cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dendritic Cells in Kidney Transplant Biopsy Samples Are Associated with T Cell Infiltration and Poor Allograft Survival

Progress in long-term renal allograft survival continues to lag behind the progress in short-term transplant outcomes. Dendritic cells are the most efficient antigen-presenting cells, but surprisingly little attention has been paid to their presence in transplanted kidneys. We used dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin as a marker of dendritic cells in 105 allograft biopsy samples from 105 kidney transplant recipients. High dendritic cell density was associated with poor allograft survival independent of clinical variables. Moreover, high dendritic cell density correlated with greater T cell proliferation and poor outcomes in patients with high total inflammation scores, including inflammation in areas of tubular atrophy. We then explored the association between dendritic cells and histologic variables associated with poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed an independent association between the densities of dendritic cells and T cells. In biopsy samples with high dendritic cell density, electron microscopy showed direct physical contact between infiltrating lymphocytes and cells that have the ultrastructural morphologic characteristics of dendritic cells. The origin of graft dendritic cells was sought in nine sex-mismatched recipients using XY fluorescence in situ hybridization. Whereas donor dendritic cells predominated initially, the majority of dendritic cells in late allograft biopsy samples were of recipient origin. Our data highlight the prognostic value of dendritic cell density in allograft biopsy samples, suggest a new role for these cells in shaping graft inflammation, and provide a rationale for targeting dendritic cell recruitment to promote long-term allograft survival.
Wideband microstrip patch antenna on a thick substrate

There are various methods to increase the bandwidth of a microstrip patch antenna. One of the most common methods used to increase the bandwidth of a microstrip patch antenna is to increase the substrate thickness. This method allows circular polarization simply by exciting two orthogonal modes of the patch with 90deg out of phase signals. The feed reactance usually is very small in comparison to the radiation resistance for thin substrates. However, increasing the substrate thickness will increase the feed reactance. This paper presents a novel method for controlling the feed reactance by introducing a series distributed capacitor into the patch structure.
Impact of Public Reporting on Access to Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: The California Outcomes Reporting Program

Background California launched the coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) Outcomes Reporting Program in 2003 for all nonfederal hospitals performing this procedure. The program provides annual public reports of risk-adjusted operative mortality rates by hospital and surgeon. However, the impact of this program on operative mortality and access to surgery for high-risk patients has not been clarified. Methods The cohort consisted of all isolated CABG cases from the California CABG Outcomes Reporting Program database for 2003 and 2006. We applied the same multivariable logistic risk adjustment model to each year to compute predicted and risk-adjusted operative mortality for isolated CABG by hospital and surgeons. Changes in surgical volume and observed, predicted, and risk-adjusted operative mortality were compared by quintiles of patients based on the predicted risk and among hospitals and surgeons between 2003 and 2006. Results Total volume of isolated CABG decreased by 26.5% from 2003 (N = 21,276) to 2006 (N = 15,647). The reduction in CABG volume between 2003 and 2006 was universal among hospitals and surgeons regardless of their performance status in 2003. The change in patient case mix for a majority of hospitals and surgeons was insignificant, and overall patient risk was stable (statewide predicted operative mortality rate for 2003, 3.06%; 95% confidence interval, 2.98 to 3.13; and for 2006, 3.05%; 95% confidence interval, 2.97 to 3.14). Yet, the statewide observed mortality declined from 2.90% in 2003 to 2.22% in 2006 ( p = 0.0001). Overall, the empiric odds ratio of operative death for 2006 patients was 24% lower than for 2003 patients. In 2006, patients with the highest predicted operative mortality risk (4th and 5th quintiles) had 35% and 26% lower odds of operative mortality, respectively, when compared with patients from 2003. Conclusions Although total CABG volume decreased from 2003 to 2006 by almost 27%, patient case mix for most hospitals and surgeons was unchanged. Despite similar patient characteristics, the operative mortality for patients in the highest risk group was 26% lower in 2006 than in 2003. We found no evidence of decreased access to CABG for high-risk patients in California during the period of public reporting of isolated CABG outcomes.
Mechanism of Exfoliation of Nanoclay Particles in Epoxy−Clay Nanocomposites

The mechanism of nanoclay exfoliation was investigated in epoxy−clay nanocomposites system. The elastic force exerted by cross-linked epoxy molecules inside the clay galleries was found responsible for exfoliation of clay layers from the intercalated tactoids. Complete exfoliation of clay galleries was observed under the conditions of slow increase of complex viscosity and fast rise of storage modulus. It was observed that faster intragallery polymerization, though expedited the exfoliation process, was not necessary for exfoliation. It was also observed that clays containing hydroxylated quaternary ammonium ions and quaternary ammonium ions with no polar functional groups produced exfoliated structures equally easily, provided the ratio of storage modulus to complex viscosity was maintained above 2−4 1/s. Both higher curing temperature and the presence of organically modified clay particles accelerated the formation of gels, and the gel time presented an upper bound of time available for exfoliation.
Genetic polymorphisms in monoamine neurotransmitter systems show only weak association with acute post-surgical pain in humans

