total lung capacity) and breath-holds. The lung volumes reflected in the pediatric radiograph (assuming quiet breathing) span a volume range from FRC (the volume at end expiration) to peak of tidal volume (the volume at end inspiration). Thus, by definition, the volume of the normal pediatric radiograph is always well below the lung volume of the cooperative patient, with all the implications that this has on the quality of the radiograph. Obviously, the lower the lung volume, the less reliable is the interpretation of pathology.
Impacts of Mobile Tablet Computing on Provider Productivity, Communications, and the Process of Care

Abstract Objective Health information technology investments continue to increase while the value derived from their implementation and use is mixed. Mobile device adoption into practice is a recent trend that has increased dramatically and formal studies are needed to investigate consequent benefits and challenges. The objective of this study is to evaluate practitioner perceptions of improvements in productivity, provider-patient communications, care provision, technology usability and other outcomes following the adoption and use of a tablet computer connected to electronic health information resources. Methods A pilot program was initiated in June 2013 to evaluate the effect of mobile tablet computers at one health provider organization in the southeast United States. Providers were asked to volunteer for the evaluation and were each given a mobile tablet computer. A total of 42 inpatient and outpatient providers were interviewed in 2015 using a survey style questionnaire that utilized yes/no, Likert-style, and open ended questions. Each had previously used an electronic health record (EHR) system a minimum of one year outside of residency, and were regular users of personal mobile devices. Each used a mobile tablet computer in the context of their practice connected to the health system EHR. Results The survey results indicate that more than half of providers perceive the use of the tablet device as having a positive effect on patient communications, patient education, patient's perception of the provider, time spent interacting with patients, provider productivity, process of care, satisfaction with EHR when used together with the device, and care provision. Providers also reported feeling comfortable using the device (82.9%), would recommend the device to colleagues (69.2%), did not experience increased information security and privacy concerns (95%), and noted significant reductions in EHR login times (64.1%). Less than 25% of participants reported negative impacts on any of these areas as well as on time spent on order submission, note completion time, overall workload, patient satisfaction with care experience and patient outcomes. Gender, number of years in practice, practice type (general practitioner vs. specialist), and service type (inpatient/outpatient) were found to have a significant effect on perceptions of patient satisfaction, care process, and provider productivity. Conclusions Providers found positive gains from utilizing mobile devices in overall productivity, improved communications with their patients, the process of care, and technology efficiencies when used in combination with EHR and other health information resources. Demographic and health care work environment play a role in how mobile technologies are integrated into practice by providers.
Abnormal paranasal sinuses in patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. Radiological findings.

Radiographic examinations of the paranasal sinuses and chests of 187 patients with C.F. from five months to 27 years of age were reviewed. One hundred eighty-five patients consistently had opaque maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses. Forty-five patients had normal chest radiographs. These observations show that the paranasal sinuses are almost always affected in children with C.F. Although opaque paranasal sinuses do not indicate the diagnosis of C.F., clear paranasal sinuses exclude this disease with reasonable certainty.
Geographic and Host-Associated Differentiation in the Fruittree Leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The fruittree leafroller, Archips argyrospila (Walker), has recently reached out-break densities on a newly recorded host plant, baldcypress, Taxodium distichum (L.) Richard. We conducted a genetic analysis of the cypress population and one feeding on oaks in Louisiana. To obtain a geographic perspective on differentiation within the fruittree leafroller, we compared the Louisiana cypress population with a California oak population genetically and conducted cross-rearing studies on oak and cypress. A citrus population from California was also included for a host-associated perspective. Genetic data suggest the existence of three distinct taxa. One taxon feeds on oaks and citrus in California, one feeds on oaks in Louisiana, and a third feeds on baldcypress in Louisiana. Developmental cross-rearing studies indicate the cypress population is virtually unable to survive on Louisiana oaks, further supporting the existence of host-associated differentiation. Pheromone attraction studies conducted in Louisiana forests with California citrus and Louisiana cypress virgin females indicate California citrus females are not attractive to male fruittree leafrollers in cypress swamps. Differences in pheromonal response suggest evolutionary divergence in mating behavior on a geographic scale. Further studies are required to determine the degree of reproductive isolation between host associated and geographic populations, but genetic, developmental, and pheromonal studies suggest sibling species or host races, or both, exist.
Outcomes of Pancreatic Islet Allotransplantation Using the Edmonton Protocol at the University of Chicago

