cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching Massive, Open, Online, Courses (MOOCs): Tales from the Front Line

Very little research has been conducted about what it is like to teach a MOOC. Given this, a mixed methods study, involving a survey of 186 MOOC instructors and 15 follow-up interviews, was conducted to explore the motivation, experiences, and perceptions of instructors who have taught massive open online courses. Findings indicate that instructors were motivated to teach MOOCs for three main reasons: (1) interest and passion, (2) publicity and marketing, or (3) benefits and incentives. Most instructors had little online teaching experience prior to teaching their first MOOC, but were satisfied with the experience. The majority believed their own MOOC provided a high quality learning experience but thought that MOOCs overall might not be as good as face-to-face courses. Concerns were raised about the future of MOOCs for online learning.
Do women want to talk about birth control at the time of a first-trimester abortion?

Abstract Objective To investigate if women desire talking to a counselor or physician about contraception when seeking first-trimester medical or surgical abortion. Study design We conducted a cross-sectional study by distributing self-administered anonymous surveys to women at three clinics in Sacramento, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Cleveland, Ohio, from October 2014 to February 2015. Participants completed surveys after registration and before any in-office counseling. We asked whether women want to discuss contraception, specific topics they want to discuss, reasons why they may not want to talk about contraception and whether they want to receive contraception services as part of their abortion care. We conducted regression analyses to assess associations between patient characteristics and the desire for counseling. Results Among 3041 eligible women, 1959 (64.4%) completed surveys. Overall, 1208 (61.7%) did not want to discuss contraception prior to having an abortion, primarily citing that they already know which method they want. We found no association between the desire to discuss contraception and age, race, planned abortion method, clinic site and number of unplanned pregnancies. Among those who desired to talk about contraception, subjects preferred to discuss which contraceptive methods are easier to use and more effective as compared to previously used methods. Regardless of their desire for a discussion about contraception, 1386 (70.8%) of subjects wanted to leave the clinic with a specific method, including a long-acting reversible method [intrauterine device or implant (190, 13.7%)] or other hormonal method [pills, patch, ring or injectable (680, 49.1%)]. Conclusions The majority of women seeking first-trimester abortion do not come to the clinic wanting to discuss contraception, most commonly because they have a preferred method in mind. Implications Providers should ask women presenting for abortion if they want to discuss contraception and not assume that they need or desire such information. Focused discussions, starting with the preferred method if known, may better satisfy women's preferences. Providers should account for such desires when allocating resources for contraception services during abortion care.
Prevalence of Lower-Extremity Arterial Calcification in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Complicated by Foot Disease at an Urban US Tertiary-Care Center

Background: We sought to determine the prevalence of lower-extremity arterial calcification in a cohort of patients with diabetes and associated foot pathology receiving inpatient treatment at an u...
Hybrid coronary revascularization: Midterm outcomes of robotic multivessel bypass and percutaneous interventions

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes of patients undergoing advanced hybrid coronary revascularization, defined as robotic beating-heart multivessel totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass combined with percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods This is a retrospective study. Among 308 consecutive patients who underwent totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass, 57 who underwent advanced hybrid coronary revascularization (mean age, 65.6 years) from July 2013 to September 2017 were included. Midterm survival and freedom from major adverse cardiac events, including death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization, were analyzed. Results Multivessel totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass was successfully performed without conversion to thoracotomy. Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting was used in 50 patients (87.7%). The mean operative time was 318.4 ± 51.0 minutes. The mean length of hospital stay was 3.0 ± 1.3 days. There was no 30-day mortality. Percutaneous coronary intervention was planned after totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass in 51 patients (89.4%). The target lesions were the right coronary artery only in 38 patients, the left circumflex artery only in 4 patients, and multiple lesions in 13 patients. Eventually, 2 patients did not receive percutaneous coronary intervention. Percutaneous coronary intervention attempt was unsuccessful in 8 lesions. Patency of the left/right internal thoracic artery was 95.2% (60/63) and 95.7% (45/47), respectively. Graft patency was 95.2% (40/42) in the left circumflex artery and 93.3% (14/15) in the diagonal branch. Three-year survival was 92.8%, and 3-year freedom from major adverse cardiac events was 80.2%. Conclusions Advanced hybrid coronary revascularization is a safe and less-invasive approach with short hospital stay and good midterm outcomes.
Not all posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms are equal: fear, dysphoria, and risk of developing hypertension in trauma-exposed women

