cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Significance of B-cell Subsets in Patients with Unclassified Hypogammaglobulinemia and Association with Intravenous Immunoglobulin Replacement Requirement

Background: Patients with unclassified hypogammaglobulinemia (UCH) constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma, because information concerning the clinical and immunological characteristics of these patients is insufficient. Objective: To evaluate B-cell subsets in cases with UCH and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and their association with treatment requirement in UCH patients. Methods: The study included 41 UCH, 25 CVID, and 36 healthy individuals between the ages of 4-18 years. Results: The absolute count of total memory and switched memory B-cells were lower in the CVID cases in comparison to the control group. Additionally, the absolute count of marginal zone-like B cells in the 4-10 year age group, and the absolute count of switched plasmablasts in the 10-18 year age group were lower in CVID cases when compared to both the control and UCH groups. The UCH group was categorized based on IVIG replacement therapy. Therefore, the percentage of switched memory B cells was significantly lower in the IVIG-receiving group (10.6% ± 3.10%) compared to the control group (14.0% ± 5.60%). However, there was no significant difference between the IVIG-receiving group and the CVID group. Regarding the comparison of the non-IVIG replacement group and the CVID group, the absolute count of total memory B cells, marginal zone-like B cells, and switched memory B cells were significantly higher in the UCH group. Conclusion: B-lymphocyte subsets in UCH cases that did not require IVIG replacement were similar to the control group. On the other hand, the percentage of switched memory B-cells in the UCH cases that required IVIG replacement was not different from that of the CVID cases.
The Evolution of an IT Service Desk

When the manager of our service desk retired after 35 years of service to the college, it became apparent that change is on the horizon. When I took on the responsibility of filling that role, it was with the understanding that there would be much to learn about the way things had been done and, more importantly, "why?". The IT Service Desk I manage has 30 student employees, 1 full time staff assistant, and is the forward face of our IT Services department of 44 full time employees. With about 6,500 students and over 1,200 faculty and staff, this BYOD campus can present some challenges to IT. Leveraging ITIL and ITSM standards can help build the base from which we can move campus IT forward, but before we started there were some questions to answer: Do we have the tools we need? What data do I need to make decisions? Is my staff properly trained? What needs to change? Is it possible to have a proactive support model for our users? How are we doing? The path we took in answering these questions illuminated some key takeaways which are applicable to other universities and colleges. We found that although change is inevitable, it doesn't have to be painful.
Synergistic Anti-Candida Activity of Bengazole A in the Presence of Bengamide A †.

Bengazoles A–G from the marine sponge Jaspis sp. exhibit potent in vitro antifungal activity against Candida spp. and other pathogenic fungi. The mechanism of action (MOA) of bengazole A was explored in Candida albicans under both liquid culture and surface culture on Mueller-Hinton agar. Pronounced dose-dependent synergistic antifungal activity was observed with bengazole A in the presence of bengamide A, which is also a natural product from Jaspis sp. The MOA of bengazole A was further explored by monitoring the sterol composition of C. albicans in the presence of sub-lethal concentrations of bengazole A. The GCMS of solvent extracts prepared from liquid cultures of C. albicans in the presence of clotrimazole―a clinically approved azole antifungal drug that suppresses ergosterol biosynthesis by the inhibition of 14α-demethylase―showed reduced cellular ergosterol content and increased concentrations of lanosterol and 24-methylenedihydrolanosterol (a shunt metabolite of ergosterol biosynthesis). No change in relative sterol composition was observed when C. albicans was cultured with bengazole A. These results eliminate an azole-like MOA for the bengazoles, and suggest that another as-yet unidentified mechanism is operative.
9 Disorders of Impulse Control

In this chapter we review research and theory across several different conditions that appear to have in common deficits in impulse control. The unifying themes across these related yet distinct conditions include deficits in inhibition and excesses in reward-seeking, resulting in rule-breaking or norm-violating behavior. The chapter focuses on a select subset of clinical disorders, specifically alcohol use disorders, drug use disorders, and pathological gambling. Discussed for each class of disorders is current research on genetics and models of etiology and/or pathology; more specifically, positive affect regulation, negative affect regulation, pharmacological vulnerability (in the case of substance use disorders), deviance proneness, and (in the case of pathological gambling) cognitive vulnerability. Keywords: impulsivity; disinhibition; alcohol use disorder; drug use disorder; pathological gambling
A Pilot Study of E‐Cigarette Naïve Cigarette Smokers and the Effects on Craving After Acute Exposure to E‐Cigarettes in the Laboratory

