cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Politics of Scarcity versus Technological Optimism: A Possible Reconciliation?

Given the fact that modern political societies assume the necessity of economic growth, solutions must then be found for the resulting problem of scarcity. In the view of the technological optimist, scarcity is a "normal" reaction which results from faulty social policy and inadequate RD its social and political impact would be extensive and must be assessed.
Homeboys, babies, men in suits : The state and the reproduction of male dominance

This article is a theoretically based ethnography of the gender practices of two state institutions. Feminist scholarship on the state has tended to conceptualize the state as a macro-level structure, embodied in social policies, provisions, and abstract principles. By conceptualizing the state at the institutional level, I widen the scope of feminist state theory to include the micro apparatuses of state power. In my case studies, I depict the dynamics of two institutional gender regimes and the distinct patterns of control and contestation that characterize them. These ethnographic data capture how women's relations to men, children, and welfare programs are constructed and reconstructed by state actors and female clients who regulate and resist each other From these data I demonstrate that the state is not a uniform structure that acts to impose a singular set of gender expectations on women. Rather I propose that feminist theorists begin to conceptualize the state as a network of differentiated institutions, layered with conflicting and competing messages about gender
Theoretical and Observational Consequences of Stellar Rotation and Magnetic Fields for Stellar Winds

My dissertation concerns the study of stellar wind structure from (1) the theoretical modeling of stellar rotation and magnetic fields and (2) the development of observational diagnostics. First, I have investigated the effects of stellar rotation for the wind structure of stars across the H-R Diagram using principles from the Wind Compressed Disk (WCD) model. Relative to a spherical wind, the effect of rotation is to increase the wind density at the equator while decreasing the density near the poles. An investigation of mild equatorial density enhancements has led to the development of the Wind Compressed Zone (WCZ) model. The WCZ model predicts that equatorial wind compressions are most likely to occur for stellar winds with low terminal speeds and/or radial velocity distributions that increase gradually from the base of the wind. In favorable cases stellar rotation can produce significant equatorial density enhancements in the winds of Wolf-Rayet stars, B~supergiants, Asymptotic Giant Branch stars, and even some novae at moderate stellar rotations of 20-30% break-up. A spectral line diagnostic based on multiline observations at Infrared wavelengths has been developed to measure the velocity law in the Wolf-Rayet winds, to determine whether they are likely susceptible to wind compression effects. The second major part of the thesis relates to the result that the WCZ model predicts the magnetic field structure in the wind, if the field strength is relatively weak. However, there are generally no good spectral diagnostics of sub-kiloGauss stellar magnetic fields. Magnetic fields at these low strengths are difficult to measure with the Zeeman effect, because the Zeeman line splitting is significantly smaller than the Doppler broadening. Thus, I have explored applications of the Hanle effect, that is sensitive to weaker magnetic fields than is the Zeeman effect, for probing the magnetic properties of stellar winds. The Hanle effect concerns the modification of resonance line polarization by the magnetic field. It has been used in studies of the Solar atmosphere, but not in other stars. Solutions for the Hanle effect in optically thin axisymmetric extended stellar envelopes have been derived. Relative to the zero field case, the Hanle effect can result in significant changes of the total line polarization. Consequences of the Hanle effect for the polarization of line profiles is also investigated, and analytic results are presented for a few special cases. A magnetic field can cause strong variations of the polarized line profile shape as compared to the case without a magnetic field. With multiline observations the Hanle effect will be a valuable diagnostic of stellar magnetic fields in the range 1-1000 Gauss.
A Few Questions on Consumer Information Processing: Two Product Cases, Coffee and Toothpaste:

A few questions about the description of consumer judgmental processes are raised and tested empirically for two products, coffee and toothpaste. The results indicate that consumers do not evaluate...
Enhancement of tumor proteolysis by TNF-alpha: correlation of in vivo isotope estimates with growth

To evaluate the accuracy of in vivo estimates of protein synthesis and breakdown, measurements of plasma and tissue leucine kinetics were made in rat tumor tissues at different conditions of growth by use of constant intravenous infusion of [14C]leucine. These measurements were made in Yoshida sarcoma tumors on days 10 and 13 after implantation, with and without tumor necrosis factor (TNF) infusion and on day 10 in Walker-256 carcinosarcoma. Expressed as micromoles of leucine per gram tissue, tumor protein breakdown increased (P less than 0.01) from 0.32 +/- 0.02 to 0.52 +/- 0.09 (SE) mumol/h, with progress of the Yoshida sarcoma tumor between days 10 and 13 after implantation. Similarly, TNF increased tumor proteolysis on day 10 (0.43 +/- 0.03 mumol.h-1.g-1, P less than 0.05 vs. day 10 control) but not on day 13 after implantation of the Yoshida tumor. Estimates of growth derived from the difference between protein synthesis and breakdown rates were not statistically different from those based on actual tumor volume changes in both tumor models. However, estimates of “whole body” protein metabolism (plasma leucine flux) were not affected either by tumor aging or by treatment with TNF. This study shows that in vivo estimates of tissue protein metabolism based on our [14C]leucine constant infusion model closely reflect the growth characteristic of that tissue. A cytotoxic perfusion-independent effect for intravenous TNF on growing tumor tissue is demonstrable as increased protein breakdown. Furthermore, the commonly used concept of whole body protein metabolism, derived solely from tracer dilution in plasma, is an oversimplification.
END-SYSTOLIC PRESSURE-DIMENSION RELATIONSHIP OF IN SITU MOUSE LEFT VENTRICLE