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with higher risk of incident hypertension, but it is unclear whether specific aspects of PTSD are particularly cardiotoxic. PTSD is a heterogeneous disorder, comprising dimensions of fear and dysphoria. Because elevated fear after trauma may promote autonomic nervous system dysregulation, we hypothesized fear would predict hypertension onset, and associations with hypertension would be stronger with fear than dysphoria.MethodsWe examined fear and dysphoria symptom dimensions in relation to incident hypertension over 24 years in 2709 trauma-exposed women in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Posttraumatic fear and dysphoria symptom scores were derived from a PTSD diagnostic interview. We used proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each symptom dimension (quintiles) with new-onset hypertension events (N = 925), using separate models. We also considered lower-order symptom dimensions of fear and dysphoria.ResultsHigher levels of fear (P-trend = 0.02), but not dysphoria (P-trend = 0.22), symptoms were significantly associated with increased hypertension risk after adjusting for socio-demographics and family history of hypertension. Women in the highest v. lowest fear quintile had a 26% higher rate of developing hypertension [HR = 1.26 (95% CI 1.02–1.57)]; the increased incidence associated with greater fear was similar when further adjusted for biomedical and health behavior covariates (P-trend = 0.04) and dysphoria symptoms (P-trend = 0.04). Lower-order symptom dimension analyses provided preliminary evidence that the re-experiencing and avoidance components of fear were particularly associated with hypertension.ConclusionsFear symptoms associated with PTSD may be a critical driver of elevated cardiovascular risk in trauma-exposed individuals.
Model evaluations of surface modification by energetic incident carbon atoms on graphene coated copper electrodes

Thin nanoscale coating of metal electrodes by graphene promises to be a useful approach for suppressing the secondary electron yield and potential multipactor. Recent calculations showed reductions by as much as 50% for graphene over copper electrodes for energies below 125 eV, with results in good agreement with experimental data. Here, the resistance to possible degradation of this structure, in response to incoming atomic projectiles, is gauged based on molecular dynamics simulations. Our results for surface irradiation by carbon atoms (as an example) on nanoscale graphene coatings indicate a defect threshold of about 35 eV, lower surface damage for thicker layers, negligible sputtering, and defects less than 6 A in dimension for energies up to 300 eV. The electrode structure is shown to be robust with better resistance to damage than metal alone.
Using microseismic frequency-magnitude distributions from hydraulic fracturing as an incremental tool for fracture completion diagnostics

Abstract Microseismic measurements are becoming increasingly routine with many large, pad scale hydraulic fracturing programs particularly in the prolific unconventional shale basins of North America. Spatial and temporal frequency-magnitude distributions or ‘b-value’ measurements can provide useful information, which can help with hydraulic fracturing diagnostics as well as design. In this study, we discuss the significant differences in the seismicity distributions in the upper and middle Wolfcamp formations at the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site located in the Midland Basin, a sub-basin of the Permian. We validate observed seismicity behavior in relation to other reservoir properties of interest, including 3D seismic derived attributes and petrophysical data. The in-situ stress state has a significant bearing on b-value and we validate this using various observations. Specifically, we observe an inverse correlation between b-value distribution and in-situ differential stress. We correlate observed microseismicity with available 3D seismic data. We see significant impact of in-situ discontinuities and rock brittleness on the microseismicity distributions. In particular, in areas with large identifiable discontinuities, which are ideally aligned for shear failure, we see lower b-value slopes when compared with areas, which lack significant discontinuities or where they are not ideally aligned. We also look at hydraulic fracturing treatment data, specifically, injection pressure, and tie it with variations in microseismicity during pumping. The analysis of microseismic b-value as shown in this study provides a template for future applications where microseismic surveys are available.
Structure-based design of lipophilic quinazoline inhibitors of thymidylate synthase.