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Recent surveys confirm continued increases in the use of electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in adolescents and adults. Users often state that e-cigarettes reduce tobacco craving and withdrawal symptoms in addition to their smoking. Data from laboratory studies and clinical trials have confirmed these statements, though there are inconsistencies in the outcomes. In this pilot study, we set out to evaluate the effects of e-cigarettes, as compared to the participants' own cigarettes, on baseline craving and smoking severity. METHODS Using a within-subjects, placebo-controlled study design, 15 tobacco-dependent, e-cigarette naive participants sustained abstinence overnight. They completed distinct phases of this protocol during four separate study sessions. Participants were randomized to an e-cigarette device containing one of three doses of nicotine (0, 18, or 36 mg/ml) or their own cigarette. Each study visit was ~3 hours long and separated by at least 7 days. Visits included assessments of craving and smoking severity. RESULTS The data showed that after 10 puffs in both the Own cigarette and e-cigarette conditions, breath carbon monoxide levels increased significantly in the former but not the latter. Questionnaire of Smoking Urges and Choices to Smoke scores were not statistically different across groups after two distinct bouts of 10 puffs each. Additionally, E-cigarette Perceptions Questionnaire responses were not significantly different according to dose. CONCLUSION AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE This experiment provides data demonstrating that e-cigarettes did not reduce craving or smoking severity in e-cigarette naive users. However, since this was a pilot study, the conclusions that can be drawn are limited. (Am J Addict 2019;28:361-366).
An FPGA Design Technique to Receive Multiple Wireless Protocols with the Same RF Front End

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are widely used in wireless networking transceivers, however they typically are designed to process one specific wireless protocol. Our research group is investigating how to make FPGA designs more versatile. In this paper, we present an FPGA design that can receive either Wi-Fi or LTE signals by determining which signal is being received, and then applying the appropriate processing. We initially receive all signals at a 30.72 MHz sampling rate, an underlying sampling rate for LTE. A unique matched filter is designed that allows us to detect the Wi-Fi preamble at this rate despite the fact that it is transmitted at 20MHz. Results show that we can successfully distinguish between the two signals and further decode received packets by switching to the appropriate sampling rate after the type of signal has been detected.
At the Intersection of Derived Relations and Observational Learning: Teaching Fraction–Percentage Relations

Little research has examined the intersection of derived relations and observational learning, which may be an avenue by which an instructor can increase the total amount of learning while conserving instructional resources. In this study, we investigated this intersection in the context of teaching third-grade students fraction–pictogram–percentages equivalence classes. We taught participants two baseline relations and observed the emergence of all possible derived relations. Prior to training, the participants could sort percentage stimuli from least to greatest (comparative relations), but could not do this with fraction stimuli. Following the formation of equivalence classes, the participants could accurately sort fraction stimuli, thus demonstrating the transfer of function. Two additional participants observed the target participants undergo the training of baseline relations. The observing participants acquired baseline relations with no direct reinforcement, derived all relations, and demonstrated transfer of function. These findings suggest a novel way to incorporate equivalence-based instruction into classroom settings.
Madness in Civilization: A Cultural History of Insanity from the Bible to Freud, from the Madhouse to Modern Medicine

Public conversation and debate about mental illness often emerges amid struggles to explain the unthinkable – mass shootings of school children, church members, and concertgoers. In turn, media rep...
Feed Based Bandwidth Enhancement of U-Slot Microstrip Patch using Theory of Characteristic Modes

In this paper, charactreistic mode analysis (CMA) of feed based bandwidth enhancement of UWB low profile U-Slot microstrip patch is investigated. The application of characteristic modes to antenna bandwidth enhancement serves as a demonstration of the broad utility of the modal technique. The paper investigates the effect of modal excitation due to feed structure on the natural resonant modes. The paper presents the comparative analysis of natural resonant modes and the current modes of U- Slot structure excited due to straight probe and L-probe feed. The modal significance of the three cases gives a physical insight of the modal behavior and the modal VSWR depicts the impedance behavior due to feed excitation. It has been shown that natural resonant modes are the potential participating current modes in impedance bandwidth upon excitation. It has been shown that impedance bandwidth can be enhanced up to 40% (approx) by exciting certain resonant mode by optimizing and changing a feed structure.
Evaluating the Concordance of Clinician Antiretroviral Prescribing Practices and HIV-ASSIST, an Online Clinical Decision Support Tool.

Individualized selection of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy is complex, considering drug resistance, comorbidities, drug-drug interactions, and other factors. HIV-ASSIST (www.hivassist.com) is a free, online tool that provides ARV decision support. HIV-ASSIST synthesizes patient and virus-specific attributes to rank ARV combinations based upon a composite objective of achieving viral suppression and maximizing tolerability. To evaluate concordance of HIV-ASSIST recommendations with ARV selections of experienced HIV clinicians. Retrospective cohort study. New and established patients at the Johns Hopkins Bartlett HIV Clinic and San Francisco Veterans Affairs HIV Clinic completing clinic visits were included. Chart reviews were conducted of the most recent clinic visit to generate HIV-ASSIST recommendations, which were compared to prescribed regimens. For each provider-prescribed regimen, we assessed its corresponding HIV-ASSIST “weighted score” (scale of 0 to 10 +, scores of 2.0) than other available alternatives. HIV-ASSIST is an educational decision support tool that provides ARV recommendations concordant with experienced HIV providers from two major academic centers for a diverse set of patient scenarios.
The Significance of Circulating Immune Complexes in Patients with Malignant Melanoma