The increasing popularity of genetically engineered mice in cardiovascular research has made it important to evaluate cardiac function in small animals. We have developed a system to enable simultaneous pressure-dimension analysis of the mouse left ventricle. The chest was opened under anesthesia, and a 1.4 F micromanometer catheter was inserted into the left ventricle through the apex. A pair of sonomicrometry crystals were attached to the anterior and posterior walls using tissue adhesive. Pressure and dimension were recorded simultaneously at baseline and after isoproterenol injection (1 micro g, intraperitoneally). The ascending aorta was occluded transiently to estimate the end-systolic pressure-dimension relationship (ESPDR), which was parameterized subsequently by the quadratic equation: Pes=C2 X (Des-D0)2+E0 X (Des-D0), where Pes is end-systolic pressure, Des is end-systolic dimension, D0 is the dimension axis intercept, E0 is the local slope at D0, and C2 is the curvilinearity coefficient. The maximum and minimum external dimensions at baseline were 5.82+/-0.50 (s.d.) mm and 5.49+/-0.46 mm with fractional shortening of 0.057+/-0.014 (n=12). The ESPDR was significantly curvilinear and increased convexity after isoproterenol injection (C2, -444+/-281 to -1113+/-780 mmHg/mm2, P<0. 05; E0, 536+/-175 to 889+/-276 mmHg/mm, P<0.001), while the dimension axis intercept remained relatively constant (D0, 5.39+/-0. 46 to 5.37+/-0.52 mm). In conclusion, the combination of miniature piezo-electric crystals and a micromanometer enables continuous measurement of pressure and dimension of in situ mouse left ventricle. This technology may be useful in evaluating the cardiac phenotype of genetically engineered mice.
The role of T cells in beta cell damage in NOD mice and humans

The NOD mouse has been available to research community for approximately 15 years and in that time tremendous advances have been made in understanding the role of the immune system in development of Type 1A diabetes. It is clear that beta cell destruction is mediated primarily byT cells with both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells playing an important role. It should be kept in mind that development of diabetes in the NOD mouse differs from that in humans in several respects, induding a marked sex bias in females and very high concordance (80-90% in NOD female mice) compared with the 30-50% observed in human identical twins. Nevertheless, the NOD mouse provides a very important model for understanding diabetes pathogenesis in humans. The data obtained thus far from investigation of human subjects are much less compelling with regard to a direct role for T cells in beta cell destruction than data from the NOD mouse. Nevertheless, it appears thatT cells are involved and it is probably only a matter of time before advance in techniques will allow a definitive assessment of the participation of T cells in human type I diabetes.
Successes and Challenges in Recruiting and Retaining Gang Members in Longitudinal Research: Lessons Learned From a Multisite Social Network Study

Members of hidden or hard-to-survey populations present challenges to social scientists seeking to engage them in empirical studies, especially if those efforts are longitudinal. In this article, w...
A relational performance model for developing innovation and long-term orientation in retail franchise organizations

Abstract A relational performance model is developed to show how innovation and long-term orientation can be evaluated and monitored within franchised retail service organizations. Using principles of justice from social exchange theory as a guide, our performance model measures how franchisee entrepreneurial passion (EP) and perceptions of fairness help to promote innovation and long-term commitment across retail franchise organizations. We test our model using data collected from one large U. S. retail service organization ($5B+ annual revenue) and its independent franchise operators. We discover that targeting distributive justice (or fairness) helps to leverage the EP of the independent operators for promoting innovation, while both procedural and distributive elements of the organizational justice climate help to enhance franchisee's long-term commitment. Moreover, we find that retail franchise operators perceive organizational justice differently than do corporate district managers, which suggests several important implications for both research and practice.
Sliding mode observers for electric machines-an overview

In electric machine control practice, it is not desirable or possible to measure all the state variables needed for control implementation. A good observer-based method to obtain state variables for use in the control law is always pursued by researchers. Observation algorithms make use of the machine model equations and allow the estimation of rotor speed and/or flux from the motor terminal measurement of current and voltage. Among different observation methods the sliding mode observer is a promising approach. This paper attempts to provide a status review and synopsis of the main approaches used in the sliding mode observer design for electric machines. Both induction machine and permanent magnet synchronous machine are covered in this paper. The research work expands from flux estimation, machine parameter estimation to sensorless control issue.
E9 Impairment in gait speed modulation associated with functional mobility in huntington’s disease