To develop novel lipophilic thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors, the X-ray structure of Escherichia coli TS in ternary complex with FdUMP and the inhibitor 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) was used as a basis for structure-based design. A total of 31 novel lipophilic TS inhibitors, lacking a glutamate residue, were synthesized; 26 of them had in common a N-((3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-6-quinazolinyl)methyl)-N-prop-2-ynylaniline structure in which the aniline was appropriately substituted with simple lipophilic substituents either in position 3 or 4, or in both. Compounds were tested for their inhibition of E. coli TS and human TS and also for their inhibition of the growth in tissue culture of a murine leukemia, a human leukemia, and a thymidine kinase-deficient human adenocarcinoma. The crystal structures of five inhibitors complexed with E. coli TS were determined. Five main conclusions are drawn from this study. (i) A 3-substituent such as CF3, iodo, or ethynyl enhances binding by up to 1 order o...
Quadratic neural networks for CT metal artifact reduction

Recently, deep learning has become the mainstream method in multiple fields of artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML) applications, including medical imaging. Encouraged by the neural diversity in the human body, our group proposed to replace the inner product in the current artificial neuron with a quadratic operation on inputs (called quadratic neuron) for deep learning. Since the representation capability at the cellular level is enhanced by the quadratic neuron, we are motivated to build network architectures and evaluate the potential of quadratic neurons towards “quadratic deep learning”. Along this direction, our previous theoretical studies have shown advantages of quadratic neurons and quadratic networks in terms of efficiency and representation. In this paper, we prototype a quadratic residual neural network (Q-ResNet) by incorporating quadratic neurons into a convolutional residual structure, and then deploy it for CT metal artifact reduction. Also, we report our experiments on a simulated dataset to show that Q-ResNet performs better than the classic NMAR algorithm.
Does surgical approach affect sagittal plane alignment and pilon fracture outcomes

Abstract Purpose Sagittal plane alignment beyond articular reduction and its effect on clinical outcomes has not been emphasized. Surgical approach may influence a surgeon's ability to correct the sagittal plane alignment. The purpose of our study was to evaluate how surgical approach impacts anterior distal tibial angle (ADTA) and lateral talar station (LTS). Our hypothesis was that the anterolateral (AL) approach would improve the sagittal plane parameters due to the primary plate placement. Patients and methods A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent operative management for pilon fractures at 2 ACS Level 1 Academic Trauma Centers. Clinical data points including demographics, comorbidities, AO/OTA classification, surgical approach, and complications were recorded. Quality of reduction was measured using the ADTA, lateral distal tibia angle (LDTA), and lateral talar station (LTS) from radiographs. Results 580 pilon fractures met inclusion criteria. When compared to the AL approach, the modified anteromedial (AM) approach had decreased rates of local wound care, and unplanned reoperations. The AM approach had increased rates of superficial infection, deep infection, non-union, and amputations. There was no difference in ADTA, LDTA, or LTS between the AM and AL approach (P = 0.49, P = 0.41, P = 0.85). There was a difference in LTS with tobacco users (P = 0.02). Conclusions The sagittal plane alignment does not appear to be affected by the surgical approach. Therefore, the surgical approach to pilon fractures should be based on the fracture pattern and the patient's soft tissue envelope. This study shows that the AM is a relatively safe and effective approach to complex fractures and the surgeon should consider the specific fracture pattern and patient soft tissue envelope when choosing the specific approach.
Gaps in Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening among Men who Have Sex with Men in PrEP Care in the United States

Background: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends comprehensive sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening every 3-6 months for men who have sex with men (MSM) using HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The gaps between these recommendations and clinical practice by region have not been quantified. Methods: We used survey data collected from the internet-based ARTnet study between 2017 and 2019 on STI screening among MSM across the U.S., stratified by current, prior, and never PrEP use. Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to model factors, including residence in the Southeast, associated with consistent ("always" or "sometimes") exposure site-specific STI screening during PrEP care. Results: Of 3259 HIV-negative MSM, 19% were currently using PrEP, 6% had used PrEP in the past, and 75% had never used PrEP. Among ever PrEP users, 87%, 78%, 57%, and 64% reported consistent screening for STIs by blood sample, urine sample or urethral swab, rectal swab, or pharyngeal swab, respectively, during PrEP care. Compared to PrEP users in all other regions, PrEP users in the Southeast were significantly less likely to be consistently screened for urogenital (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.98) and rectal STIs (aPR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62-0.93) during PrEP care. Conclusions: Substantial gaps exist between CDC recommendations for STI screening during PrEP care and current clinical practice, particularly for rectal and pharyngeal exposure sites that can harbor asymptomatic infections and for MSM in Southeast states where the STI burden is substantial.
Bruce McEwen, 1938–2020