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess short-term and long-term results of the pancreatic islet transplantation using the Edmonton protocol at the University of Chicago.Materials and MethodsNine patients underwent pancreatic islet cell transplantation using the Edmonton Protocol; they were fol
Microcalorimetric detection of creatinine in urine

In this work, we demonstrate the quantification of creatinine in human urine samples using a micro-calorimetric sensing system. The calorimetric sensor is based on an array of microfabricated Y-cut quartz resonators. The piezoelectric quartz is etched down to a thickness of 10 μm and exhibits a bulk acoustic resonance of 166 MHz. The temperature sensitivity of this high-frequency quartz resonator is 14,600 Hz/K due to the high phenomenological sensitivity of quartz. The sensing resonator structure is thermally isolated from the bulk quartz by fabricating a plate-like cantilevered structure from the etched quartz using focused ion beam etching. Importantly, the quartz sensors and fluidics are decoupled providing a significantly more robust calorimetric sensing system than directly contacted thermopile based chip calorimeters. We employ alginate entrapped creatinine deiminase to transduce urinary creatinine into temperature signatures allowing for the quantification. Ultimately, we envision the development of a handheld calorimetric device similar to that of the glucose meter but with the capability of detecting a much wider range of biomolecules due to the near universality of calorimetric sensing.
Can loss of the swallow tail sign help distinguish between Parkinson Disease and the Parkinson-Plus syndromes?

Abstract Purpose To determine if loss of the swallow tail sign (STS) can distinguish Parkinson Disease (PD) from the Parkinson-Plus syndromes. Methods Twenty-five patients with PD, 21 with Parkinson-Plus syndromes, and 14 control patients were included. Presence of the STS was assessed. Results The STS was present in 79% of controls, statistically greater than the PD/Parkinson-Plus patients. There was no difference in the presence of the STS between the PD/Parkinson-Plus subgroups or when scanning at 1.5 T or 3 T. Conclusions Loss of the STS could not distinguish between PD and Parkinson-Plus patients. The STS can be identified at both 1.5 T and 3 T.
Fair pay allocations: A regulatory focus theory view

Integrating psychology and economic theories of distributive justice, I propose that equity perceptions are determined by individuals’ perceptions about their expectations about future outcomes as ...
Contralesional Brain-Computer Interface Control of a Powered Exoskeleton for Motor Recovery in Chronic Stroke Survivors.

Background and Purpose— There are few effective therapies to achieve functional recovery from motor-related disabilities affecting the upper limb after stroke. This feasibility study tested whether a powered exoskeleton driven by a brain–computer interface (BCI), using neural activity from the unaffected cortical hemisphere, could affect motor recovery in chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors. This novel system was designed and configured for a home-based setting to test the feasibility of BCI-driven neurorehabilitation in outpatient environments. Methods— Ten chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors with moderate-to-severe upper-limb motor impairment (mean Action Research Arm Test=13.4) used a powered exoskeleton that opened and closed the affected hand using spectral power from electroencephalographic signals from the unaffected hemisphere associated with imagined hand movements of the paretic limb. Patients used the system at home for 12 weeks. Motor function was evaluated before, during, and after the treatment. Results— Across patients, our BCI-driven approach resulted in a statistically significant average increase of 6.2 points in the Action Research Arm Test. This behavioral improvement significantly correlated with improvements in BCI control. Secondary outcomes of grasp strength, Motricity Index, and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure also significantly improved. Conclusions— The findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of a BCI-driven neurorehabilitation approach using the unaffected hemisphere in this uncontrolled sample of chronic stroke survivors. They also demonstrate that BCI-driven neurorehabilitation can be effectively delivered in the home environment, thus increasing the probability of future clinical translation. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT02552368][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT02552368&atom=%2Fstrokeaha%2Fearly%2F2017%2F05%2F26%2FSTROKEAHA.116.016304.atom
Trends in Texas high school student enrollment in mathematics, science, and CTE-STEM courses.

