cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Timing of dialysis initiation, duration and frequency of hemodialysis sessions, and membrane flux: a systematic review for a KDOQI clinical practice guideline.

Background In 2006, NKF-KDOQI (National Kidney Foundation–Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative) published clinical practice guidelines for hemodialysis adequacy. Recent studies evaluating hemodialysis adequacy as determined by initiation timing, frequency, duration, and membrane type and prompted an update to the guideline. Study Design Systematic review and evidence synthesis. Setting & Population Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis. Selection Criteria for Studies We screened publications from 2000 to March 2014, systematic reviews, and references and consulted the NKF-KDOQI Hemodialysis Adequacy Work Group members. We included randomized or controlled clinical trials in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis if they reported outcomes of interest. Interventions Early versus late dialysis therapy initiation; more frequent (>3 times a week) or longer duration (>4.5 hours) compared to conventional hemodialysis; low- versus high-flux dialyzer membranes. Outcomes All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalizations, quality of life, depression or cognitive function scores, blood pressure, number of antihypertensive medications, left ventricular mass, interdialytic weight gain, and harms or complications related to vascular access or the process of dialysis. Results We included 32 articles reporting on 19 trials. Moderate-quality evidence indicated that earlier dialysis therapy initiation (at estimated creatinine clearance [eClcr] of 10-14mL/min) did not reduce mortality compared to later initiation (eClcr of 5-7mL/min). More than thrice-weekly hemodialysis and extended-length hemodialysis during a short follow-up did not improve clinical outcomes compared to conventional hemodialysis and resulted in a greater number of vascular access procedures (very low-quality evidence). Hemodialysis using high-flux membranes did not reduce all-cause mortality, but reduced cardiovascular mortality compared to hemodialysis using low-flux membranes (moderate-quality evidence). Limitations Few studies were adequately powered to evaluate mortality. Heterogeneity of study designs and interventions precluded pooling data for most outcomes. Conclusions Limited data indicate that earlier dialysis therapy initiation and more frequent and longer hemodialysis did not improve clinical outcomes compared to conventional hemodialysis.
Clinical dose-volume histogram analysis for pneumonitis after 3D treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract Purpose: To identify a clinically relevant and available parameter upon which to identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients at risk for pneumonitis when treated with three-dimensional (3D) radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: Between January 1991 and October 1995, 99 patients were treated definitively for inoperable NSCLC. Patients were selected for good performance status (96%) and absence of weight loss (82%). All patients had full 3D treatment planning (including total lung dose–volume histograms [DVHs]) prior to treatment delivery. The total lung DVH parameters were compared with the incidence and grade of pneumonitis after treatment. Results: Univariate analysis revealed the percent of the total lung volume exceeding 20 Gy ( V 20 ), the effective volume ( V eff ) and the total lung volume mean dose, and location of the tumor primary (upper versus lower lobes) to be statistically significant relative to the development of ≥ Grade 2 pneumonitis. Multivariate analysis revealed the V 20 to be the single independent predictor of pneumonitis. Conclusions: The V 20 from the total lung DVH is a useful parameter easily obtained from most 3D treatment planning systems. The V 20 may be useful in comparing competing treatment plans to evaluate the risk of pneumonitis for our individual patient treatment and may also be a useful parameter upon which to stratify patients or prospective dose escalation trials.
Imaging Probe Development Center: a National Institutes of Health core synthesis resource for imaging probes

The Imaging Probe Development Center (IPDC) has been set up under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap as part of the molecular libraries and imaging initiatives. It comprises a core synthesis facility dedicated to the preparation of imaging probes, initially for intramural NIH scientists, and later, for the extramural scientific community. The facility opened fully in late 2006, in refurbished laboratories in Rockville, Maryland, and a staff of around a dozen was recruited into place by early 2007; the director was hired in late 2005. The IPDC provides a mechanism for the production of sensitive probes for use by imaging scientists who cannot obtain such probes commercially. The probes to be made will encompass all major imaging modalities including radionuclide, magnetic resonance, and optical. The operation of the IPDC is outlined, together with the results of interim achievements while the IPDC maintained a small temporary laboratory in Bethesda. As of December 2006, a total of eleven probe compositions had been made, and several of these are described with particular mention of those probes intended for use in optical applications.
Separating style and content on a nonlinear manifold