Background: Candidate gene studies on the basis of biological hypotheses have been a practical approach to identify relevant genetic variation in complex traits. Based on previous reports and the roles in pain pathways, we have examined the effects of variations of loci in the genes of monoamine neurotransmitter systems including metabolizing enzymes, receptors and transporters on acute clinical pain responses in humans. Results: Variations in the catecholamine metabolizing enzyme genes (MAOA and COMT) showed significant associations with the maximum post-operative pain rating while the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) showed association with the onset time of post-operative pain. Analgesic onset time after medication was significantly associated with the norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2). However, the association between COMT genetic variation and pain sensitivity in our study differ from previous studies with small sample sizes, population stratification and pain phenotype derived from combining different types of pain stimuli. Correcting for multiple comparisons did not sustain these genetic associations between monoamine neurotransmitter systems and pain sensitivity even in this large and homogeneous sample. Conclusion: These results suggest that the previously reported associations between genetic polymorphisms in the monoamine neurotransmitter systems and the interindividual variability in pain responses cannot be replicated in a clinically relevant pain phenotype.
Rigor, order and shape. Livio Vacchini: Vacchini house in costa tenero (1991–92): Dynamics between construction and architecture

In Livio Vacchinis works, the structural skeleton formalizes the architectural unity language, through its analytical rigor and an order that gives proportion and hierarchy to the piece. The architect needs the new systems and information tecnologies, to achieve the abstraction and rigor required to reach the universal object. Everything happens between his argumentative logic and his refined construction techniques.
Prepubertal gynecomastia: indirect exposure to estrogen cream.

Objective. To describe the clinical course of 3 prepubertal boys who presented with gynecomastia resulting from indirect exposure to a custom-compounded preparation of estrogen cream used by each child9s mother. Methodology. Each child was initially referred to the Children9s Medical Center of Dallas9 Endocrinology Center and followed for over 1 year. Results. All 3 boys presented with gynecomastia and elevated estradiol levels. Two had accelerated growth and advanced bone ages. Within 4 months after each child9s mother discontinued use of the topical estrogen preparation, each child9s gynecomastia regressed and estradiol levels returned to normal. Conclusion. Indirect exposure to excessive amounts of topical estrogen may cause gynecomastia, rapid changes in growth, and advanced bone age in prepubertal children. Because custom-compounded topical estrogen preparations are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and may contain high concentrations of estrogen, we recommend that women requiring estrogen use an alternate form of estrogen delivery if they are in frequent close contact with children.
Stereotactic atlas-based depth electrode localization in the human amygdala.

Background: The efficacy of stereotactic neurosurgery procedures is critically dependent on the accuracy of the device placement procedure. The first step in this process involves correctly identifying the target location in three-dimensional brain space. In some clinical applications, this targeting process cannot be accomplished using MRI images of gross anatomical structures alone. The amygdala complex is a case in point, in that it consists of multiple histologically defined subnuclei with different functional characteristics. Methods: In this report, we describe an elastic atlas brain-morphing method that projects amygdala subnuclear anatomical information onto the MRI volumes of individual subjects. Results: The accuracy of this method was tested in 5 representative subjects using quantitative image-matching analytical techniques. The results demonstrate a high degree of intersubject variability in medial temporal lobe anatomy, and markedly superior anatomical matching performance by the elastic morphing method compared to Affine transformation. Conclusion: Nonlinear elastic morphing technique provides superior performance on fitting atlas templates to individual brain. The strengths and limitations of this and other atlas morphing methods are discussed in the context of emerging functional neurosurgery applications.
Reply to Lydia Black

London: Cohen and West. [Original French edition, 1898. Luckmann, Thomas 1967 The Invisible Religion. New York: Macmillan; London: CollierMacmillan. Robertson-Smith, William 1972 Religion of the Ancient Semites. New York: Schocken. [Original edition, 1889, Lectures on the Religion of Ancient Semites. ] Yinger, J. Milton 1970 The Scientific Study of Religion. New York: Macmillan; London: Collier-Macmillan.
Performance-aware speculation control using wrong path usefulness prediction