There is increasing evidence that malignancy in both humans and experimental animal models can elicit the formation of host-mediated immune reactions directed against the growing neoplasm (Aoki et al., 1976; Klein, 1975; Mastrangelo et al., 1974; Old et al., 1968). It is thought that the basis for the promotion of these reactions is configurational changes in glycosylated proteins and lipids of the tumor-cell plasma membrane that distinguish them as being different and therefore antigenic. However, if such immune reactions can be promoted, then the question still remains: why cannot the host control the growth of the tumor and the course of the disease? Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain this situation, such as the possibility that the tumor antigens are weak and do not elicit a strong host reaction, that tumor antigen-shedding may “soak up” the antibody in the form of circulating immune complexes, and that there are present circulating “blocking factors” that interact with the various components of the host’s immune system and block their reactivity. Such blocking factors have also been cited as being circulating immune complexes that are able to react with and neutralize primed lymphocytes (Baldwin et al., 1972; Baldwin and Robbins, 1976; Hellstrom et al., 1969; Hellstrom and Hellstrom, 1970; Pyrhonen et al., 1976; Sjogren et al., 1971).
Chapter 59 – Sphingolipids

: Sphingolipids are found in membranes of both plant and animal cells. Sphingosine, which can be formed from palmitoyl-CoA and serine, is used by cells to form ceramides. Ceramides are the basic structural units of all sphingolipids, and are formed through the union of a very long-chain fatty acids with sphingosine. Sphingomyelins are the only phospholipids that do not contain a glycerol backbone. Cerebrosides are formed through linkage of either glucose or galactose to the C1 of ceramide. Globosides and gangliosides are synthesized from glucocerebrosides, and sulfatides are synthesized from galactocerebrosides. Inherited deficiencies in sphingolipid-specific lysosomal hydrolases lead to sphingolipidoses (lipid storage diseases). Sphingolipid activator proteins (saposins) are required for maximal hydrolysis of sphingolipids by their respective lysosomal hydrolases.
Cerebral Blood Flow Is Associated with Diagnostic Class and Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND Reliable cerebral blood flow (CBF) biomarkers using a noninvasive imaging technique are sought to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE We aim to identify brain regions in which CBF values are affected and related to cognitive decline in early AD using a large cohort. METHODS Perfusion MRIs using continuous arterial spin labeling were acquired at 1.5 T in 58 normal controls (NC), 50 mild cognitive impairments (MCI), and 40 AD subjects from the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study. Regional absolute CBF and normalized CBF (nCBF) values, without and with correction of partial volume effects, were compared across three groups. Association between regional CBF values and Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) were investigated by multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS After correcting for partial volume effects and cardiovascular risk factors, ADs exhibited decreased nCBF with the strongest reduction in the bilateral posterior cingulate & precuneus region (p < 0.001) compared to NCs, and the strongest reduction in the bilateral superior medial frontal region (p < 0.001) compared to MCIs. MCIs exhibited the strongest nCBF decrease in the left hippocampus and nCBF increase in the right inferior frontal and insular region. The 3MSE scores within the symptomatic subjects were significantly associated with nCBF in the bilateral posterior and middle cingulate and parietal (p < 0.001), bilateral superior medial frontal (p < 0.001), bilateral temporoparietal (p < 0.02), and right hippocampus (p = 0.02) regions. CONCLUSION Noninvasive perfusion MRI can detect functional changes across diagnostic class and serve as a staging biomarker of cognitive status.
The Entrepreneurial Core Director

This session will discuss ways in which core directors can expand the impact of their core facility beyond the walls of their institution. Speakers will provide concrete examples and potential opportunities that illustrate how core directors can engage academic and industrial partnerships. Developing an entrepreneurial spirit in a core facility can enhance the facility's impact on research regionally and nationally.
Deposition of an ultrathin palladium (Pd) coating on SAPO-34 membranes for enhanced H2/N2 separation

Abstract Hydrogen energy has attracted great attention due to its properties of high energy transferring efficiency and zero pollution emission. Zeolite membranes are promising candidates for H2 separation because of their uniform, molecular-sized pores and high thermal and mechanical stabilities. However, thicker membranes or modification treatments are often necessary to eliminate the defects formed during synthesis and post calcination, leading to low gas permeance. Herein, we reported the deposition of an ultrathin palladium (Pd) coating on SAPO-34 membranes to improve H2 separation performance. H2/N2 selectivity was greatly increased by deposition of an ultrathin Pd coating on SAPO-34 membranes, while maintaining similar H2 permeance. This might be attributed to the dissociative adsorption and associative desorption of H2 on Pd, as well as fast diffusion of H2 through ultrathin Pd coating. We also noticed that excessive Pd deposition would lead to the formation of cracks on SAPO-34 membranes, leading to deteriorated membrane performance.
Overview of the SAMPL6 pKa Challenge: Evaluating small molecule microscopic and macroscopic pKa predictions