Background Gait speed modulation is impaired in manifest Huntington’s disease (mHD) due to reduced stride length. Speed modulation impairments and their functional correlates have not been examined in prodromal HD (pHD). Aims (1) To examine speed modulation (stride length-cadence relationship) in pHD and mHD; and (2) To evaluate the association between speed modulation and functional mobility. Method We tested 20 pHD (mean = 41.75 y), 19 mHD (mean = 44 y), and 20 controls (mean = 42.45 y). Experiment I (internal cues): subjects walked at self-selected preferred, fast, and slow speeds. Experiment II (external cues): subjects walked in time with a metronome. To examine stride length-cadence relationship, we used linear regression analysis. Slope and intercept were each assessed using one-way ANOVA. Clinical tests included Tinetti Mobility Test (TMT) and the HD Activities of Daily Living (HD-ADL) Scale. Pearson correlations between speed modulation (slope, intercept) and function (TMT, HD-ADL scores) were performed. Results pHD and mHD groups modified gait speed similar to controls; however the intercept of stride length-cadence was lower than controls (p 0.05) relative to controls. Slope was comparable across groups. Intercept and TMT had moderate to strong correlations during internally (p Conclusion Both pHD and mHD subjects are capable of modifying gait speed by adjusting stride length and cadence; however stride length in pHD and mHD was dampened at different cadences. When given external cues, stride length regulation improved in pHD, but not in mHD. Thus, stride length regulation is impaired well before diagnosis of HD, and may be partly aided by the use of external cues. Deficits in speed modulation are associated with loss of functional mobility in very early HD.
An approach to quantify the influence of ground motion uncertainty on elastoplastic system acceleration in incremental dynamic analysis

Inclusion of ground motion–induced uncertainty in structural response evaluation is an essential component for performance-based earthquake engineering. In current practice, ground motion uncertain...
Croton crossolepis (Euphorbiaceae), a new species with an unusual trichome type from southwestern Madagascar

Croton crossolepis is newly described and illustrated. It is a shrub or small tree endemic to southwestern Madagascar near Toliara and is distinguished by a mixture of stellate and lepidote trichomes, with most of the lepidote ones having fringed margins and partially free, stiff rays that can make it adhere to surfaces like clothing when they come into contact. The inflorescences are pseudoterminal and spicate in appearance, with numerous flowers subtended by acicular bracts that are longer than the buds. It has larger leaves than most Croton species that occur in the semi-arid southwestern scrub and spiny forests nearby in the country, and it is apparently quite rare and subject to ongoing decline, warranting a conservation assessment of Vulnerable.
The Republicans go over the cliff: the losing case to replace Obamacare

After opposing healthcare reform and Obamacare for 8 years, like the dog that finally caught the car, the Republicans realised they had to propose an actual bill instead of just vetoing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They took a month to come up with ‘America’s Health Care Act’ and managed to alienate almost everyone in the Republican Party as well as most of the country, particularly those in the Republican-voting rural and Southern regions. The bill was pulled even before having a vote in the House of Representatives. A headline during that fiasco said, ‘Middle-schooler who wrote G.O.P. Health-Care Bill claims he has not been paid.’ 1 Then, after ignominiously failing to even get a vote from their own party, the Republicans began talking with each other again and came up with a …
Three myths of digital media

Accounts of our digital future, both optimistic and dystopian, are often founded on three myths: users are in charge, big data is neutral and people will opt to live in enclaves. This article descr...
Body appreciation, anxiety, and depression among a racially diverse sample of women.

This study aims to explore correlates between body appreciation and mental health among a racially and ethnically diverse sample of adult women using validated measures. The sample included raciall...
Human Capabilities and Animal Lives: Conflict, Wonder, Law: A Symposium†

Human beings share the world with many other living beings, and, in particular, with many other species of animals.1 Sometimes human beings forget that we are also animals, and, in consequence of t...
Eating on schooldays and non-schooldays among children at risk for food insecurity: Implications for weekend food backpack programs

Anecdotal reports suggest that food insecure children may go hungry when school meals are unavailable. Weekend food backpack (WFB) programs provide children with food for weekends and holidays. We ...
Shiʿi preaching in West Africa: the Dakar sermons of Lebanese Shaykh al-Zayn

While there has been much emphasis on new types of media for the dissemination of Islamic ideas, this article focuses on the conventional Friday khuṭba. Lebanese Shaykh al-Zayn was trained in Najaf...
Self-Concept Clarity, Self-Regulation, and Psychological Well-Being

Previous research finds a robust positive relationship between self-concept clarity and well-being. However, the causal direction and mechanism of this relationship remains ambiguous. I propose that self-concept clarity may foster well-being by facilitating successful self-regulation and goal pursuit. This chapter outlines the role of the self-concept in several prominent theories of self-regulation, and details how, given these mechanistic roles, an unclear sense of self might undermine self-regulation and goal pursuit. Focusing on self-regulation may help to differentiate self-concept clarity from its close correlate, self-esteem, as low self-esteem and low self-concept clarity are associated with unique predictions in the domain of goal pursuit. I argue that thinking about the mechanisms linking self-concept clarity to positive outcomes can help us to better understand self-concept clarity more generally.
Loss of the mucosal barrier alters the progenitor cell niche via Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling.