Fetch gating mechanisms have been proposed to gate the processor pipeline to reduce the wasted energy consumption due to wrong-path (i.e. mis-speculated) instructions. These schemes assume that all wrong-path instructions are useless for processor performance and try to eliminate the execution of all wrong-path instructions. However, wrong-path memory references can be useful for performance by providing prefetching benefits for later correct-path operations. Therefore, eliminating wrong-path instructions without considering the usefulness of wrong-path execution can significantly reduce performance as well as increase overall energy consumption. This paper proposes a comprehensive, low-cost speculation control mechanism that takes into account the usefulness of wrong-path execution, while effectively reducing the energy consumption due to useless wrong-path instructions. One component of the mechanism is a simple, novel wrong-path usefulness predictor (WPUP) that can accurately predict whether or not wrong-path execution will be beneficial for performance. The other component is a novel branch-count based fetch gating scheme that requires very little hardware cost to detect if the processor is on the wrong path. The key idea of our speculation control mechanism is to gate the processor pipeline only if (1) the number of outstanding branches is above a dynamically-determined threshold and (2) the WPUP predicts that wrong-path execution will not be beneficial for performance. Our results show that our proposal eliminates most of the performance loss incurred by fetch gating mechanisms that assume wrong-path execution is useless, thereby both improving performance and reducing energy consumption while requiring very little (51- byte) hardware cost.
Monte Carlo N-particle tracking of ultrafine particle flow in bent microtubes

ABSTRACTThe problem of large pressure-differential-driven laminar convective–diffusive ultrafine aerosol flow through bent microtubes is of interest in several contemporary research areas including; release of contents from pressurized containment vessels, aerosol sampling equipment, advanced scientific instruments, gas-phase microheat exchangers, and microfluidic devices. In each of these areas, the predominant problem is the determination of the fraction of particles entering the microtube that is deposited within the tube and the fraction that is transmitted through. Due to the extensive parameter restrictions of this class of problems, a Lagrangian particle tracking method making use of the coupling of the analytical stream line solutions of Dean for convective motion and a sampling of a Gaussian distribution for diffusive motion is a useful tool in problem characterization. This method is a direct analog to the Monte Carlo N-Particle method of particle transport extensively used in nuclear physics an...
Can International Large-Scale Assessments Inform a Global Learning Goal? Insights from the Learning Metrics Task Force.

In recent years, the global community has developed a range of initiatives to inform the post-2015 global development agenda. In the education community, International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs) have an important role to play in advancing a global shift in focus to access plus learning. However, there are a number of other assessment tools that could also inform global progress in education and learning. By viewing ILSAs through the framework set forth by the Learning Metrics Task Force, this article examines the state of these assessments as the Millennium Development Goals are about to expire. It specifically reviews what the task force has learned about the scope for ILSAs to inform global learning. It also poses a series of questions that ask how the assessment of learning can ultimately lead to improvements in the learning outcomes of students.
Electromagnetic Processing of Polymers: II. Quantitative Investigations of Microwave Processed Thermoplastics (Microwave Calorimetry)

The microwave heatability of various thermoplastic polymers was investigated. The concept of microwave calorimetry was proposed to quantitatively illustrate how viscoelastic behavior controlled microwave heatability. Specifically, heating rate as a function of sample temperature revealed a distinct maximum which was identified as the Tg at 2.45Ghz. The critical temperature, Tc, necessary for rapid microwave heating was identified by drawing a tangent to the heating rate curve and extrapolating to a critical value at zero heating rate. In separate experiments, low frequency (100 KHz) dielectric measurements were made which show the frequency dependence of Tg by means of Arrhenius activation energy plots. In general, the larger the activation energy, the closer the critical heating temperature, Tc, wasto the Tg determined by DSC. The smaller the activation energy, the further dielectric loss shifted with increased frequency so that Tc was very far from Tg determined by DSC.
Enhancing Writing Achievement Through a Digital Learning Environment: Case Studies of Three Struggling Adolescent Male Writers

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to explore how Narrative Theatre, a narrative-centered digital learning environment, supported the writing processes of 3 struggling adolescent male writers. We utilized a multicase study approach to capture 3 sixth-grade participants’ experiences with the digital learning environment before, during, and after writing. The case studies provided detailed portraits of the writers as well as insights into their digital writing processes related to student interest, student ability, and value for writing. The across-case analysis revealed 3 themes (i.e., choice, scaffolding, and self-efficacy) that illustrated how the digital learning environment contributed to the students’ writing experiences. Future research and development will focus on the addition of text animation for student products and the degree to which this feature further contributes to engagement and proficiency with struggling writers.
The Pointing Control of Satellite Antenna and Visual Simulation

This paper mainly focuses on the visual simulation of the pointing control of satellite antenna.First the dynamics model of the system is built by the theory of momentum torque.Then a digital simulation adopting the classical PID control is built in the environment of SIMULINK.The main program will receive the datas from SIMULIN through interface of MATLAB.In Visual C++ 6.0,some functions of OPENGL will be used to invoke the 3DS model to finish the visual simulation.
The effective control of the battery product quality