Abstract The prediction of acid dissociation constants (pKa) is a prerequisite for predicting many other properties of a small molecule, such as its protein-ligand binding affinity, distribution coefficient (log D), membrane permeability, and solubility. The prediction of each of these properties requires knowledge of the relevant protonation states and solution free energy penalties of each state. The SAMPL6 pKa Challenge was the first time that a separate challenge was conducted for evaluating pKa predictions as part of the Statistical Assessment of Modeling of Proteins and Ligands (SAMPL) exercises. This challenge was motivated by significant inaccuracies observed in prior physical property prediction challenges, such as the SAMPL5 log D Challenge, caused by protonation state and pKa prediction issues. The goal of the pKa challenge was to assess the performance of contemporary pKa prediction methods for drug-like molecules. The challenge set was composed of 24 small molecules that resembled fragments of kinase inhibitors, a number of which were multiprotic. Eleven research groups contributed blind predictions for a total of 37 pKa distinct prediction methods. In addition to blinded submissions, four widely used pKa prediction methods were included in the analysis as reference methods. Collecting both microscopic and macroscopic pKa predictions allowed in-depth evaluation of pKa prediction performance. This article highlights deficiencies of typical pKa prediction evaluation approaches when the distinction between microscopic and macroscopic pKas is ignored; in particular, we suggest more stringent evaluation criteria for microscopic and macroscopic pKa predictions guided by the available experimental data. Top-performing submissions for macroscopic pKa predictions achieved RMSE of 0.7-1.0 pKa units and included both quantum chemical and empirical approaches, where the total number of extra or missing macroscopic pKas predicted by these submissions were fewer than 8 for 24 molecules. A large number of submissions had RMSE spanning 1-3 pKa units. Molecules with sulfur-containing heterocycles or iodo and bromo groups were less accurately predicted on average considering all methods evaluated. For a subset of molecules, we utilized experimentally-determined microstates based on NMR to evaluate the dominant tautomer predictions for each macroscopic state. Prediction of dominant tautomers was a major source of error for microscopic pKa predictions, especially errors in charged tautomers. The degree of inaccuracy in pKa predictions observed in this challenge is detrimental to the protein-ligand binding affinity predictions due to errors in dominant protonation state predictions and the calculation of free energy corrections for multiple protonation states. Underestimation of ligand pKa by 1 unit can lead to errors in binding free energy errors up to 1.2 kcal/mol. The SAMPL6 pKa Challenge demonstrated the need for improving pKa prediction methods for drug-like molecules, especially for challenging moieties and multiprotic molecules.
Overcome IT Lab Challenge in COVID-19 with Windows-to-Go

In the transition of courses from face-to-face to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, students doing labs at home becomes a major challenge. In this paper, we proposed a feasible solution of building a low-cost portable IT laboratory with Windows-to-Go installed on a USB 3.1 flash drive. To verify the feasibility and usability of this portable IT laboratory, we setup two systems on a single test computer for performance comparison — Windows-to-Go installed on a USB 3.1 flash drive and Windows 10 installed on an internal SSD. Focusing on the needs of IT discipline, we manually compared the performance of installing, executing normal IT software and other common IT tasks on both systems. We also compared their performance benchmarks by PassMark. The experiment results show that this low-cost portable IT laboratory can be used as a candidate solution for students doing labs at home.
Exposure to Intermittent Noise Exacerbates the Cardiovascular Response of Wistar–Kyoto Rats to Ozone Inhalation and Arrhythmogenic Challenge

Noise has become a prevalent public health problem across the world. Although there is a significant amount of data demonstrating the harmful effects of noise on the body, very little is known about how it impacts subsequent responses to other environmental stressors like air pollution, which tend to colocalize in urban centers. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of intermittent noise on cardiovascular function and subsequent responses to ozone (O3). Male Wistar–Kyoto rats implanted with radiotelemeters to non-invasively measure heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), and assess heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were kept in the quiet or exposed to intermittent white noise (85–90 dB) for one week and then exposed to either O3 (0.8 ppm) or filtered air. Left ventricular function and arrhythmia sensitivity were measured 24 h after exposure. Intermittent noise caused an initial increase in HR and BP, which decreased significantly later in the regimen and coincided with an increase in HRV and BRS. Noise caused HR and BP to be significantly elevated early during O3 and lower at the end when compared to animals kept in the quiet while the increased HRV and BRS persisted during the 24 h after. Lastly, noise increased arrhythmogenesis and may predispose the heart to mechanical function changes after O3. This is the first study to demonstrate that intermittent noise worsens the cardiovascular response to inhaled O3. These effects may occur due to autonomic changes and dysregulation of homeostatic controls, which persist one day after exposure to noise. Hence, co-exposure to noise should be taken into account when assessing the health effects of urban air pollution.
Dyadic effects of attachment and relationship functioning