Bilinear and multi-linear models have been successful in decomposing static image ensembles into perceptually orthogonal sources of variations, e.g., separation of style and content. If we consider the appearance of human motion such as gait, facial expression and gesturing, most of such activities result in nonlinear manifolds in the image space. The question that we address in this paper is how to separate style and content on manifolds representing dynamic objects. In this paper we learn a decomposable generative model that explicitly decomposes the intrinsic body configuration (content) as a function of time from the appearance (style) of the person performing the action as time-invariant parameter. The framework we present in this paper is based on decomposing the style parameters in the space of nonlinear functions which map between a learned unified nonlinear embedding of multiple content manifolds and the visual input space.
Does Urological Cancer Mortality Increase With Low Population Density of Physicians

Purpose: We examined the association between urological cancer mortality rates and the presence of physicians. We hypothesized that cancer mortality rates increase with a low physician population density since this would decrease the detection of cancers at an early stage.Materials and Methods: Mortality rates for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, and cancer at all sites for white patients in United States counties from 2003 to 2007 were obtained from the National Vital Statistics System. High and low rate groups of counties were reviewed for each type of cancer. The high rate groups consisted of 15 or 25 counties with the highest cancer mortality rates. The low rate groups consisted of counties, selected from the same states as high rate groups, with the lowest mortality rates. Levels of physicians per 10,000 general population, income, poverty and no health insurance were compared between the high and low cancer rate groups.Results: There was a statistically significant in...
The relationship between the Zames representation and LQG compensators

Recently Zames [1] has introduced the so-called model reference transformation which can be used to conveniently parametrize the class of linear time-invariant multivariable compensators that lead to stable feedback control systems. A very popular design methodology for designing stable and robust multivariable control systems is that based on the Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) design methodology with Loop Transfer Recovery (LTR). Thus, it is natural to inquire upon the relationship between the Zames representation and the LQG/LTR compensators. This paper summarizes this relationship.
Are “Disks in the Air” Just Pie in the Sky?

Mobile computers and wireless networks are emerging technologies which will soon make ubiquitous computing a reality. In the wireless environment, mobile clients may often be disconnected from stationary server machines or may have only a low-bandwidth channel for sending messages to servers. This environment raises new challenges for the support of database applications for three reasons: 1) the limited storage capacities of mobile machines, 2) the inability to accurately predict the future data needs of many data-intensive applications, and 3) the need to provide clients with new or updated data values in order to ensure consistent data access. One way (perhaps the only way) to address these challenges is to provide the stationary server machines with a relatively high bandwidth channel over which to broadcast portions of the database. Wireless networks are but one compelling example of the more general class of asymmetric cornmunication environments, which also includes CATV networks and information distribution services. We have proposed a mechanism called Broadcast Disks to provide database access in asymmetric communication environments. By appropriate organization of the broadcast program, an arbitrarlly fine-grained memory hierarchy can be created. Such a hierarchy raises fundamental new issues for pre-fetching and client cache management. In this short paper we present a brief overview of asymmetric environments, our novel approach to organizing broadcast disks and some initial simulation results.
Diagnosis and treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at US ambulatory care visits from 1996 to 2003

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine national-estimates and characteristics of United States (US) ambulatory care visits made by adults, aged 18 years or older, with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, treatment patterns, and significant factors associated with adult-ADHD treatment.Methods: Retrospective analyses were conducted of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey over a combined 8‐year period (1996–2003). Mental-health disorder (including ADHD) visits were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) diagnostic codes. Significant factors of adult-ADHD treatment were determined in multivariable logistic regression analyses.Results: An estimated total 10.5 million ambulatory-ADHD visits accounted for 3.5% of 301 million adult mental-health disorder visits. The census-adjusted visit rate was 0.3–0.4%. Increasing in numbers from the year 2000, ADHD visits were most...
Strategic decoupling, recoupling and global production networks: India’s pharmaceutical industry

Contemporary debates on economic globalization have emphasized the development opportunities for the Global South through local firms becoming integrated into the global commodity chains (GCCs), value chains (GVCs) and production networks (GPNs) governed by leading multinational corporations. With increasing attention to the negative sides of integration, an emergent issue is the role of disengagement from, and operation outside of, the GPNs of lead firms. Through the case of the Indian pharmaceutical industry, where a selective and short-term strategic decoupling and subsequent recoupling has played a crucial role in the development of what is now the largest such industry in the Global South, this article explores how decoupling from GPNs may lead to positive development outcomes. The experience of India and the pharmaceutical industry shows that a sequence of decoupling and recoupling can be an alternative to strategic coupling as a route to economic development.
Reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction: historical context and future promise

Reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction is a milestone achievement in 20th century cardiology. This article tracks this therapy from the discovery that coronary thrombosis is the cause of myocardial infarction, through the pre-clinical era when studies in dogs demonstrated the benefit of early reperfusion. Then came early clinical observations in the feasibility of coronary thrombolysis in patients, followed by the early placebo-controlled megatrials (GISSI-I and ISIS-2), which showed a substantial mortality benefit. During the past decade there have been important refinements using ambulance-based therapy, new bolus thrombolytics, adjunctive glycoprotein inhibitors and percutaneous coronary intervention.
A Spectral Energetics Analysis of Atmospheric Blocking

The spectral energetics of two blocking case studies from the winter of 1978-79 are calculated. One case occurred over the North Atlantic and the other over the North Pacific. The temporal evolution and geographical distribution of the energetics of the planetary-scale (zonal harmonic wavenumbers 1-4) and the intermediate-scale (wavenumbers 5-10) wave ensembles are examined to identify the physical mechanisms important in the blocking process. The Atlantic block was forced by the nonlinear interaction of intense baroclinic cyclone-scale waves with barotropic, ultralong waves. The Pacific blocking resulted from the baroclinic amplification of planetary-scale waves. In addition, at least two necessary conditions are required for the development of blocking. First, one of the forcing mechanisms must be in operation, and second, the phase of the antecedent planetary-scale waves must be such that the forcing mechanism can amplify them into a blocking pattern. In each of the cases studied, the blocking developed downstream of intense intermediate- or large-scale cyclogenesis.
Phase-Sensitive Amplification and Squeezing

Thus far we have discussed phase-insensitive systems, whose response is independent of the phase of the input (initial) excitation. When discussing the example of an amplifier, we assumed that the gain medium was either not saturated or, if saturated, was equilibrated fast enough that the gain was insensitive to the phase of the saturating signal. We also studied a laser resonator below threshold in Chap. 6, in which saturation effects could be neglected.
Modern ‘junk food’ and minimally-processed ‘natural food’ cafeteria diets alter the response to sweet taste but do not impair flavor-nutrient learning in rats

Animals learn to prefer and increase consumption of flavors paired with postingestive nutrient sensing. Analogous effects have been difficult to observe in human studies. One possibility is experience with the modern, processed diet impairs learning. Food processing manipulates flavor, texture, sweetness, and nutrition, obscuring ordinary correspondences between sensory cues and postingestive consequences. Over time, a diet of these processed 'junk' foods may impair flavor-nutrient learning. This 'flavor-confusion' hypothesis was tested by providing rats long-term exposure to cafeteria diets of unusual breadth (2 or 3 foods per day, 96 different foods over 3 months, plus ad libitum chow). One group was fed processed foods (PF) with added sugars/fats and manipulated flavors, to mimic the sensory-nutrient properties of the modern processed diet. Another group was fed only 'natural' foods (NF) meaning minimally-processed foods without manipulated flavors or added sugars/fats (e.g., fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains) ostensibly preserving the ordinary correspondence between flavors and nutrition. A CON group was fed chow only. In subsequent tests of flavor-nutrient learning, PF and NF rats consistently acquired strong preferences for novel nutrient-paired flavors and PF rats exhibited enhanced learned acceptance, contradicting the 'flavor-confusion' hypothesis. An unexpected finding was PF and NF diets both caused lasting reduction in ad lib sweet solution intake. Groups did not differ in reinforcing value of sugar in a progressive ratio task. In lick microstructure analysis the NF group paradoxically showed increased sucrose palatability relative to PF and CON, suggesting the diets have different effects on sweet taste evaluation.
'The Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge': Constructing the Relation of the Smithsonian Institution to Politics, 1835-1866

When the British amateur scientist James Smithson bequeathed “the whole of my property... to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men” he opened the way for decades of fascinating debate over the creation and management of the institution he endowed. This mid-nineteenth debate — from the bequest’s becoming known in the US in 1835 to the Smithsonian’s founding over a decade later in 1846, and on through the first two decades of its existence — have been repeatedly treated by historians as a triumph for science. I return to the primary sources of the debate with the perspective of a political scientist to show how proposals and decisions about the kinds of knowledge that the institution should advance first articulated, and then subsequently institutionalized, a divorce between “science” and political knowledge.
A Monograph of the Genus Wynnea (Pezizales, Sarcoscyphaceae)

Previous studies of the genus Wynnea are discussed; the genus and four recognized species are described. All have suboperculate asci and produce auriculate or sparassoid apothecia on multiaxial sta...
Breeding for good dental and oral health in rabbits