The mucous barrier of our digestive tract is the first line of defense against pathogens and damage. Disruptions in this barrier are associated with diseases such as Crohn's disease, colitis, and colon cancer, but mechanistic insights into these processes and diseases are limited. We have previously shown that loss of a conserved O-glycosyltransferase (PGANT4) in Drosophila results in aberrant secretion of components of the peritrophic/mucous membrane in the larval digestive tract. Here, we show that loss of PGANT4 disrupts the mucosal barrier, resulting in epithelial expression of the IL-6–like cytokine Upd3, leading to activation of JAK/STAT signaling, differentiation of cells that form the progenitor cell niche, and abnormal proliferation of progenitor cells. This niche disruption could be recapitulated by overexpressing upd3 and rescued by deleting upd3, highlighting a crucial role for this cytokine. Moreover, niche integrity and cell proliferation in pgant4-deficient animals could be rescued by overexpression of the conserved cargo receptor Tango1 and partially rescued by supplementation with exogenous mucins or treatment with antibiotics. Our findings help elucidate the paracrine signaling events activated by a compromised mucosal barrier and provide a novel in vivo screening platform for mucin mimetics and other strategies to treat diseases of the oral mucosa and digestive tract.
hDNA2 nuclease/helicase promotes centromeric DNA replication and genome stability

DNA2 is a nuclease/helicase that is involved in Okazaki fragment maturation, replication fork processing, and end resection of DNA double‐strand breaks. Similar such helicase activity for resolving secondary structures and structure‐specific nuclease activity are needed during DNA replication to process the chromosome‐specific higher order repeat units present in the centromeres of human chromosomes. Here, we show that DNA2 binds preferentially to centromeric DNA. The nuclease and helicase activities of DNA2 are both essential for resolution of DNA structural obstacles to facilitate DNA replication fork movement. Loss of DNA2‐mediated clean‐up mechanisms impairs centromeric DNA replication and CENP‐A deposition, leading to activation of the ATR DNA damage checkpoints at centromeric DNA regions and late‐S/G2 cell cycle arrest. Cells that escape arrest show impaired metaphase plate formation and abnormal chromosomal segregation. Furthermore, the DNA2 inhibitor C5 mimics DNA2 knockout and synergistically kills cancer cells when combined with an ATR inhibitor. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how DNA2 supports replication of centromeric DNA and give further insights into new therapeutic strategies.
Affinity Membranes in Bioseparations

Biologically functioning complexes differ from the simpler chemical parallels (such as chelates, ion-pairs, coordination compounds, etc.) only in their complexity and specificity. They form as a result of familiar forces and interactions, including ionic, Van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, charge transfer interactions, etc. Specificity, in this sense is the ability to fonn stable complexes between ligand and ligate in the presence of similar, but not identical, biomolecules. Typical examples are the complexes foun ed between an enzyme and its substrate, an antigen and its antibody, or the complementary RNA/DNA pairs. It can be general (exemplified by lectins and carbohydrate interaction), or highly selective when using monoclonal antibodies (viz. anti-human serum albumin antibody binds HSA in the presence of other mammalian albumins). In all ligand-ligate interactions the conditions of the milieu detenn ine the stability of the complex. Thus the biological complexes can be dismpted, whether in solution or immobilized on a substrate, by alteration of the milieu. Either specific or non-specific changes in the environment can achieve this result. For example, the typical antibody-antigen complex is disrupted by a change in pH to 2.2, which is a non-specific change in the environnent since all competing complexes may also be affected by the change in pH. However, a complex-specific change in the milieu can be used, as in the elution of lectins from their glycoprotein complexes, by the addition of competing monomeric sugars. This change affects the lectin complexes only. Other commonly used alterations in milieu are changes of ionic strength, or addition of a competing ligand or chaotropic agents. The scientific basis of these ligand immobilizations has grown at a very rapid rate. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the entire field of enzyme and other protein purification, based on insoluble complex formation, is less than fifty years old, with the majority of the understanding coming in the last 25 years. An excellent review is one by Nishikawa [1].
Superfluid Orifice Pulse Tube Refrigerator below 1 Kelvin

Half the moving parts of the superfluid Stirling refrigerator have been eliminated by adopting an orifice-pulse-tube configuration. Our first such device has cooled to 0.64 K with the hot platform anchored at 1.0 K. Performance of the refrigerator is in reasonable agreement with expectations. Two curious features of the superfluid pulse tube are in distinct contrast with features of conventional pulse tubes. First, stability of the 3He-4He mixture against free convection requires that the hot end of the pulse tube must be below the cold end. Second, the low heat capacity of metals below 1 K makes heat loss along the pulse tube due to the fluid’s oscillatory motion very small.
Home intravenous versus oral antibiotics following appendectomy for perforated appendicitis in children: a randomized controlled trial