Working practice in new situation on how to carry out the effective control of the battery product quality was studied.The main content was the control of the raw and semifinished material quality and the process of production.It dealed with the ways about closedring management of the product quality.
Application Research of SQLite Database in Modern Information Management of Coal Mine

In view of problems of complex operation and high maintenance cost existed in application of large databases in modern information management of coal mine,the paper proposed a scheme of modern information management of coal mine by use of SQLite database.It introduced basic structure and characteristics of SQLite database and gave simulation analysis of the scheme.The test result showed that SQLite database can fully play advantages of high efficiency and useability for portal website and office automation system in modern information management of coal mine,but SQLite database has certain limitation for gas monitoring and control system which needs a lot of concurrent operation.
Bayesian Credible Sets for Odds Ratio of Two Binomial Proportions Using Double Sampling with False-Positive Misclassification

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTA Bayesian approach is considered for a point and interval estimation for odds ratios of two binomial proportion parameters using double-sampling data subject to false-positive misclassification. For such data, we derive an easy-to-implement, closed-form algorithm for drawing from the posterior distributions. Application of this algorithm is illustrated using data collected about student laboratory grades from a course.
On K-derived quartics

Abstract Let K be a number field. A K-derived polynomial f ( x ) ∈ K [ x ] is a polynomial that factors into linear factors over K, as do all of its derivatives. Such a polynomial is said to be proper if its roots are distinct. An unresolved question in the literature is whether or not there exists a proper Q -derived polynomial of degree 4. Some examples are known of proper K-derived quartics for a quadratic number field K, though other than Q ( 3 ) , these fields have quite large discriminant. (The second known field is Q ( 3441 ) .) The current paper describes a search for quadratic fields K over which there exist proper K-derived quartics. The search finds examples for K = Q ( D ) with D = … , − 95 , − 41 , − 39 , − 19 , 21 , 31 , 89 , … .
Fluoroimmunoassays Using Antibody-Conjugated Quantum Dots

Luminescent colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) are robust inorganic fluoro phores that have the potential to circumvent some of the functional limitations encountered by organic dyes in sensing and biotechnological applications. Quantum dots exhibit size-dependent tunable, narrow fluorescence emission spectra that span the visible spectrum and have broad absorption spectra. This allows simultaneous excitation of several particle sizes at a single wavelength with emission at multiple wavelengths. Quantum dots also provide a high-resistance threshold to chemical degradation and photodegradation. We have developed a conjugation strategy for the attachment of antibodies to quantum dots based on electrostatic interactions between negatively charged dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA)-capped CdSe-ZnS core-shell quantum dots and positively charged proteins (natural or engineered) that serve to bridge the quantum dot and antibody. This chapter details the materials and methods for synthesis of the DHLA-capped CdSe-ZnS core-shell quantum dots, the construction and preparation of recombinant proteins, the conjugation of antibodies to quantum dots, and the use of antibody-coated quantum dots in a fluoroimmunoassay.
Splitting Times among Hominoids Deduced from the Fossil Record

This chapter is concerned with some of the difficulties encountered when trying to establish divergence times from the fossil record. I have not presented much of the evidence for the divergence dates postulated here, but I have given reference to new discoveries made since the publication of Simons’ 1972 review. The problems to be faced include relevant evolutionary models, the nature of the sedimentary and fossil records, ways of determining temporal sequences and actual dates of fossils, and the implications of paleogeographic reconstructions. The deductions that follow from these considerations are, at the very best, the nearest approximations to paleontological history that the record allows, or, at worst, just educated guesses. New finds often offer more than new interpretations of the material, and it is a peculiarity and one of the fascinations of paleontological inquiry that we are continually reassessing our notions with each successive new discovery.
Musils “letzte Liebesgeschichte”

Die Formel “letzte Liebesgeschichte” wird im Mann ohne Eigenschaften von Agathe selbst auf ihr Verhaltnis zum Bruder, dem Helden des Romans, angewandt und bietet einen wichtigen Schlussel zum Verstandnis dieses Werkes, das unter anderem eine grosangelegte Bestandsaufnahme und radikale Kritik des Liebesglaubens westlicher romantischer und nachromantischer Literaturtradition unternimmt.
Soldier, sailor, rebel, rule-breaker: masculinity and the body in the German far right

ABSTRACTDrawing on a unique digital archive of thousands of images of far right symbols and commercial products in Germany, combined with 62 interviews conducted with German youth and their teachers in 2013–2014, this article examines young Germans’ sense of style and their interpretation of far right-wing symbols and codes in commercial products, clothing, and tattoos. The article focuses on the role that perceptions of masculinity and body image play in the appeal of clothing brands and styles popular with the far right. The analytical focus is on two iconographical tropes – the soldier/sailor and the rebel/rule-breaker – as devices that help articulate how a hegemonic far right version of masculinity is inscribed through male bodies. The article thus identifies subcultural style as a key mechanism through which masculinity and nationalism are linked and mutually reinforced.
Spatial Navigation and the Central Complex: Sensory Acquisition, Orientation, and Motor Control