DENTAL disease is a common problem in rabbits, so it would be useful to establish if there are genetic factors at play so that unhealthy rabbits can be excluded from breeding. In a paper summarised on p 341 of this issue of Veterinary Record , Korn and others (2016) explore using conscious oral examinations of rabbits at a young age as a screening method for selecting animals that do not go on to develop dental disease. The prevalence of dental disease seen in rabbits in previous studies varies between 30 to 40 per cent but can go up to 60 to 65 per cent if radiography is included as a diagnostic tool (Mullan and Main 2006, Jekl and others 2008, Schumacher 2011, Makitaipale and others 2015). A low percentage of owners were aware of the dental problem when the studied population was considered healthy (Mullan and Main 2006, Makitaipale and others 2015). In another study, Jekl and others (2008) studied rabbits with clinical signs, such as anorexia, drooling and abnormal feeding habits and found that anorexia was the most prevalent clinical sign. Dental and oral diseases are the most prevalent findings in apparently healthy rabbits (Makitaipale and others 2015) and the clinical signs become evident usually …
Controlling lipid micelle stability using oligonucleotide headgroups

Lipid-based micelles provide an attractive option for therapeutic and diagnostic applications because of their small size ( 24 h. Using antisense oligonucleotides we demonstrated that disruption of the quadruplex leads to micelle destabilization and cargo release. The ability to use oligonucleotide interactions to control lipid particle stability represents a new approach...
Host instar preferences and developmental times of two ichneumonid parasites of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae).

Laboratory observations were made on oviposition behavior, host suitability, rates of parasitization, sex ratio, and developmental times of two exotic ichneumonids, Casinaria arjuna Gupta & Maheshwary and Hyposoter lymantriae Cushman, using the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), as a host. C. arjuna ovipositional preferences were second > third = fourth > first instars. No significant preferences were noted in H. lymantriae. Older instars were not tested. Second instars were optimal for development of C. arjuna, whereas both second and third instars were optimal for H. lymantriae. In large cages, net parasitization was highest in second instars for C. arjuna, and second and third instars for H. lymantriae. The sex ratio (percentage females) of C. arjuna averaged 29% with no significant differences between host instars in which oviposition occurred; that for H. lymantriae averaged 27%; the highest mean (35%) was for second instars and the lowest (19%) for first instars. Developmental times for females of both species were similar, about 18 d from egg to adult at 25°C when oviposition occurred in second instars. Males of C. arjuna developed more rapidly than females. Both sexes of H. lymantriae had similar developmental times.
Drug penetration and metabolism in 3D cell cultures treated in a 3D printed fluidic device: assessment of irinotecan via MALDI imaging mass spectrometry

Realistic in vitro models are critical in the drug development process. In this study, a novel in vitro platform is employed to assess drug penetration and metabolism. This platform, which utilizes a 3D printed fluidic device, allows for dynamic dosing of three dimensional cell cultures, also known as spheroids. The penetration of the chemotherapeutic irinotecan into HCT 116 colon cancer spheroids was examined with MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). The active metabolite of irinotecan, SN-38, was also detected. After twenty-four hours of treatment, SN-38 was concentrated to the outside of the spheroid, a region of actively dividing cells. The irinotecan prodrug localization contrasted with SN-38 and was concentrated to the necrotic core of the spheroids, a region containing mostly dead and dying cells. These results demonstrate that this unique in vitro platform is an effective means to assess drug penetration and metabolism in 3D cell cultures. This innovative system can have a transformative impact on the preclinical evaluation of drug candidates due to its cost effectiveness and high throughput.
Effect of reserpine pretreatment on calciferol-induced calcification.

Reserpine treatment results in loss of calcium from vascular tissue. This loss of calcium has been related to a reduction in the incidence and severity of certain cardiovascular lesions. The animals in the present study received calciferol. This produced severe myocardial calcification and necrosis. Neither the incidence nor severity of the lesion was influenced by pregnancy. Concomitant treatment with reserpine prevented calciferol-induced myocardial calcification in both pregnant and nonpregnant animals.
Positive liver SPECT images correlated with normal or equivocal CT studies: two case studies

Objective: The number of liver/spleen procedures has markedly decreased over the past number of years, coinciding with the advancement of computed tomography equipment. However, the development of SPECT and hepatobiliary radiopharmaceuticals has improved diagnostic ability. Methods: Two patients were studied; one was a 64-yr-old male with possible cirrhosis and the other was a 48-yr-old female with abnormal liver function and a left-side mastectomy. Both patients were intravenously injected with 99mTc-sulfur colloid, and SPECT liver/spleen images were correlated with CT images. Results: The SPECT scans detected abnormalities that were neither present nor differentiated from normal tissue on the CT images. Conclusions: These case studies demonstrate that 99mTc-sulfur colloid SPECT correlated with CT can detect abnormalities that would be normal or equivocal when using CT alone.
Changes in oncological outcomes: comparison of the conventional and minimally invasive esophagectomy, a single institution experience