In the context of Texas of the USA, House Bill 5 signifies a major policy shift requiring entering high school students starting in fall 2014 to choose an endorsement, like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) being one of them, to provide students with earlier exposure to a coherent course sequence. As we barely understand students’ choices before the endorsement requirement, this study explored 6 years of data (2008–2013) on high school student enrollment rates in mathematics, science, and career and technical education (CTE)-STEM courses to set out the baseline of the trends in STEM course enrollment in Texas. The enrollment rates of the STEM-related courses had wide variations by types of courses, gender, and race/ethnicity. Overall, student enrollment rates increased across time in selective and advanced mathematics, science, and CTE-STEM courses, which indicates a promising prospect for the STEM pipeline. However, there were exceptions in several courses with gender and racial/ethnic differences in the trends. Gender disparity was greater in advanced science courses than advanced mathematics courses, and collectively, gender gap in CTE-STEM courses increased greater than advanced mathematics and advanced science courses across years. While racial/ethnic differences were constant across years in both advanced mathematics and advanced science courses, the differences were rising in CTE-STEM courses in recent years. As little is known about students’ preferences in course-taking in STEM courses at the state level, the findings on the trends in students’ STEM course-taking, disaggregated by gender and race/ethnicity, can provide needed insights on what institutional K-12 changes would be effective for impacting the STEM pipeline.
Core–Shell Composite Fibers for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes

Core–shell nanofibers containing poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and manganese oxide nanoparticles as the core and polypyrrole (PPy) as the shell were fabricated through electrospinning the solution of PAA and manganese ions (PAA/Mn2+). The obtained nanofibers were stabilized by Fe3+ through the interaction between Fe3+ ions and carboxylate groups. Subsequent oxidation of Mn2+ by KMnO4 produced uniform manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles in the fibers. A PPy shell was created on the fibers by immersing the fibers in a pyrrole solution where the Fe3+ ions in the fiber polymerized the pyrrole on the fiber surfaces. In the MnO2@PAA/PPy core–shell composite fibers, MnO2 nanoparticles function as high-capacity materials, while the PPy shell prevents the loss of MnO2 during the charge/discharge process. Such a unique structure makes the composite fibers efficient electrode materials for supercapacitors. The gravimetric specific capacity of the MnO2@PAA/PPy core–shell composite fibers was 564 F/g based on cyclic vol...
On the Identity of the Juvenile Hormone in Insects

The secretion of the corpora allata, the juvenile hormone (JH), has a morphogenetic function during the larval life of an insect and may act as a gonadotropin in the adult. On the basis of transplantation experiments, it had been concluded that the hormone of the corpora allata is stage and order unspecific (Wigglesworth, 1970; Novak, 1966). Consequently, the name “juvenile hormone” was retained irrespective of its endocrinological function during a specific postembryonic stage. Piepho (1950) even had suggested that the juvenile hormones of all insects be chemically related, if not identical.
Plasmonic Metal–Insulator–Metal Capped Polymer Nanopillars for SERS Analysis of Protein–Protein Interactions

The advancement of SERS as an analytical tool requires substrates that provide both sensitive and reproducible measurements. In this work, a gold–titanium dioxide–gold metal–insulator–metal capped polymer nanopillar array SERS substrate is presented and optimized for SERS-based biosensing applications. The optical properties of the multilayered nanoantenna array are investigated using a combination of simulation and experimental studies. It is found that hot spot engineering, the plasmon resonance of the array, and cavity structure optimization all contribute to fundamental SERS sensor properties such as enhancement factor and enhancement factor uniformity, which are critically studied using this highly tunable device. A spatially averaged enhancement factor of (2.4 ± 0.8) × 107 with sufficient error for quantitative studies is demonstrated at an excitation wavelength of 633 nm. The label-free detection of protein–protein interactions on the metal–insulator–metal nanopillar array surface is then demonstra...
Minimally Invasive Surgical Approaches to Colon Cancer.

Colon cancer remains the most common abdominal visceral malignancy affecting both men and women in America. Open colectomy has been the standard of care for colon cancer patients the past 100 years; although highly effective, the major trauma associated with it has a significant morbidity rate and represents a large operation for patients to recover from. Minimally invasive colon surgery was developed as a new and alternative option, and surgeons aim to continue to make it simpler, more reproducible, and easier to teach and learn. We describe herein the current state of minimally invasive colorectal surgery for colon cancer and compare it with open surgery to offer insights to future directions.
Resistance or Rationalization

The concept of “resistance” is probably the most elaborate rationalization that therapists employ to explain their treatment failures. When their efforts are frustrated they frequently postulate the existence of internal forces or make causal assignment to a “frustrator,” thus reducing dissonance at the patient’s expense. Spoken or unspoken, the sentiment is: “It is not my own inadequate assessment or faulty diagnosis, nor the limitations of my theories or methods, but instead the patient’s stubbornness, unwillingness, or inability to cooperate that accounts for his or her lack of progress.” At the outset, we would like to underline our view that “resistance” is generally a function of the limitations of our knowledge and methods and the constraints of our personalities. These are the major factors that create difficulty in dealing successfully with the special therapeutic problems individuals bring to our attention.
Hyaluronic acid (Sperm Select) improves retention of sperm motility and velocity in normospermic and oligospermic specimens.