Cockroaches are scavengers that forage through dark, maze-like environments. Like other foraging animals, for instance rats, they must continually asses their situation to keep track of targets and negotiate barriers. While navigating a complex environment, all animals need to integrate sensory information in order to produce appropriate motor commands. The integrated sensory cues can be used to provide the animal with an environmental and contextual reference frame for the behavior. To successfully reach a goal location, navigational cues continuously derived from sensory inputs have to be utilized in the spatial guidance of motor commands. The sensory processes, contextual and spatial mechanisms, and motor outputs contributing to navigation have been heavily studied in rats. In contrast, many insect studies focused on the sensory and/or motor components of navigation, and our knowledge of the abstract representation of environmental context and spatial information in the insect brain is relatively limited. Recent reports from several laboratories have explored the role of the central complex (CX), a sensorimotor region of the insect brain, in navigational processes by recording the activity of CX neurons in freely-moving insects and in more constrained, experimenter-controlled situations. The results of these studies indicate that the CX participates in processing the temporal and spatial components of sensory cues, and utilizes these cues in creating an internal representation of orientation and context, while also directing motor control. Although these studies led to a better understanding of the CX’s role in insect navigation, there are still major voids in the literature regarding the underlying mechanisms and brain regions involved in spatial navigation. The main goal of this review is to place the above listed findings in the wider context of animal navigation by providing an overview of the neural mechanisms of navigation in rats and summarizing and comparing our current knowledge on the CX’s role in insect navigation to these processes. By doing so, we aimed to highlight some of the missing puzzle pieces in insect navigation and provide a different perspective for future directions.
Characterization of immune cells and infection by HIV in human ovarian tissues.

Problem New HIV infections in women are predominantly spread through sexual intercourse. Recent non-human primate studies demonstrated that simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) deposited in the vagina infected immune cells in the ovary. Whether immune cells in the human ovary are susceptible to HIV infection is unknown. Method of study Immune cells were isolated from ovaries and characterized by flow cytometry. Cells were exposed to HIV for 2 hours. HIV infection was measured by flow cytometry and p24 secretion following 6 days in culture. Results CD4+ T cells and CD14+ cells are present in the ovary and susceptible to infection by HIV-BaL. Among the CD45+ cells present, 30% were CD3+ T cells (with similar proportions of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells), and 7%-10% were CD14+ cells. Both CD4+ T cells and CD14+ cells were productively infected and supported replication. Conclusion Immune cells in the ovary are potential targets for HIV infection.
Exponentially Harmonic Maps

The last five decades have witnessed many developments in the theory of harmonic maps. To become acquainted to some of these, the reader is referred to two reports and a survey paper by Eells and Lemaire [119, 122, 124] about the developments of harmonic maps up to 1988 for details. Several books on harmonic maps [203, 205, 206, 389, 425] are also available. In this chapter, we follow the notions and notations of harmonic maps between Riemannian manifolds by Eells- Sampson [129] in the introduction.We discuss the crucial topics in harmonic maps including fundamentals, regularity, maps of surfaces, maps of KRahler manifolds, maps into groups and Grassmannians, harmonic maps, loop groups, and integrable systems, harmonicmorphisms, maps of singular spaces, and transversally harmonic maps. Since the theory of harmonic maps has been developed over half a century, it is impossible to provide full details. However, we try to present the most important components of the topics.
The LHC and the CMS Experiment

The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest accelerator, storage ring, and proton–proton collider. Its two orbits are filled by oppositely circulating particle beams which collide at four interaction points (IP). Located at the interaction points are the particle detectors designed for different physics programs: A Toroidal LHC Apparatus (ATLAS) and Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), general-purpose detectors for searches of physics beyond the standard model and precision measurements of QCD and electroweak interactions; A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE), specializing in hadron physics; LHC beauty (LHCb), for precision heavy-flavor physics; and Large Hadron Collider forward (LHCf) and TOTEM (Total Cross Section, Elastic Scattering, and Diffraction Dissociation Measurement at the LHC), for hadron physics in the forward region and the proton cross section measurement. Note that LHC is designed to also circulate lead ion (208Pb82) beams, and the ion–ion and ion–proton collisions are important parts of the LHC physics program. However, the remainder of this thesis will focus on the proton–proton operation.
Notes on the Fauna of the Chipola Formation- XXV: On the Occurence of the Genus Rothpletzia Simonelli (Mollusca:Gastropoda)