To compare the effect of home intravenous (IV) versus oral antibiotic therapy on complication rates and resource utilization following appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. This was a randomized controlled trial of patients aged 4–17 with surgically treated perforated appendicitis from January 2011 to November 2013. Perforation was defined intraoperatively and divided into three grades: I—contained perforation, II—localized contamination to right gutter/pelvis, and III—diffuse contamination. Patients were randomized to complete a ten-day course of home antibiotic therapy with either IV ertapenem or oral amoxicillin–clavulanate. Thirty-day postoperative complication rates including abscess, readmission, wound infection, and charges were compared. Eighty-two patients were enrolled. Forty four (54%) were randomized to the IV group and 38 (46%) to the oral group. IV patients were older (12.3 ± 3.6 versus 10.1 ± 3.6, p 0.05). Comparing IV to oral, there was no difference in length of stay (4.4 ± 1.5 versus 4.4 ± 2.0 days, p > 0.05), postoperative abscess rate (11.6% vs. 8.1%, p > 0.05), or readmission rate (14.0% vs. 16.2%, p > 0.05). Hospital and outpatient charges were higher in the IV group (p < 0.0001). Oral antibiotics had equivalent outcomes and incurred fewer charges than IV antibiotics following appendectomy for perforated appendicitis.
Parental psychological distress and cancer stage: a comparison of adults with metastatic and non-metastatic cancer

Parents with cancer have unique and often under-recognized psychological distress about the impact of their illness on their children. Relatively little is known about how parenting concerns may differ among patients by cancer stage. This is a secondary data analysis of 203 adults with cancer who had children < 18 years old from two geographically distinct areas. We used an analysis of covariance to estimate the mean differences in PCQ, depression symptom severity and anxiety symptom severity (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) scores between participants with metastatic and non-metastatic disease, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients to assess associations between HADS and PCQ scores by cancer stage. Seventy-two percent of participants (n = 146) had metastatic solid tumor cancer. In adjusted analyses, mean PCQ scores did not significantly differ between parents with metastatic and non-metastatic disease (2.0 vs. 2.2, p = 0.06). Differences in mean PCQ scores were driven by a single question concerning the impact of death on children (2.3 vs. 2.9, p = 0.004). Mean HADS scores did not significantly differ between groups, although PCQ scores explained a greater amount of variance in HADS scores for the metastatic group as compared to the non-metastatic group. With the exception of concerns about death, intensity of parenting concerns, as measured by the PCQ, was similar between parents with metastatic and non-metastatic cancer. However, parenting concerns may be more strongly linked to overall psychological distress in patients with metastatic disease. Further research is needed to clarify how parenting concerns uniquely relate to advanced stage illness.
Dietary raisin intake has limited effect on gut microbiota composition in adult volunteers.

Dried fruits, such as raisins, contain phytochemicals and dietary fibers that contribute to maintaining health, potentially at least partially through modification in gut microbiota composition and activities. However, the effects of raisin consumption on gut microbiota have not previously been thoroughly investigated in humans. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how adding three servings of sun dried raisin/day to the diet of healthy volunteers affects gut microbiota composition. A 14-day exploratory feeding study was conducted with thirteen healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 59 years. Participants consumed three servings (28.3 g each) of sun dried raisins daily. Fecal samples were collected prior to raisin consumption (baseline) and after the addition of raisins to the diet (on days 7 and 14). To determine the effects of raisin intake, fecal microbiota composition before and after raisin consumption was characterized for each participant by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall microbiota diversity was not significantly affected by adding raisins to the diet. However, upon addition of raisins to the diet specific OTUs matching Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroidetes sp. and Ruminococcus sp. increased in prevalence while OTUs closest to Klebsiella sp., Prevotella sp. and Bifidobacterium spp. decreased. Our findings suggest that adding raisins to the diet can affect the prevalence of specific bacterial taxa. Potential health benefits of the observed microbiota changes should be determined in future studies in populations for which specific health outcomes can be targeted. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Identifier: NCT02713165 .
Towards a Low-Cost and Portable Photoacoustic Microscope for Point-of-Care and Wearable Applications

Several breakthrough applications in biomedical imaging have been reported in the recent years using advanced photoacoustic microscopy imaging systems. While two-photon and other optical microscopy systems have recently emerged in portable and wearable form, there is much less work reported on the portable and wearable photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) systems. Working towards this goal, we report our studies on a low-cost and portable photoacoustic microscopy system that uses a custom fabricated 2.5 mm diameter ring ultrasound transducer integrated with a fiber-coupled laser diode. The ultrasound transducer is centered at 17.25 MHz, and shows ~ 45% and ~ 100% fractional bandwidths for ultrasound pulse-echo and photoacoustic A-line signals respectively. To achieve overall system portability, besides the imaging head, other back-end imaging system components need to be readily portable as well. In this direction, we have studied the potential use of compact pre-amplifiers, scanning stages and microcontroller-based data acquisition and reconstruction for photoacoustic imaging. The portable PAM system is validated by imaging phantoms embedded with light absorbing targets. Future directions that will likely help achieve a completely portable and wearable photoacoustic microscopy system are discussed.
From Furs to Farms: The Transformation of the Mississippi Valley, 1762-1825