Some scholars have proposed that people in couples in which at least one person is secure are just as satisfied as people in which both members are secure (i.e., buffering hypothesis). The present ...
Distributed Real Time Compressor Blade Health Monitoring System

Compressor blades of a heavy duty industrial gas turbine need to sustain long period mechanical stress and vibration induced by high speed rotation and high pressure mass flow. High stress coupled with erosion and corrosion damage during operation is the main driver for blade cracking. Material separation of cracked rotating blade is a serious safety and reliability concern, which not only affects compressor health, but may also cause costly secondary damage at downstream. Early detection of blade anomaly and incipient crack is critical to ensure blade and compressor health and minimize service disruption. In this paper we will introduce a blade health monitoring (BHM) system developed by GE Power. BHM adopts distributed system architecture and operates continuously 24x7 to provide real time rotor blade health assessment. BHM sensors and data acquisition (DAQ) system are installed on the gas turbine to capture blade passing signals (BPS) and assess time of arrival (TOA) for each blade. Advanced signal processing algorithms process the signals locally to calculate key features that associated with blade health. Then finally, a central anomaly detection module, which is fully integrated with GE Power monitoring system, is developed to assess blade health condition and generate anomaly alarms to alert diagnostic engineer.
Optimal Spectral Recovery of a Planted Vector in a Subspace.

Recovering a planted vector $v$ in an $n$-dimensional random subspace of $\mathbb{R}^N$ is a generic task related to many problems in machine learning and statistics, such as dictionary learning, subspace recovery, and principal component analysis. In this work, we study computationally efficient estimation and detection of a planted vector $v$ whose $\ell_4$ norm differs from that of a Gaussian vector with the same $\ell_2$ norm. For instance, in the special case of an $N \rho$-sparse vector $v$ with Rademacher nonzero entries, our results include the following: (1) We give an improved analysis of (a slight variant of) the spectral method proposed by Hopkins, Schramm, Shi, and Steurer, showing that it approximately recovers $v$ with high probability in the regime $n \rho \ll \sqrt{N}$. In contrast, previous work required either $\rho \ll 1/\sqrt{n}$ or $n \sqrt{\rho} \lesssim \sqrt{N}$ for polynomial-time recovery. Our result subsumes both of these conditions (up to logarithmic factors) and also treats the dense case $\rho = 1$ which was not previously considered. (2) Akin to $\ell_\infty$ bounds for eigenvector perturbation, we establish an entrywise error bound for the spectral estimator via a leave-one-out analysis, from which it follows that thresholding recovers $v$ exactly. (3) We study the associated detection problem and show that in the regime $n \rho \gg \sqrt{N}$, any spectral method from a large class (and more generally, any low-degree polynomial of the input) fails to detect the planted vector. This establishes optimality of our upper bounds and offers evidence that no polynomial-time algorithm can succeed when $n \rho \gg \sqrt{N}$.
Decisions to react after mass shootings: exploring negative affect, relational trust, and public behavioral intentions toward the National Rifle Association

Situated in the context of crises, the present study examines stakeholders’ reactions, including negative affect such as fear and anxiety, relational trust, and public behavioral intentions, toward...
Evaluation and associated risk factors for neutropenia with venetoclax and obinutuzumab in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background The time-limited combination of venetoclax and obinutuzumab (VenG) was established by the German CLL Study Group in the CLL14 trial for the upfront management of newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), showing a superior progression free survival benefit. The incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia was reported in the range of 52.8%-57.7%. However, patients who develop neutropenia with this combination have yet to be formally characterized in the literature as it has impact on the clinical practice setting. Aim To determine the incidence of grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and identify risk factors for neutropenia among CLL patients treated with the VenG regimen. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of all adult patients with a diagnosis of CLL treated with VenG at the University of Colorado Hospital. Demographic information, laboratory data, clinical data, and medication prescriptions were collected from the patients' electronic medical record. Results A total of 14 patients (73%) developed neutropenia during the course of therapy. The mean time to neutropenia from the start of treatment was 42 days (range 1-131). Our cohort harbored more high risk disease features and more comorbidities (CIRS score of 12). Four patients (28.6%) in the neutropenic group developed infectious complications during therapy and 6 (31%) patients were unable to be dose escalated to the final FDA approved dose of 400 mg. Conclusion Our study cohort had higher incidence of grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurring in 73% of patients. This could be attributed to a higher rate of comorbidities, high risk features, concomitant interacting medications, and prior chemotherapy. Further studies are warranted to determine if growth factor support is efficacious to achieve dose escalation with this therapy.
Sodomites, witches, and Indians: Another look at Foucault’s history of sexuality, volume one:

Does Foucault’s work on sexuality open toward the possibility of a genealogy of sex understood as binary anatomical and genetic sexual difference? I believe that it does. I argue that, if we take s...
Furosemide-induced systemic dehydration alters the proteome of rabbit vocal folds.