One of the unexpected discoveries in the fauna of the Burdigalian (late lower Miocene) Chipola Formation of Calhoun Cormty, Florida, is the occurrence of a species of the hipponicid genus Rothpleztia Simonelli, 1890, originally described as R. rudista on the basis of specimens collected from Miocene (presumably Vindabonian) deposits on Gran Canaria Island. Specimens that seem certainly to be referrable to the same genus, collected from the southern part of the island of Trinidad, were subsequently described by Hodson and Harris in 1931 as representing "an Oligocene Rudistid" for which they proposed the name Neomonopleura weidenmayeri. Rutsch (1934) later synonymized Neamonopleura with Rothpletzia and reported the presence of the Trinidad form in the Antigua Limestone on the island of Antigua.
Verbal Working Memory as a Longitudinal Mechanism of Vocabulary Problems in Preschoolers with ADHD

Elucidation of early potential risk factors of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is important to allow for early identification of ADHD and targeted early intervention for children with ADHD. Delayed language skills, particularly poor vocabulary, is an early-developing potential risk factor that is thought to be involved in developmental pathways to ADHD; however, mechanisms explaining the relationship between poor vocabulary skills and ADHD symptoms are unclear and warrant investigation. The present study examines the relationship between poor vocabulary skills and ADHD symptoms by testing cognitive mechanisms, namely verbal working memory (WM), that might account for this link. Participants were 109 young children between the ages of three and six and their primary caregivers. Diagnostic information on ADHD symptoms was available from parents and teachers/daycare providers via standardized rating forms. Vocabulary skills and WM were measured through child performance on laboratory tasks. Mediation analyses found poor verbal working memory significantly partially explained the vocabulary-ADHD association for both parent and teacher-rated ADHD symptoms. Further, effects of verbal WM on the association between poor vocabulary and increased ADHD symptoms largely held at one-year follow-up. Development of early interventions targeting verbal WM may be a promising new direction for early ADHD intervention work.
Response by Samuel J. Ciurca, Jr. for the presentation of the 2016 Harrell L. Strimple Award of the Paleontological Society

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Council of the Paleontological Society for presenting me with the Strimple Award and to Professor Carlton E. Brett for the nomination. Samuel J. Ciurca, Jr. After finding my first eurypterid fossil (I didn’t know what it was at the time), I got encouragement from the interest shown and the kindnesses of eurypterid specialist Erik N. Kjellesvig-Waering (K-W) and from former NY State Paleontologist, D.W. Fisher. That first eurypterid fossil changed my entire future—I began a diligent …
The Influence of Store Versus Service Satisfaction on Retail Customer Loyalty: An Abstract

Customer satisfaction and its impact on customer loyalty is an important competitive consideration for most organizations (Sorescu and Sorescu 2016; Tarasi et al. 2013). This paper addresses the impact of store and service satisfaction on attitudinal and behavioral customer loyalty in a retail setting. The research is based on a survey of 308 Target and Wal-Mart shoppers using Partial Least Squares (PLS) to test the hypothesized research model. Customer satisfaction has been reported to be based on a tangible dimension as well as an intangible dimension (Walsh et al. 2008). In this research, the tangible dimension of retail customer satisfaction is measured as store satisfaction (Jayasankaraprasad and Kumar 2012; Thomas 2013), whereas the intangible dimension of customer satisfaction is measured as service satisfaction relating to the customer’s experience with store personnel and the customer service that they receive (Dabholkar et al. 1996; Walsh et al. 2008). Hypothesis 1 was supported showing a positive linkage between store satisfaction and service satisfaction (β = 0.80, t-value = 33.84). Hypothesis 2 was supported with a positive linkage between store satisfaction and attitudinal loyalty (β = 0.49, t-value = 6.53). Hypothesis 3 was also supported indicating a positive relationship between store satisfaction and behavioral loyalty (β = 0.35, t-value = 4.11). Hypothesis 4 was supported indicating there was a significant relationship between service satisfaction and attitudinal loyalty (β = 0.23, t-value = 3.13). Hypothesis 5 was not supported indicating no significant relationship between service satisfaction and behavioral loyalty (β = 0.12, t-value = 1.80). Hypothesis 6 was supported indicating a positive association between attitudinal loyalty and behavioral loyalty (β = 0.40, t-value = 5.46). Our findings support the notion that satisfaction and the two types of customer loyalty are related with the exception of the relationship between service satisfaction and behavioral loyalty. Service satisfaction may be a form of spurious brand loyalty where customers repeat their purchase behavior because of inertia instead of commitment to the store (Bloemer and Kasper 1995). With spurious brand loyalty, good customer service may be important but it may not have the constant or lasting effect on store satisfaction.
Molecular Carcinogenesis of HBV-Related HCC