Review of: "From Furs to Farms: The Transformation of the Mississippi Valley, 1762-1825" by John Reda
51 – Skeletal Muscle Action Potentials

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses skeletal muscle action potentials. The chapter focuses on sarcolemmal electrophysiological properties that are the bases of the action potential (AP) generation. The chapter also reviews briefly general electrophysiological principles that can be applied to skeletal muscle fibers. The chapter discusses several related concepts, including ion channel activation and inactivation, electrogenesis of depolarizing afterpotentials, and excitation delivery to fiber interior. Conduction into the T-tubular system and evidence for T-tubule communication with the sarcoplasmic reticulum across the triadic junction are also discussed under excitation delivery to fiber interior. It is mentioned that the AP spike in skeletal muscle fibers is followed by a prominent depolarizing afterpotential, also called a negative afterpotential. The skeletal AP is considerably different from the AP of cardiac muscle cells, which has a very long duration with a pronounced plateau and a substantially lower rate of rise and propagation velocity. A general overview of electrogenesis of the AP and the ion channel activation and inactivation are discussed. The skeletal AP is terminated partly by the turn-on of the K+ conductance. The Cl– conductance (gCl)of skeletal muscle fibers is generally very high, and it is important for producing a sharp repolarization of the AP. ATP-dependent K+ (KATP) channels are characterized by the inhibition of channel openings by ATP. The cell membranes of most excitable cells apparently pass through similar stages of differentiation during development. One type of skeletal muscle fibers, known as slow fibers, subserves tonic functions, including posture. When the end plate potential (EPP), generated at the neuromuscular junction, reaches threshold for eliciting an AP in the skeletal muscle fiber, an AP is propagated down the muscle fiber in both directions from the end plate.
Chapter 15 – Carboranes in Catalysis

A concise review of the history of carborane- and metallacarborane-based catalysts is followed by a description of specific catalytic applications employing non-metal containing carboranes, exo-metallated carboranes, or metallacarboranes, including closed polyhedral (closo) as well as open-cage cluster systems. The role of homogeneous and heterogeneous carborane and metallacarborane catalysts in a variety of organic reaction types including hydrogenation, hydrosilylation, polymerization, isomerization, chiral synthesis, dehydrogenation, cyclopropanation, acetylation, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling, and others, is discussed. Recent advances in the development of carborane analogues of constrained-geometry metallocene catalysts and in the Kharasch addition of CCl4 to alkenes are described.
Severe Mitral Annular Calcification and Mitral Valve Surgery: An Algorithmic Approach to Management

The management of mitral valve dysfunction in the setting of substantial mitral annular calcification (MAC) remains controversial and is one of the most challenging problems in mitral valve surgery. The physiopathology of severe MAC is related to a combination of progressive, degenerative and active calcium deposition in the annulus that is often multifactorial, but largely attributable to aging and chronic disease conditions. Given the fact that overall life expectancy in the elderly population are increasing, it is imperative to understand contemporary and future therapeutic options since this MAC is likely going to be a frequent problem faced by the next generation of cardiac surgeons. This review provides a relevant synthesis of existing literature and aims to assess the efficacy of existing therapeutic choices for patients with mitral valve dysfunction and 'big' MAC with a goal of minimizing postoperative complications (e.g. left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, prosthetic paravalvular leak, valve embolization, and stroke) that can be achieved via a multidisciplinary heart team approach.
Plasma Facing Component Characterization and Correlation With Plasma Conditions in Lithium Tokamak Experiment- β

Lithium coatings in the Lithium Tokamak eXperiment (LTX) led to flat temperature profiles. The flat temperature profiles were observed along with a hot, low density edge, implying a broad, collisionless scrape-off layer (SOL). Additionally, in vacuo X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements established that lithium coatings evaporatively deposited onto high-Z plasma facing components (PFCs) became oxidized while retaining the ability to achieve good plasma performance long after lithium was applied to the PFCs. Longstanding theory predicted flat temperature profiles with low recycling walls, which was presumed to be due to hydrogen binding with elemental lithium to form lithium hydride. The presence of oxidized lithium, however, raised questions regarding the exact mechanism of hydrogen retention in LTX. To investigate these questions, the upgraded facility LTX- $\beta $ includes a new sample exposure probe (SEP) for more detailed in vacuo analysis of PFC samples. The SEP is equipped with a vacuum suitcase capable of transporting samples representative of the LTX- $\beta $ outer midplane PFCs to a stand-alone XPS system while maintaining pressures lower than the LTX- $\beta $ base vacuum to limit the contamination between sample exposure and analysis. The low-energy resolution XPS system used in past experiments could only enable the determination of elemental percentages on the PFC sample surfaces. Because the new XPS system has higher energy resolution, it is more direct to assign chemical compounds to the measured binding energies. This capability has been confirmed by comparing XPS data from PFC test samples with measurements using a commercial high-resolution XPS system. Quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) were used to quantify the thickness of the deposited lithium on the LTX- $\beta $ PFCs. This article describes the application of the SEP to characterize the PFC surfaces using XPS and their relationship to plasma conditions.
9.9 – Formation and Geochemistry of Oil and Gas