Minimally invasive esophagectomy is becoming the routine procedure for resectable esophageal cancer. The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze the oncologic adequacy of these two procedures at our Centre. Out of 1252 registered esophageal cancer patients at our institute from 2006 to 2015, 206 patients who underwent a surgical resection with curative intent and a complete medical record were retrospectively evaluated thru hospital medical record system (HIS). Patients were allocated into the conventional open OE, and minimally invasive MIE and Hybrid esophagectomy groups. Primary outcomes are tumor recurrence and disease-free survival over a minimum follow-up of 1 year along with assessment of adequacy of pathological specimen in terms of lymph nodes harvested and clear longitudinal 0.05) between groups (OE vs. MIE vs. Hybrid) for median number of lymph nodes retrieved (13 vs.14 vs.15), resection margin positive disease (55.8 vs. 35.7 vs. 44 % of patients with any residual disease N = 103,50 %), or tumor recurrence (45.2 vs. 37.3 vs. 25 %). Disease-free survival over a mean follow-up of 2.3 years was higher in the conventional group (13.8 months vs. 9.7MIE and 11.8hybrid) without any statistical significance. Learning curve for MIE to achieve a comparable mean lymph nodes harvest to OE was 1 year, while pathological complete resection stayed persistently better with minimally invasive approach. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is found to be oncologically adequate and gives results matching their conventional analogue with an increasing experience.
The failure of the U.S. education research establishment to identify effective practices: Beware effective practices policies

One of the major successes of advanced quantitative methods has been its seeming ability to provide unbiased determinations of which education practices are effective for education in general and for improving the educational achievement and opportunity of the neediest students. The power of this methodology as applied in the top education research journals has led to periodic implementation of federal and state effective practices policies. In such policies the government or its proxy determines which programs are effective and then requires or encourages schools to spend its funds exclusively on those proven programs. For example, the federal Investing in Innovation (i3) initiative requires those applying for its largest dissemination grants to have had their intervention validated as effective by the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). Some are now even advocating that all expenditures of federal funds by school districts be restricted to purchasing research validated programs. While this seems like rational policy, between 1998 and 2002 I produced a series of articles that showed that the most research validated program to develop the reading skills of students born into poverty was not actually effective in practice. Was this dichotomy between published research proving something to be effective and what was happening in the real world an anomaly or a more widespread problem? This article (a) analyzes the validity of the gold standard scientific methodology used by the top research journals and WWC to determine whether practices are effective, and (b) examines the history of effective practices policies and their actual effectiveness. I conclude that the increasingly sophisticated methods used to assess the effectiveness of practices (a) are flawed and exaggerate actual effectiveness, and (b) do not provide the type of information practitioners need. As a result, research on effective practices tends to mislead rather than inform practice and are a major reason why efforts to reform high-poverty schools have had limited success. I therefore conclude that effective practices policies should not be implemented. I then suggest ideas for reforming the scientific process used to assess the effectiveness of education interventions.
Biochemical and cytogenetic studies of Poecilia from eastem Mexico. II. Frequency, perpetuation, and probable origin of triploid genomes in females associated with Poecilia formosa

Triploid female fishes that closely resemble the gynogenetic, diploid, unisexual species Poecilia formosa Girard and its sympatric, bisexual congener Poecilia mexicana Steindachner constitute a significant, but not static, component ef naturally occurring populations of Poecilia in headwater localities of the Rio Soto la Marina drainage in northeastern Mexico. The frequency of triploid females fluctuates markedly from year to year, from season to season, and from one locality to another. In laboratory breeding studies to assess the reproductive competence of triploid females as a factor influencing structure of wild populations of Poecilia spp., we have used electrophoresis oi blood plasmas and DNA-Feulgen cytophotometry of the nuclei from blobd cells or scale epithelium from live fishes to monitor the persistence of triploid genomes in four laboratory-reared generations of female progeny in stocks initially derived from gravid, triploid females collected from the Rio Purificacion at Barretal or from Vado el Moro, near Cd. Victoria, Mexico. We conclude that many of the triploid females are reproductively competent and regularly transmit triploid genomes to their unisexual offspring. They presumably reproduce by gynogenesis, since breeding stocks of triploids can be maintained in the laboratory by matings with sympatric males of P. mexicana .
The determinants of growth in the U.S. information and communication technology (ICT) industry: A firm-level analysis

Using a mildly unbalanced panel data set of 85 U.S. information and communication technology (ICT) firms that survived for 24 years from 1990 to 2013, we examine the effect of firm size, agency costs, RD b) agency costs and financial leverage impede firm growth; and c) R&D investment and financial performance facilitate growth. As expected, the Great Recession (2007–2009) curbed firm growth in the ICT industry.
Abstract WMP52: Shake, Rattle & Roll Trial - Effects on Blood Pressure Control and Therapy