The pioneering neuroscientist Bruce McEwen died on January 2, 2020 at the age of 81 following a brief illness. He was the Alfred E. Mirsky Professor and head of the Harold and Margaret Millikin Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at The Rockefeller University. Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bruce grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in an academic household; his father George was a Professor of English in the University of Michigan’s Engineering School. After graduating from Oberlin College, Bruce started graduate study at The Rockefeller University in 1959 and, after a postdoctorate in Sweden and a brief appointment at the University of Minnesota, served on The Rockefeller University’s faculty for 54 years until his death. He and his wife, the neuroimmunologist Karen Bulloch, collaborated in research and writing. Bruce remained active scientifically until the very end, with a paper published on the day of his death. His friend and coauthor on that paper, Huda Akil, and his brother, Craig McEwen, remember him. Bruce McEwen with Kobe and Buber on the coast of Maine. Image courtesy of Karen Bulloch McEwen (The Rockefeller University, New York, NY). Bruce has been a major force in neuroscience. He conducted groundbreaking research and inspired many of us to think differently about how we create science and how we use it for the greater good. The central theme of his research—the brain biology of stress—lends itself to every level of exploration, from the molecular and cellular, to the neural and behavioral, to the societal and global, and Bruce explored them all. In a seminal 1968 Nature paper (1), Bruce demonstrated for the first time the binding of glucocorticoids in the brain, specifically in the hippocampus. This was very surprising as the hippocampus had been thought to be primarily relevant to memory. That discovery led to the … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: akil{at}umich.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator Multiuse Application in the Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis

Introduction The treatment of chronic intramedullary infection of the long bones relies on microbe-specific antibiotics in conjunction with surgical removal of infected necrotic material. We discuss the use of reamer-irrigator-aspirator(RIA) for debridement of the intramedullary canal instead of conventional reaming techniques. This is the first case report to explore the use of RIA for osteomyelitis. Case report We discuss the use of the RIA in treatment of a 26-year-old female presenting with chronic osteomyelitis of the left distal femoral shaft. She had normalization of infection laboratories at 6 weeks and complete resolution of symptoms at 3 months and was released at 6 months. Conclusion Recent exploration of the RIA system's (Synthes®, Inc. West Chester, Philadelphia) multipurpose applications has indicated use in long bone debridement. While further exploration and high-quality studies are needed to make robust claims of efficacy, we believe that the use of RIA in the context of chronic osteomyelitis is a superior alternative to conventional reaming techniques.
Developmental expression of neuronal chloride transporters in different brain regions and sensory organs

Abstract The developmental changes in the expression of neuronal chloride transporters coincide closely with the dynamic sequences of postnatal brain development. The NKCC and KCC cation-chloride cotransporter families mediate excitatory-inhibitory balance by modulating neuronal excitability and the maturation of inhibitory GABAergic transmission. Additionally, they regulate neuronal activity, cell migration, cortical development and dendritic spine development—topics covered throughout this book. Understanding the developmental sequence in expression patterns during normal brain maturation helps elucidate the dysregulation that occurs across age-specific manifestations of neurological diseases, such as epilepsy, brain injury, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Here, we review the developmental changes in the expression of neuronal chloride transporters with a particular focus on NKCC1 and KCC2 in rodents and humans. Starting from embryonic stages through postnatal development into adulthood, the specificity of neuronal chloride transporter expression in various regions and cell types across brain maturation will be highlighted, along with functional differences related to sex and the perinatal period. Additionally, we review expression patterns across sensory organs in relation to brain maturation and sensory function.
Multi-method assessment of palatable food exposure in women with and without eating disorders.