The effects of Sperm Select (Pharmacia AB, Uppsala, Sweden), a hyaluronic acid medium, on the motility and membrane integrity properties of sperm were studied. In 15 normospermic specimens after overnight incubation, the motility parameters in the control versus the Sperm Select group were as follows (mean±SEM): motility, 18.8%±2.8% versus 27.4%±2.9%; velocity, 21.5±2.4 versus 27.2±2.2 μ m/s; linearity, 3.8±0.3 versus 4.4±0.2; lateral head displacement, 1.5±0.2 versus 1.9±0.1 μ m; and tail beat/cross frequency, 8.8±1.3 versus 10.8±1.4Hz. The density of motile sperm was 10.8±2.3 versus 18.5±2.5×10 6 sperm/mL. Finally, the velocity coefficient, the multiple of the sperm motility and linear velocity, was 4.6±1.1 versus 8.1±1.4. However, we found no Sperm Select related differences when testing sperm membrane integrity with hypoosmotic swelling and supravital staining. Thus, Sperm Select improves the retention of sperm motility (most prominently velocity) apparently due to a direct action of hyaluronic acid on sperm metabolism or contractility rather than to preservation of sperm membrane integrity. In 20 Oligospermic specimens, Sperm Select caused similar improvements in sperm motility, and the duration of motility could be predicted from the degree of enhancement in sperm velocity after short-term Sperm Select exposure. A modified Sperm Select protocol is described that further increases motile sperm yield without a centrifugation step.
The Death of a Defense: How Derivatives Spell the End of the Good Faith Defense to Fraudulent Transfer Actions in Business Bankruptcies

This article examines the "good faith defense" to fraudulent transfer actions in bankruptcy. It argues that investors who have hedged their equity interest in an investment will always qualify as good faith transferees, and thus will be effectively immune from the Bankruptcy Code's fraudulent transfer provisions. It then argues that permitting such arbitrary application of the provisions will increase the cost of capital for solvent firms, a result the Bankruptcy Code is designed to avoid. It concludes that one workable solution to this problem is to eliminate the good faith defense altogether in the context of business bankruptcies. The Death of a Defense
Genetic mutations affecting human lipoprotein metabolism.

Lipoproteins are macromolecular complexes of lipids and proteins that are synthesized mainly by the liver and intestine and catabolized by hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. Their main well-defined physiological function is to transport dietary and/or endogenously synthesized lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids) from one organ to another,(1) although they may also be involved in the regulation of other important physiological processes. In normal plasma, there are traditionally considered to be four lipoprotein classes: (1) chylomicrons, (2) very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), (3) low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and (4) high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (Table I). Several subfractions of VLDL, LDL, and HDL and a lipoprotein class of density intermediate between VLDL and LDL (IDL) have also been described. The plasma lipoproteins are spherical particles with cores of nonpolar neutral lipid consisting of cholesteryl ester and triglycerides and coats of relatively polar materials consisting of phospholipid, free cholesterol, and proteins(2,3) (Table I; for reviews see Refs. 4–6). The protein components of lipoproteins are called apoproteins and have been designated apo A-I, apo A-II, apo A-IV, apo B, apo CI, apo CII, apo CIII, apo D, and apo E.(7)
Decolonizing Alterity Models Within School Counseling Practice

Drawing on a case study, this chapter critically investigates models of alterity in the field of professional school counseling. We argue that the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) multicultural counseling competency model (MCC; Sue et al., 1992), the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model (ASCA 2005), and the ASCA Position Statement: The Professional School Counselor and Cultural Diversity (ASCA, ASCA Position Statements, 2009) are inadequate for the task of interrupting the unequal playing field that exists in our schools for students from traditionally underrepresented and undervalued groups. Specifically, we unpack four fundamental tenets found within these models: (1) the assumption of cultural pluralism, (2) the rationale of changing demographics, (3) an egalitarian approach, and (4) the call for advocacy against unidentified social forces. We then examine the construct of colonizing dominant discourses and their role in perpetuating an unequal playing field for students from traditionally underrepresented groups. We argue that each of the four fundamental tenets tacitly buttresses colonizing dominant discourses by failing to interfere, ignoring their influence, and propagating their invisibility. Finally, we call for a social justice model of alterity for the field of professional school counseling, using the case example to exemplify how such a model would foster the decolonization of schools.