Whole-body dehydration (i.e., systemic dehydration) leads to vocal fold tissue dehydration. Furosemide, a common diuretic prescribed to treat hypertension and edema-associated conditions, induces systemic dehydration. Furosemide also causes voice changes in human speakers, making this method of systemic dehydration particularly interesting for vocal fold dehydration studies. Our objective was to obtain a comprehensive proteome of vocal folds following furosemide-induced systemic dehydration. New Zealand White rabbits were used as the animal model and randomly assigned to euhydrated (control) or furosemide-dehydrated groups. Systemic dehydration, induced by injectable furosemide, was verified by an average body weight loss of -5.5% and significant percentage changes in blood analytes in the dehydrated rabbits compared to controls. Vocal fold specimens, including mucosa and muscle, were processed for proteomic analysis using label-free quantitation LC-MS/MS. Over 1600 proteins were successfully identified across all vocal fold samples; and associated with a variety of cellular components and ubiquitous cell functions. Protein levels were compared between groups showing 32 proteins differentially regulated (p ≤ 0.05) in the dehydrated vocal folds. These are mainly involved with mitochondrial translation and metabolism. The downregulation of proteins involved in mitochondrial metabolism in the vocal folds suggests a mechanism to prevent oxidative stress associated with systemic dehydration. SIGNIFICANCE: Voice disorders affect different population demographics worldwide with one in 13 adults in the United States reporting voice problems annually. Vocal fold systemic hydration is clinically recognized for preventing and treating voice problems and depends on optimal body hydration primarily achieved by water intake. Herein, we use the rabbit as a translatable animal model, and furosemide as a translatable method of systemic dehydration, to reveal a comprehensive proteomic profile of vocal fold mucosa and muscle in response to systemic dehydration. The significant subset of proteins differentially regulated due to furosemide-induced dehydration offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of systemic dehydration in the vocal folds. These findings also deepen our understanding of changes to tissue biology after diuretic administration.
Felis marmorata (Marbled cat)

Skin biopsies of both animals came from animals at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA, through the courtesy of Mr. Dennis Meritt. The karyotype is essentially the same as that of F. catus (Folio 31), including the marker.
Mother's Bed: Gender Representation in Children's Literature

This children's book and accompanying research paper both address gender inequity in children's literature. There is a significant imbalance of gender representation in children's literature, with the number of central male characters almost doubling that of central female characters. Additionally, the roles of males and females still tend to be stereotypical: boys are action-oriented and heroic, while girls are nurturing and passive. Further, it is believed that boys will only enjoy books about boys, while girls will enjoy books about both boys and girls. This imbalance in children's literature hurts both genders. Children not only learn to read from books, but they also learn about the society in which they live, how they are expected to act, and how they should perceive others from them. My research includes studying books and articles about children's literature and the importance of representation in books, as well as reading several children's books for both patterns of gender representation and for inspiration. As a result of my research, I have written a children's book with a female protagonist that includes well-rounded characters that reach beyond stereotypes and that appeal to all children, regardless of gender.
A Case Study About Why It Can Be Difficult To Test Whether Propensity Score Analysis Works in Field Experiments

Peikes, Moreno and Orzol (2008) sensibly caution researchers that propensity score analysis may not lead to valid causal inference in field applications. But at the same time, they made the far stronger claim to have performed an ideal test of whether propensity score matching in quasi-experimental data is capable of approximating the results of a randomized experiment in their dataset, and that this ideal test showed that such matching could not do so. In this article we show that their study does not support that conclusion because it failed to meet a number of basic criteria for an ideal test. By implication, many other purported tests of the effectiveness of propensity score analysis probably also fail to meet these criteria, and are therefore questionable contributions to the literature on the effects of propensity score analysis. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v3i2_shadish
A strategy for balancing switching losses of FB-PS-ZVS DC-DC converters in pulse and sinusoidal ripple current charging applications

A control scheme that balances the switching losses in the full bridge phase shift zero voltage switching DC-DC converter topology is presented. Typically, this type of converter is employed for battery chargers in electric vehicles because of advantages including high power capability, zero voltage switching, and galvanic isolation. Unfortunately, this topology has different switching and conduction losses between leading and lagging legs of the full bridge stage. If this converter is operated in full rated load condition, it is not necessary to consider the unbalanced losses because losses are almost the same. However, there are a variety of batteries charging schemes including sinusoidal ripple current charging, pulse charging and the optimized current charging, which might be operated in light or half load conditions. In low load condition, the disparity of unbalanced losses is increased. The degradation between leading and lagging leg devices grows over long term operation and affects the reliability of the converter. In order to balance the losses of the legs equally, the switching pattern needs to be considered. This approach is quite applicable for pulse and sinusoidal ripple current charging, because these charging methods require a rest period. This paper proposes an optimal switching pattern control scheme that incorporates thermal balance control and a discontinuous conduction mode detector. As a result, uncompensated thermal losses between the legs are balanced. Heat dissipation of the leading leg was reduced by approximately 16% compared to that of the conventional switching pattern. The proposed scheme was validated in PSIM.
Sense of Community in Graduate Online Education: Contribution of Learner to Learner Interaction