Objective Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by dysregulated responses to palatable food. Using a multi-method approach, this study examined responses to palatable food exposure and subsequent ad libitum eating in women with binge-eating disorder (BED: n = 64), anorexia nervosa (AN: n = 16), and bulimia nervosa (BN: n = 35) and 26 healthy controls (HCs). Method Participants were exposed to palatable food followed by an ad libitum eating opportunity. Affective and psychophysiological responses were measured before and during the task. Results Participants with EDs reported greater negative affect, particularly fear, following the food cue exposure, whereas HCs reported no change. BN and BED groups reported greater urge to binge after the food cue exposure, whereas AN and HC groups reported no change. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia levels, skin conductance and tonic skin conductance levels increased during food exposure for all groups. Across baseline and during the food exposure, the BED group had lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia levels relative to the BN and HC groups. The BED group consumed significantly more palatable food than the AN group. Conclusions 'Palatable' food stimuli elicited more negative affect, particularly fear, in individuals with EDs; and this, rather than psychophysiological responses, distinguishes individuals with EDs from those without.
Delivering Person-Centered Care in Community Mental Health Programs

The aim of this study was to examine the extent of and variation in person-centered care across programs within community mental health clinics. Service plans (N = 160) from programs within eight c...
Stochastic Simulations of Population Variability in Pharmacokinetics

A new methodology allows one to directly estimate a dependent variable’s probability density function without the need to randomly generate large data sets via Monte Carlo simulations. The approach can be used independently of both the deterministic pharmacokinetic model and the distributions of estimated parameter values. An important feature is that the method can be used in cases of either independent either correlated parameters.
Non-linear embedding of acoustic cross-spectral density matrices through diffusion maps.

Based on the notion of similarity or “distance” between cross-spectral density matrices (CSDMs), a recent analysis of matched-field source localization in a stochastic ocean waveguide provided evidence that geodesic distances between CSDMs could be employed to estimate the source location in range and depth. For M acoustic sensors configured as a vertical array, these M × M matrices were estimated from source and replica fields propagated to the array and interpreted as points in a Riemannian manifold whose dimension is M2. Because they serve as fundamental constructs for many source localization algorithms, visualizations of CSDM manifolds are illustrated here in an attempt to gain insight into this geometric approach by using simulated acoustic fields propagated through an ocean waveguide with internal wave-induced variability. The manifold is treated as an undirected, weighted graph whose nodes are CSDMs with edges (weights) describing a measure of similarity between nodes. A non-linear dimensionality reduction technique, diffusion maps, is applied to project these high-dimensional matrices onto a three-dimensional subspace using a spectral decomposition of the graph in an attempt to grasp relationships among such matrices. The mapping is designed to preserve the notion of distance between matrices, allowing for a meaningful visualization of the high-dimensional manifold.
Exploring pharmacy students' interest in digital badges.

Abstract Introduction Digital badging may address the need to document skills developed in the co-curriculum. This study examined students' perceptions of the value, motivating factors, and challenges for participating in digital badging. Methods An online survey was emailed to first, second, and third year pharmacy students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Year in school, pharmacy grade point average, organizational membership, and level of organization leadership was obtained. The survey used a five-point Likert rating and consisted of: nine perceived values categorized as value for recognition, motivation for participation, and learning; eleven motivating factors including intrinsic and extrinsic; and seven challenges for pursuing a digital badge. Overall likelihood to pursue a digital badge, motivating factors to pursue a digital badge, and top potential badge options were also queried. Appropriate statistical tests were performed to determine associations with variables and likelihood to pursue a digital badge. Results A total of 116 usable responses were received (48.9% response rate). A majority indicated that digital badges had perceived value for all three categories queried. Both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators were important in predicting likelihood to pursue a digital badge. The influence of challenges did not explain the variations in likelihood to pursue a digital badge. Leadership and community engagement were the top two desired digital badges. Conclusions Survey data provided insights for determining best practices for designing a digital badge to differentiate skills among students. Further research and evaluation of an implemented digital badge is necessary for defining best practices in digital badging.
Contemporary Outcomes after Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device Explantation in Patients with Evidence of Cardiac Recovery