Background: In Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), a setting where all members have similar access to healthcare and a very high overall rate of HTN control, blacks still had poorer BP co...
Inflammation on the Mind: Visualizing Immunity in the Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is a remarkably complex structure that utilizes electrochemical signaling to coordinate activities throughout the entire body. Because the nervous system contains nonreplicative cells, it is postulated that, through evolutionary pressures, this compartment has acquired specialized mechanisms to limit damage. One potential source of damage comes from our immune system, which has the capacity to survey the CNS and periphery for the presence of foreign material. The immune system is equipped with numerous effector mechanisms and can greatly alter the homeostasis and function of the CNS. Degeneration, autoimmunity, and pathogen infection can all result in acute, and sometimes chronic, inflammation within the CNS. Understanding the specialized functionality of innate and adaptive immune cells within the CNS is critical to the design of more efficacious treatments to mitigate CNS inflammatory conditions. Much of our knowledge of CNS-immune interactions stems from seminal studies that have used static and dynamic imaging approaches to visualize inflammatory cells responding to different CNS conditions. This review will focus on how imaging techniques have elevated our understanding of CNS inflammation as well as the exciting prospects that lie ahead as we begin to pursue investigation of the inflamed CNS in real time.
Spatiotemporal compressed sensing for video compression

We present a hardware-friendly spatiotemporal compressed sensing framework for video compression. The spatiotemporal compressed sensing incorporates random sampling in both spatial and temporal domain to encode the video scene into a single coded image. During decoding, the video is reconstructed using dictionary learning and sparse recovery. The evaluation results demonstrate the proposed approach can achieve high compression rate (10 : 1–30 : 1) and robustness reconstruction quality (> 20dB) on noisy database. Additionally, it also enables power efficient and real-time CMOS implementation (0.7 nJ/pixel).
Whose Jihad? Oral history of an American Muslim educational leader and U.S. public schools

While case studies have documented how teachers can either ameliorate or exacerbate situations of ignorance or hate in the classroom toward Muslim students, the role of educational leaders in U.S. ...
Endocrine Abnormalities in Boys with Hypospadias

Hypospadias is one of the most common problems treated by the pediatric urologist, with an incidence of about 2 – 4 cases per 1,000 male births, or about 1 in 335 boys in modern series (Belman, 2002). Although the problem is common and the surgical management of hypospadias has made tremendous advances, with details provided elsewhere in this textbook, the etiology of most cases of hypospadias is often unclear. Since the development of the urethra is a hormone dependent event, logic suggests - and most authorities consider - that the development of hypospadias is in some way related to a relative deficiency of androgen action at the time of genital development. Given the recent advances in cellular and molecular biology, new theories of urethral development based on mesenchymalepithelial interaction — and related derangements that might lead to hypospadias - are also emerging (Baskin, 2000). Research into the etiology of hypospadias continues to shed light on the endocrine, genetic, environmental, and other miscellaneous factors that may contribute to the occurrence of this specific birth defect. The recent developments in this field are the topic of this review.
The Biosynthesis of Folic Acid and 6-Substituted Pteridine Derivatives

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the current status of pteridine biosynthesis regarding folic acid compounds and other naturally occurring 6-substituted pteridines. The chapter discusses the biosynthesis of folate compounds and the involvement of purines in it. The pattern of incorporation of radioactive precursors into pteridines by the larvae of butterfly and by Drosophila melanogaster suggested that pteridines and purines shared common precursors. Similar conclusions were reached with Ashbya gossypii and Eremothecium ashbyii that incorporated radioactive precursors into riboflavin, which contains a pteridine structure. These results suggested that purines may be precursors of pteridines. The chapter discusses the role of GTP as the pteridine precursor and pyrimidine derivatives as intermediates. The chapter also discusses dihydroneopterin triphosphate synthesis and the utilization of dihydroneopterin triphosphate and hydroxymethyldihydropterin. The role of p-aminobenzoate and p-aminobenzoylglutamate and the process of dihydrofolate synthesis are also discussed.
S-nitrosated proteins: formation, metabolism, and function

Publisher Summary S -nitrosothiols, also known as thionitrites, are simple organic esters of nitrite and sulfhydryls. In the context of nitric oxide biology, these nitrosated thiol derivatives serve two functions: a buffer pool of bioactive nitric oxide which is more resistant to oxidative inactivation than nitric oxide itself, and, more importantly, a unique mechanism of cell signaling through reversible post-translational modification of protein thiol targets. The development of the biotin switch method has allowed for an indirect, highly specific method for detection of S-nitrosated proteins, which can now be visualized by microscopy or identified through proteomic methods using mass spectrometry. S-nitrosation is rapidly gaining recognition as a major form of protein post-translational modification, and dysregulation of this biochemical process is associated with various diseases.
Production and perception of facial expressions in infancy and early childhood.