Distance learning technologies offer a multitude of ways to build interaction into online courses to support learning. Based on social constructivism theory, this study explored which types of interaction are most predictive of students’ sense of community in online graduate courses at a regional comprehensive university. Surveys were used to measure sense of community and the frequency and importance of nine learner–learner interactions. Interactions that were most predictive of sense of community were introductions, collaborative group projects, sharing personal experiences, entire class discussions, and exchanging resources. The interaction that offered the highest payoff to instructors was exchanging resources. The article discusses implications for online course design.
Investigation of N-alkylbenzamides by reversed-phase liquid chromatography : V. Charateristics of some tertiary alkylbenzamides

Abstract The capacity factors (k′) for sixteen tertiary N-alkylbenzamides in a reversed- phase chromatographic system are reported. Applying the solvophobic theory, the measured log k′ data from an acetonitrile—water eluent were used to calculate log k′w (the log k′ in 100% water). The values for the contact surface are, ΔA, between the benzamide-bonded ligand (stationary phase) complex were alos calculated. The measured and calculated capacity factor data and other chromatographic parameters calculated from the solvophobic equations were found to be highly correlated with those molecular connectivity indices which quantitatively describe molecular bulk.
Haploidy as a New Approach to the Cytogenetics and Breeding of Solanum Tuberosum

Haploids (2n = 24) of Solanum tuberosum L. (2n = 48) are unique material for cytogenetic and breeding studies of this species. They offer the advantages of (a) disomic rather than tetrasomic inheritance patterns, and (b) a new direct approach to gene transfer from the numerous wild and cultivated, tuber-bearing, 24-chromosome Solanum species. They also provide new opportunities for the investigation of many genetic, cytological and evolutionary problems in the tuberous Solanums (Hougas and Peloquin, 1958).
Ciliary function and Wnt signal modulation.

Abstract With the increase in complexity of morphogenetic signaling cascades over the course of evolution and the emergence of broadly ciliated organisms, the cilium seems to have acquired a role as regulator of paracrine signal transduction. Recently, several lines of evidence have provided a link between basal body and ciliary proteins and Wnt signaling. In this chapter, we will evaluate the evidence linking the basal body and cilium with the regulation of β-catenin-dependent (canonical) and β-catenin-independent (noncanonical) signaling processes as well as which role(s) Wnt signaling might play in ciliogenesis. In addition, we will discuss aberrant Wnt signaling could contribute to phenotypes common to most ciliopathies and why these phenotypes might be driven by loss of noncanonical rather than gain of noncanonical Wnt signaling.
Identifying and helping long term child and adolescent disaster victims: Model and method

This paper reports on secondary analysis of data collected as part of an effort by social work providers and a major parochial school system to assess longer term impact and possible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among children and adolescents in 17 schools heavily affected by flooding. The assessment protocol, implemented by classroom teachers, measured self-reported amount of damage from a major flood along with two standardized measures of PTSD. Discussed are findings regarding factors that predict PTSD including amount of harm and ability of family to recover, whether loss of residence was related to recovery and PTSD and other variables from this field screening of 3876 children and adolescents in the Midwest who lived in areas impacted by an extensive flooding.
A physical model for earthquakes. III - Thermodynamical approach and its relation to nonclassical theories

An earthquake theory based on fundamental thermodynamical considerations was developed using two principles. The first principle is that physical systems, including fault systems, tend toward a state of minimal Helmholtz free energy, which corresponds to static equilibrium. The second postulate is that, if the system is not at minimal free energy, thermodynamic forces arise which drive the system back toward a minimum. According to this theory, the propagation of a fracture, or the formation of a slip on a frictional surface, are manifestations of the physics which attempt to return the system to minimal free energy. It is shown that the process of return to minimal free energy by the system corresponds to the production of entropy, thereby rendering the process irreversible.
Alcoholics anonymous and twelve‐step recovery: A model based on social and cognitive neuroscience