Primary liver cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer worldwide, and a vast majority of primary liver cancer is the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subtype. Although a number of etiologies are recognized to cause HCC, HBV infection accounts for over 50% of diagnosed HCC cases. HBV infection leads to the development of HCC through a variety of mechanisms. Indirectly, viral infection leads to repetitive liver injury through oxidative stress, the immune response, and telomere shortening, eventually causing cellular transformation. Integration of viral DNA into the host genome can indirectly lead to carcinogenesis by inducing genomic instability, as well as directly causing oncogenesis by preferentially integrating into genomic loci of known oncogenes. The activity of the HBV X protein (HBx) has been demonstrated to directly promote transformation and hepatocarcinogenesis in a number of ways, including activating cancer-related pathways and altering cellular epigenetic and noncoding RNA expression. In this chapter, we will summarize the current scientific knowledge of the ways in which HBV infection can lead to HCC.
Detecting mammographically-occult cancer in women with dense breasts using Radon Cumulative Distribution Transform: a preliminary analysis.

We propose using novel imaging biomarkers for detecting mammographically-occult (MO) cancer in women with dense breast tissue. MO cancer indicates visually occluded, or very subtle, cancer that radiologists fail to recognize as a sign of cancer. We used the Radon Cumulative Distribution Transform (RCDT) as a novel image transformation to project the difference between left and right mammograms into a space, increasing the detectability of occult cancer. We used a dataset of 617 screening full-field digital mammograms (FFDMs) of 238 women with dense breast tissue. Among 238 women, 173 were normal with 2 – 4 consecutive screening mammograms, 552 normal mammograms in total, and the remaining 65 women had an MO cancer with a negative screening mammogram. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to find representative patterns in normal mammograms in the RCDT space. We projected all mammograms to the space constructed by the first 30 eigenvectors of the RCDT of normal cases. Under 10-fold crossvalidation, we conducted quantitative feature analysis to classify normal mammograms and mammograms with MO cancer. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate the classifier’s output using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) as the figure of merit. Four eigenvectors were selected via a feature selection method. The mean and standard deviation of the AUC of the trained classifier on the test set were 0.74 and 0.08, respectively. In conclusion, we utilized imaging biomarkers to highlight differences between left and right mammograms to detect MO cancer using novel imaging transformation.
An inhibitor screen identifies histone-modifying enzymes as mediators of polymer-mediated transgene expression from plasmid DNA

Abstract Effective transgene expression in mammalian cells relies on successful delivery, cytoplasmic trafficking, and nuclear translocation of the delivered vector, but delivery is impeded by several formidable physicochemical barriers on the surface of and within the target cell. Although methods to overcome cellular exclusion and endosomal entrapment have been studied extensively, strategies to overcome inefficient nuclear entry and subsequent intranuclear barriers to effective transient gene expression have only been sparsely explored. In particular, the role of nuclear packaging of DNA with histone proteins, which governs endogenous gene expression, has not been extensively elucidated in the case of exogenously delivered plasmids. In this work, a parallel screen of small molecule inhibitors of chromatin-modifying enzymes resulted in the identification of class I/II HDACs, sirtuins, LSD1, HATs, and the methyltransferases EZH2 and MLL as targets whose inhibition led to the enhancement of transgene expression following polymer-mediated delivery of plasmid DNA. Quantitative PCR studies revealed that HDAC inhibition enhances the amount of plasmid DNA delivered to the nucleus in UMUC3 human bladder cancer cells. Native chromatin immunoprecipitation (N-ChIP)-qPCR experiments in CHO-K1 cells indicated that plasmids indeed interact with intracellular core Histone H3, and inhibitors of HDAC and LSD1 proteins are able to modulate this interaction. Pair-wise treatments of effective inhibitors led to synergistic enhancement of transgene expression to varying extents in both cell types. Our results demonstrate that the ability to modulate enzymes that play a role in epigenetic processes can enhance the efficacy of non-viral gene delivery, resulting in significant implications for gene therapy and industrial biotechnology.
The tangent space

The miracle of Lie theory is that a curved object, a Lie group G, can be almost completely captured by a flat one, the tangent space T1(G) of G at the identity.
The Role of the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor Network in Glucose Homeostasis

The Hepatocyte Nuclear Factors Hepatocyte nuclear factors are a diverse class of transcription factors that were originally identified through their interaction with essential sequences for tissue-specific transcription of liver specific genes. These factors contain DNA-binding domains that have been conserved throughout evolution. Based on the structure of their functional domains, liver-enrichedtranscriptionfactors have been classified into six families. These include HNF-1 [HNF-1α and HNF-1β (vHNF-1)] genes, members of the homeodomaincontaining transcription factors; CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) that are basic leucine-zipper transcription factors; the winged helix proteins HNF-3 [HNF-3α, HNF-3β and HNF-γ], members of the HNF-3/forkhead(bZip) transcription factor family; the zinc finger orphan receptor HNF-4 family [HNF-4α and HNF-4β]; D-binding protein [DBP], a member of the proline acid-rich (PAR) subfamily of bZip transcription factors; and HNF-6, which contains two different DNA binding domains, a cut domain and a novel type of homeodomain.
Coronary heart disease. At the interface of molecular genetics and preventive medicine.