Publisher Summary Facial expressions are a major channel of interpersonal communication. They occupy a unique role in the understanding and regulation of interpersonal interactions because the face is often impossible to conceal and difficult to control. Moreover, facial expressions may convey underlying affect more readily than the more easily manipulated verbal expressions. This chapter reviews examples from the adult literature that have provided many of the questions and paradigms for researchers of infant and child facial expressions. It presents examples of infant and child research relevant to the developmental questions suggested by the adult literature. A series of infant and preschool studies in which it assessed relationships between production and perception of facial expressions are described. The chapter presents a developmental model that may integrate these studies and the existing literature.
Comparative Study of Tolerance Analysis Methods Applied to a Complex Assembly

Abstract Many tolerance analysis methods are in use today, both manual and software based. However, there is a lack of comparative studies on the results produced by these procedures. This paper describes the results of predictive studies on a complex mechanical assembly. The procedures include 1D min/max charts, 3D Monte Carlo statistical analysis, T-map based worst case and statistical analysis and VisVSA, a leading commercial system from Siemens. Both axial and radial stacks of a surrogate gearbox were considered. All analyses were driven by the same geometry, assembly and tolerance data produced by Siemens NX and VSA in the form of pdo files, which were translated into an Augmented Constraint Tolerance Feature (aCTF) format. This provided a uniform input to all procedures. Differences in the results can be categorized into three potential sources: variation types included or omitted, treatment of assembly constraints in mathematical formulations.
THE IMPACT OF FHLB ADVANCES ON BANK HOLDING COMPANY LENDING OVER THE CREDIT CYCLE

We examine the sensitivity of bank holding company loan growth to the growth in funding obtained through the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances program. FHLB advances are a low‐cost funding source that banking organizations may substitute for funds drawn out of the financial system during periods of tight monetary policy or financial stress. This may be especially relevant for community banking organizations that have relatively less access to wholesale funding sources. Our findings show that FHLB advances provide banking organizations with some liquidity protection that reduces the impact of financial market distress and tight monetary policy on loan growth.
What Does Ethical Treatment of a Dying Inmate Entail

Per the Eightth Amendment, inmates have a right to the same health care available to free-living individuals in the United States. Putting this into practice, however, presents a multitude of chall...
Perceptions and Sentiments About Electronic Cigarettes on Social Media Platforms: Systematic Review.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been widely promoted on the internet, and subsequently, social media has been used as an important informative platform by e-cigarette users. Beliefs and knowledge expressed on social media platforms have largely influenced e-cigarette uptake, the decision to switch from conventional smoking to e-cigarette smoking, and positive and negative connotations associated with e-cigarettes. Despite this, there is a gap in our knowledge of people’s perceptions and sentiments on e-cigarettes as depicted on social media platforms. Objective: This study aimed to (1) provide an overview of studies examining the perceptions and sentiments associated with e-cigarettes on social media platforms and online discussion forums, (2) explore people’s perceptions of e-cigarette therein, and (3) examine the methodological limitations and gaps of the included studies. Methods: Searches in major electronic databases, including PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Communication and Mass Media Complete, were conducted using the following search terms: “electronic cigarette,” “electronic vaporizer,” “electronic nicotine,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems” combined with “internet,” “social media,” and “internet use.” The studies were selected if they examined participants’ perceptions and sentiments of e-cigarettes on online forums or social media platforms during the 2007-2017 period. Results: A total of 21 articles were included. A total of 20 different social media platforms and online discussion forums were identified. A real-time snapshot and characteristics of sentiments, personal experience, and perceptions toward e-cigarettes on social media platforms and online forums were identified. Common topics regarding e-cigarettes included positive and negative health effects, testimony by current users, potential risks, benefits, regulations associated with e-cigarettes, and attitude toward them as smoking cessation aids. Conclusions: Although perceptions among social media users were mixed, there were more positive sentiments expressed than negative ones. This study particularly adds to our understanding of current trends in the popularity of and attitude toward e-cigarettes among social media users. In addition, this study identified conflicting perceptions about e-cigarettes among social media users. This suggests that accurate and up-to-date information on the benefits and risks of e-cigarettes needs to be disseminated to current and potential e-cigarette users via social media platforms, which can serve as important educational channels. Future research can explore the efficacy of social media–based interventions that deliver appropriate information (eg, general facts, benefits, and risks) about e-cigarettes. Clinical Trial: PROSPERO CRD42019121611; https://tinyurl.com/yfr27uxs
Clopidogrel Pharmacogenetics - Why the Wait?