This chapter is concerned with the utilization of geochemical techniques to investigate the origin and history of crude oils and natural gas and the source rocks from which they were formed. The chapter covers the source of the organic material responsible for crude oil formation and the various depositional environments favorable for its preservation and the ultimate production of crude oils and natural gas. Once the oils are formed and migrate to the reservoirs, molecular geochemistry is used to characterize the oils in terms of their source, maturity, depositional environments, level of biodegradation if any, geologic age, and relationship with specific source rocks. In a similar manner, natural gas and its relationship with source rocks are investigated through the utilization of stable isotopes and compositional analyses. The ultimate goal of the chapter is to demonstrate the added value of organic geochemistry in terms of improving the success of petroleum exploration efforts and understanding the origin and history of crude oils and natural gas.
The religious/spiritual beliefs and needs of cancer survivors who underwent cancer-directed surgery.

Objective We sought to characterize patients’ preferences for the role of religious and spiritual (R&S) beliefs and practices during cancer treatment and describe the R&S resources desired by patients during the perioperative period. Method A cross-sectional survey was administered to individuals who underwent cancer-directed surgery. Data on demographics and R&S beliefs/preferences were collected and analyzed. Results Among 236 participants, average age was 58.8 (SD = 12.10) years; the majority were female (76.2%), white (94.1%), had a significant other or spouse (60.2%), and were breast cancer survivors (43.6%). Overall, more than one-half (55.9%) of individuals identified themselves as being religious, while others identified as only spiritual (27.9%) or neither (16.2%). Patients who identified as religious wanted RS 72.1%), R&S texts (64.0%), and journaling materials (54.1%). Irrespective of R&S identification, 68.0% of patients did not want their physician to engage with them about R&S topics. Significance of results Access to R&S resources is important during cancer treatment, and incorporating R&S into cancer care may be especially important to patients that identify as religious. R&S needs should be addressed as part of the cancer care plan.
Buprenorphine is a weak dopamine releaser relative to heroin, but its pretreatment attenuates heroin-evoked dopamine release in rats.

AIMS The United States of America is currently in an opioid epidemic. Heroin remains the most lethal opioid option with its death rate increasing by over 500% in the last decade. The rewarding and reinforcing effects of heroin are thought to be mediated by its ability to increase dopamine concentration in the nucleus accumbens shell. By activating Gi/o-coupled μ-opioid receptors, opioids are thought to indirectly excite midbrain dopamine neurons by removing an inhibitory GABAergic tone. The partial μ-opioid receptor agonist buprenorphine is a substitution-based therapy for heroin dependence that is thought to produce a steady-state level of μ-opioid receptor activation. But it remains unclear how buprenorphine alters dopamine release relative to heroin and how buprenorphine alters the dopamine-releasing effects of heroin. Because buprenorphine is a partial agonist at the μ-opioid receptor and heroin is a full agonist, we predicted that buprenorphine would function as a weak dopamine releaser relative to heroin, while functioning as a competitive antagonist if administered in advance of heroin. METHODS We performed fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in awake and behaving rats to measure how heroin, buprenorphine HCl, and their combination affect transient dopamine release events in the nucleus accumbens shell. We also performed a complimentary pharmacokinetic analysis comparing opioid plasma levels at time points correlated to our neurochemical findings. RESULTS Both buprenorphine and heroin produced changes in the frequency of transient dopamine release events, although the effect of buprenorphine was weak and only observed at a low dose. In comparison with vehicle, the frequency of dopamine release events maximally increased by ~25% following buprenorphine treatment and by ~60% following heroin treatment. Distinct neuropharmacological effects were observed in the high-dose range. The frequency of dopamine release events increased linearly with heroin dose but biphasically with buprenorphine dose. We also found that buprenorphine pretreatment occluded the dopamine-releasing effects of heroin, but plasma levels of buprenorphine had returned to baseline at this time point. CONCLUSION These findings support the notion that low-dose buprenorphine is a weak dopamine releaser relative to heroin and that buprenorphine pretreatment can block the dopamine-releasing effects of heroin. The finding that high-dose buprenorphine fails to increase dopamine release might explain its relatively low abuse potential among opioid-dependent populations. Because high-dose buprenorphine decreased dopamine release before occluding heroin-evoked dopamine release, and buprenorphine was no longer detected in plasma, we conclude that the mechanisms through which buprenorphine blocks heroin-evoked dopamine release involve multifaceted pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions.
Idiopathic CD4 Lymphopenia

Idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia is a rare disorder of unknown etiology. It has a broad array of presentations, ranging from asymptomatic individuals to cases of recurrent severe opportunistic infections. Diagnostic criteria include persistent CD4 T-cell lymphopenia with no underlying primary or secondary immunodeficiency and a T-cell count <300 cells/microL or <20% total lymphocytes on multiple occasions. Diagnosis may be difficult to make as CD4 lymphopenia is also observed in infections, autoimmune conditions, and malignancies and can be secondary to immunosuppressive medications. Alternative causes of CD4 lymphopenia must be excluded. Opportunistic infections must be aggressively treated. For infectious prophylaxis, our best evidence is to consider guidelines based on HIV/AIDS literature. In addition to infectious complications, patients must be carefully monitored for any signs or symptoms of malignancies or autoimmune conditions, which are associated with idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia. In cases of difficult-to-treat idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia, treatments with interleukin 2, interferon gamma, interleukin 7, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be considered, although more data is needed.
Adverse Events Associated With Synthetic Male Slings: An Analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database.

PURPOSE We sought to describe and analyze the adverse events associated with synthetic male slings reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. METHODS We queried the MAUDE database for all entries including the terms "Male Sling," "InVance," "Virtue," or "Advance" from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2018. We collected and analyzed information about the event type, date received, report source, source type, and manufacturer. We reviewed and categorized the event description text for each medical device report (MDR). RESULTS A total of 497 adverse events related to the male sling were identified. The adverse events were classified as injury (95.4%), malfunction (4.2%), and other (0.4%). There were no deaths described. The slings involved were the Advance or Advance XP sling (69.8%), InVance (15.5%), Virtue Quadratic (12.3%), or unknown (2.4%). The 4 most common adverse events described were urinary incontinence (46.7%), sling erosion (9.1%), mechanical malfunction (8.2%), and pain/numbness (8.2%). There was no increase in the number of reports in the years following the FDA warnings for urogynecologic mesh. CONCLUSION There was an overall modest number of MDRs related to male slings and the majority of them were reported by the manufacturer. The reporting of adverse events for male slings does not seem to be affected by the controversy and scrutiny towards transvaginal mesh and midurethral slings. Further clinical studies and more objective and detailed databases are needed to investigate the safety of these synthetic slings.
Müllerianosis of the Urinary Bladder: A Rare Condition Which Mimics Neoplasia.

Mullerianosis of the urinary bladder is an extremely rare, benign condition defined by the presence of at least two of the three mullerian-derived components (endosalpinx, endometrium, and endocervix) in the lamina propria and muscularis propria of the urinary bladder. It frequently mimics neoplastic condition, either malignant or benign. Here, we present a case of cystic mullerianosis of urinary bladder, which was clinically thought to be a urinary bladder neoplasm.
Decarbonylative Sulfide Synthesis from Carboxylic Acids and Thioesters via Cross-Over C-S Activation and Acyl Capture.

A method for the synthesis of sulfides from carboxylic acids via thioester C–S activation and acyl capture has been developed, wherein thioesters serve as dual electrophilic activators of carboxylic acids and S-nucleophiles through the merger of decarbonylative palladium catalysis and sulfur coupling. This new concept employs readily available carboxylic acids as coupling partners to directly intercept sulfur reagents via redox-neutral thioester-enabled cross-over thioetherification. The scope of this platform is demonstrated in the highly selective decarbonylative thioetherification of a variety of carboxylic acids and thioesters, including late-stage derivatization of pharmaceuticals and natural products. This method operates under mild, external base-free, and operationally practical conditions, providing a powerful new framework to unlock aryl electrophiles from carboxylic acids and increase the reactivity by employing common building blocks in organic synthesis.
From Nursing Homes to Home Care

Contents Nursing Homes to Home Care * Foreword: Health Care Reform, Long-Term Care, and the Future of an Aging Society * Part I: Population Aging and the Risk of Disability * Ways of Thinking About the Long-Term Care of the Baby Boom Cohorts * Changes in Health, Mortality, and Disability and the Impact on Long-Term Care Needs * Part II: Access vs. Need in Long-Term Care Today * Home and Community-Based Care: Recent Accomplishments and New Challenges * Informal Care vs. Formal Services: Changes in Patterns of Care Over Time * Race and Gender Differences in the Distribution of Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services in Florida * Part III: Planning our Future Long-Term Care Policy * Financing Reform for Long-Term Care: Strategies for Public and Private Long-Term Care Insurance * Designing Home Care Benefits: The Range of Options and Experience * Home Health Care: Moving Forward With Continuous Quality Improvement * Long-Term Care Policy and the American Family * Index * Reference Ntoes Included