Background In the course of achieving abstinence from alcohol, longstanding members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) typically experience a change in their addiction-related attitudes and behaviors. These changes are reflective of physiologically grounded mechanisms which can be investigated within the disciplines of social and cognitive neuroscience. Objective This article is designed to examine recent findings associated with these disciplines that may shed light on the mechanisms underlying this change. Method Literature review and hypothesis development. Results Pertinent aspects of the neural impact of drugs of abuse are summarized. After this, research regarding specific brain sites, elucidated primarily by imaging techniques, is reviewed relative to the following: Mirroring and mentalizing are described in relation to experimentally modeled studies on empathy and mutuality, which may parallel the experiences of social interaction and influence on AA members. Integration and retrieval of memories acquired in a setting like AA are described, and are related to studies on storytelling, models of self-schema development, and value formation. A model for ascription to a Higher Power is presented. Conclusion The phenomena associated with AA reflect greater complexity than the empirical studies on which this article is based, and certainly require further elucidation. Despite this substantial limitation in currently available findings, there is heuristic value in considering the relationship between the brain-based and clinical phenomena described here. Scientific significance There are opportunities for the study of neuroscientific correlates of Twelve-Step-based recovery, and these can potentially enhance our understanding of related clinical phenomena.
Simulating the evolution of archaic states

This paper develops a multi-agent model based upon cultural algorithms that simulates the evolution of complex social systems in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. We operationalize the "evolution without stages" model of state evolution described by J. Marcus and K.V. Flannery (1996). Agents are based at sites and have plans for production and resource exchange with other agents. Agents interact via an evolving game matrix that begins as a "prisoner's dilemma" model and can evolve into a "warden's dilemma" model. Cultural algorithms are used to model agent learning as the environment evolves.
Photometric Behavior of Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) Before Perihelion

Narrowband photometric observations of comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) between 25 July 1995 and 15 February 1997 indicated gas and dust production rates of 20 and 100 times greater, respectively, than observed at the same heliocentric distances for comet P/Halley in 1985. Hale-Bopp produced dust at a rate greater than has been observed for any other comet at any distance since at least 1977. On the basis of the observed production rate of the hydroxyl molecule, the calculated minimum effective diameter of Hale-Bopp's nucleus is 17 kilometers, but the actual diameter of the nucleus is likely to be at least two to three times larger. The chemical composition of Hale-Bopp is consistent with that of other long-period comets originating from the Oort Cloud.
Functional assessment of bilateral wrist arthrodeses

We studied the functional results of 18 wrist arthrodeses in nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Objective evaluation included radiographic assessment, goniometer assessment of the upper extremity (UE), range of motion (ROM), grip and pinch strength, and the Jebsen-Taylor function test. Subjective evaluation consisted of a questionnaire that compared the upper extremity function of various activities of daily living preoperatively and postoperatively. The mean total range of motion for all patients was below normal on the dominant and nondominant sides, as was the average grip and pinch strength. Results of the Jebsen-Taylor test, compared with results of normal persons, were normal 38% of the time and abnormal 62% of the time. Subjective evaluation revealed postoperative improvement of the hand function in seven patients, whereas the function in two patients remained the same. Bilateral wrist arthrodeses does not seem to adversely affect function of the upper extremity in spite of abnormal grip strength and upper extremity range of motion.
The use of unlicensed assistive personnel: An update and skeptical look at a role that may present more problems than solutions

Patients implicitly rely on nurses to be their advocate. They trust nurses for health care information (92%). Approximately three fourths of Americans rated nurses' honesty and ethics as either "high" or "very high, placing them above any other profession. It is time to reconsider the full implication of Florence Nightingale's admonition to do the sick no harm in terms of staffing.
Nutrition Behaviors and Self-Schema

Abstract This study investigated the association of self-schema and nutritional behavior of 74 college students enrolled in a basic nutrition course. Self-schema (self-definition) is a cognitive structure derived from generalizations about one's self that is influenced by past experience. Its focus is on an aspect of the self that is regarded as being important. The purpose of the study was to determine if schematics (students with a healthy eater self-schema) consume a healthier diet than students without such a self-schema. Nutritional behavior was measured using two similar nutrition behavior survey instruments administered at two different time periods. The objective of nutrition behavior surveys was to examine the subjects eating behaviors using a format similar to a food frequency. These questions were based on the USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. The survey also included question items regarding eating behaviors such as "During the past week how often did you limit your intake of alcoholic beverages?" and "During the past week how often did you limit your intake of caffeine containing foods and beverages?" Responses were recorded using a Likert type scale from 0-6 (0=never, 6=all the time). Healthy eater self-schema status was measured using a questionnaire involving self-descriptiveness and importance of each of the three phrases: I am "a healthy eater", "someone who eats in a nutritious manner" and "someone who is careful about what I eat". A Likert type scale was used for recording responses, ranging from 1=does not describe me to 11=describes me. Questionnaire items from the nutrition behavior surveys were summed to create a 4-item General Eating Habit Index (GEHI) and a-5 item Food Pyramid Index (FPI). Thirty-seven of the 74 participants were classified as healthy eater schematics. Analysis of variance on scores from the GEHI and the FPI each revealed a significant effect of self-schema status, F (1,65)=5.95, p F (1,72)=21.63, p