More than 3 million people annually in the United States receive prescriptions for the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel after stenting for acute coronary syndrome.1 Although genetic variants that are ...
Exploring Chemical Equilibrium for Alcohol-Based Cobalt Complexation through Visualization of Color Change and UV–vis Spectroscopy

Introducing chemical equilibrium concepts in undergraduate general chemistry promotes improved understanding of chemical reactions. We have developed an engaging laboratory experiment exploring the...
The Summer Dairy Institute

Food supply veterinarians who intend to enter dairy cattle practice or other related career activities are in need of upgraded skills to better serve the dairy industry as it continues to evolve. As knowledge in all phases of veterinary medicine increases, the time available for students to increase their specific abilities within the conventional professional curriculum becomes more difficult, especially for those with food supply interests, as they are a minority of students competing for time and resources. The dairy industry has need of skilled veterinarians well-versed not only in their traditional capabilities, but also with an understanding of the complete picture of that industry as a "farm-to-fork" experience. Society at large also stands to benefit from a presence of skilled dairy veterinarians contributing to the production of safe, affordable dairy foodstuffs in a manner deemed sustainable and humane. Veterinarians in practice can and do acquire the necessary skills to make themselves relevant to their clients and consumers; however, better preparation of entry-level veterinarians can increase their value to their employers, their clients, themselves, and society in a more timely manner. Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine developed the Summer Dairy Institute (SDI) to provide an avenue for advancing skills of new veterinarians as a means to address the current and future needs of the dairy industry. The SDI has accumulated, from its nine years of existence with 183 participants from 38 veterinary colleges, valuable insights to aid in constant improvement of its offerings. This article describes the need, concept, and experience with the program.
Myeloperoxidase-induced modification of HDL by isolevuglandins inhibits paraoxonase-1 activity

Reduced activity of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme, has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. Post-translational modifications of PON1 may represent important mechanisms leading to reduced PON1 activity. Under atherosclerotic conditions, myeloperoxidase (MPO) is known to associate with HDL. MPO generates the oxidants hypochlorous acid and nitrogen dioxide, which can lead to post-translational modification of PON1, including tyrosine modifications that inhibit PON1 activity. Nitrogen dioxide also drives lipid peroxidation, leading to the formation of reactive lipid dicarbonyls such as malondialdehyde and isolevuglandins, which modify HDL and could inhibit PON1 activity. Because isolevuglandins are more reactive than malondialdehyde, we used in vitro models containing HDL, PON1, and MPO to test the hypothesis that IsoLG formation by MPO and its subsequent modification of HDL contributes to MPO-mediated reductions in PON1 activity. Incubation of MPO with HDL led to modification of HDL proteins, including PON1, by IsoLG. Incubation of HDL with IsoLG reduced PON1 lactonase and antiperoxidation activities. IsoLG modification of recombinant PON1 markedly inhibited its activity, while irreversible IsoLG modification of HDL before adding recombinant PON1 only slightly inhibited the ability of HDL to enhance the catalytic activity of recombinant PON1. Together, these studies support the notion that association of MPO with HDL leads to lower PON1 activity in part via IsoLG-mediated modification of PON1, so that IsoLG modification of PON1 could contribute to increased risk for atherosclerosis, and blocking this modification might prove beneficial to reduce atherosclerosis.
Law’s Failure to Keep Pace with Empirical Science: An Examination of Personality and Emotional Intelligence Testing in the Workplace

An examination of modern hiring practices, primarily the use of personality tests and emotional intelligence. The article then discusses the legal ramifications of using these tools, which might violate the law.
Mechanism Design in Regional Arrangements for Water Governance

Governing shared water resources requires collaboration among multiple actors, often attained through formal or informal institutions. This paper analyzes how governments design institutions to address common challenges for collective action. More specifically, the paper asks whether variations in levels of transaction cost risk influence the design of formal mechanisms for monitoring, ensuring compliance, or sanctioning noncompliant behavior in the governance of shared water resources. To that end, four intergovernmental agreements for securing access to unfiltered drinking water in the United States are studied: in Boston, New York, Portland, and San Francisco. Results indicate that transaction cost risk may play a role in the design of monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms, but that variations in design are more nuanced than originally anticipated. Also, the analysis highlights the existence of common design strategies for addressing conflict, regardless of the levels of transaction cost risks.