Abstract Background: Susceptibility to common chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD) appears to be influenced by “context-dependent effects,” which include interactions among genes (genetic epistasis) and among genes and environmental factors (gene-environment interactions). Methods: A synthesis of current knowledge and research findings demonstrates the importance of integrating genetic research on cardiovascular disease with preventive medicine and public health initiatives. Results: A variety of candidate genes have been implicated in risk for CHD, but only limited examples of context-dependent effects have been described. Interactions between genetic and environmental factors appear to influence lipid metabolism, plasma homocysteine levels, and pharmacologic response to many commonly prescribed medications. Quantification of genetic effects associated with increased disease risk that are modifiable by interventions such as diet, exercise, and smoking cessation is an important interface between molecular genetics and preventive medicine. Conclusions: As a primary focus of preventive medicine expands to encompass early detection and treatment of asymptomatic individuals at risk for disease, the ability to quantify the influence of context-dependent effects on disease risk will be critical for determining drug safety and effectiveness in diverse patient populations and for implementing effective prevention and treatment programs.
Adaptation of microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation for enhancing STEM and undergraduate education

Microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE) is investigated as a means to enhance curricula and education in the life sciences based on simplicity of use, the incorporation of inexpensive hardware, and the simplest methods of tissue preparation. Ultraviolet excitation in effect replaces tissue sectioning because it penetrates only a few micrometers below the tissue surface at the single cell level, preventing the generation of out-of-focus light. Although tissue autofluorescence may be used, image quality and content can be enhanced by a brief immersion in a solution of nontoxic fluorescent dyes that selectively highlight different cellular compartments. Safe mixed-dye powder combinations have been developed to provide students who have minimal lab proficiencies with a one-step tissue staining process for rapid tissue preparation.
Tranexamic Acid Reduces Postoperative Blood Loss in Distal Femoral Osteotomy.

Blood loss remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality in orthopaedic surgery, with transfusions associated with an increased risk of infection, length of stay, delayed rehabilitation, and significantly increased hospitalization costs. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) is effective in reducing postoperative blood loss in patients undergoing distal femoral osteotomy (DFO). A retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing DFO by a single surgeon from 2010 to 2017, with a change in protocol occurring in 2014, after which all patients received TXA. Patients in the TXA group (n = 24) received 1-g TXA immediately prior to incision followed by a second dose of 1-g TXA 4 hours after the administration of the first dose. Patients in the control group (n = 28) did not receive TXA. Drainage was recorded through a subfascial drain that remained for 24 hours postoperatively. Postoperative hemoglobin, hematocrit, and transfusions, as well as demographic factors, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), medical comorbidities, and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class, were recorded. Multivariate regression analysis adjusting for potential confounding variables was performed. With the exception of gender, the two groups did not differ significantly in baseline characteristics, including age, BMI, and ASA class. There was a significant difference in postoperative blood loss, with those receiving TXA having a mean drain output of 184.2 versus 242.1 mL for the control group (p = 0.02), which persisted after regression analysis (p
Negotiating the Hotel Nacional de Cuba:Politics, Profits, and Protest

In Negotiating the Hotel Nacional de Cuba: Politics, Profits, and Protest , Erica N. Morawski positions that Havana hotel (McKim, Mead & White, 1930) as a significant symbol and space in the negotiation of national identities under the government of Cuban president Gerardo Machado y Morales. Through analysis of archival materials and architectural design, she shows how the project embodied complex negotiations between the machadato , dedicated to creating the hotel as a national monument, and the U.S. conglomerate charged with financing and building it. Looking beyond the hotel9s construction to its role in the Revolution of 1933, Morawski demonstrates how the machadato 9s efforts to define national identity through the hotel positioned it as a key focus of activists who wanted to define Cuban national identity on their own terms, and who engaged not in negotiation but in armed resistance.
Early Biomarkers of Hepatocyte Necrosis

Existing serum biomarkers of liver cell death are useful for tracking patient liver injury and recovery. However, few are helpful for early detection or prediction of hepatic damage. There is a definite need for improved non-invasive liver injury biomarkers in the future. Fortunately, progress is being made in that direction. New biomarkers of hepatocyte death, comprising mechanistic biomarkers of apoptosis/necrosis, mitochondrial damage, inflammation, and other pathways, show promise for earlier and more accurate prediction of patient injury and outcome. This chapter provides a brief review of this emerging generation of biomarkers and possibilities for the future.