Purpose In patients with durable left ventricular assist devices, cardiac recovery allowing device explanation is a rare and poorly understood phenomenon. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients with cardiac recovery who underwent LVAD explantation or decommission with no formal recovery protocol at two large academic medical centers. Methods We identified all patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) with a continuous flow durable LVAD implanted at two centers through 2017 who had evidence of cardiac recovery as determined by a multidisciplinary assessment of cardiac surgeons and heart failure specialists, and underwent either explant of the LVAD or its decommission (turned off but left in-situ). Clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic features, and outcomes were analyzed. Results Twenty individuals met entry criteria. Indications for LVAD explant/decommission included pump thrombosis (45%, N=9/20), driveline infection (30%, N=6/20), or cardiac recovery without concurrent LVAD complication (25%, N=5/20). The average age at LVAD explant/decommission was 41±13 years and the median duration of support was 656 (265-1,089) days. The average left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 13±4% at implant, 45±11% at explant/decommission, and 32±18% at last-follow-up. There were 4 deaths (3 within 369 days) and 5 LVAD reimplantations (4 within 16 days and 1 at 62 days) over 12,986 person-days of follow-up after explant/decommission. Only 15% of the total cohort (N=3/20) had sustained LVEF recovery (Figure). Conclusion A minority of patients with NICM who had evidence of cardiac recovery allowing LVAD explant/decommission maintained their improved function. In nearly one-half of patients, regression in cardiac function was catastrophic and resulted in death or required reimplantation of a durable LVAD. These observations highlight the need to better define predictors allowing safe withdrawal of durable LVAD support.
Radiation treatment for refractory endometriosis: a 38-year-old female presenting with vaginal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is typically managed with a medical or surgical approach, though some patients have medically refractory disease and are poor surgical candidates. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old woman presented to our facility with uncontrolled bleeding and pain from an endometriotic mass at the vaginal cuff. She had a history of abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, now with medically refractive and inoperable disease due to prior history of vesicovaginal fistula. We prescribed 30 Gy in 10 fractions with 10 MV and 18 MV photons to the target. At follow-up our patient reported a complete resolution of bleeding and pelvic pain. CONCLUSION: Radiation treatment can be an effective treatment for refractory endometriosis.
Split-TCP Based Acceleration Gateway over Packet Lossy Networks

The conservative Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease mechanism of traditional TCP causes the link under-utilization in the Wide Area Networks(WANs) due to the WANs' intrinsic nature of high latency and high packet loss.To alleviate the problem,we present the design and implantation of STAG,an Acceleration Gateway with Split-TCP in the paper.STAG is built on embedded network equipment and acts as a transparent proxy.In STAG,a new improved congestion control method named Rapid TCP is adopted,which determines whether or not to decrease the congestion window based on the packet loss trend.In particular,in the fast recovery phase,it chooses different window adjustment strategies based on the current size of congestion window to achieve higher utilization.The performance validation of STAG is done on both our emulation testbed and the real wide area network.The results show that STAG with Rapid TCP effectively adapts to the high loss network environment and significantly speeds up the applications without loss of fairness.
The Constitutive Rhetoric of Late Nationalism: Imagined Communities after the Digital Revolution

This article responds to the global resurgence of nationalist rhetoric, forgoing prior scholarship’s equation of such rhetoric with demagoguery to instead position nationalism as a form of social o...
Mental status changes during elexacaftor/tezacaftor / ivacaftor therapy

Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA, Trikafta) is the newest Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) modulator drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Post-marketing reports with earlier CFTR modulators suggest these medications can impact mood, and in clinical trials an adverse effect of headache was reported with all currently approved CFTR modulators. However, there are no other documented reports of mental status changes during clinical trials or in post-marketing reports with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. In this case series, we describe 6 patients who reported "mental fogginess" or other mental status changes shortly after initiation of this drug. The mechanism of this patient-reported side effect is still unclear. All patients noticed a change within the first 3 months of therapy. The management differed in each case, with all four cystic fibrosis (CF) care teams utilizing a patient-centered decision-making approach to address this concern.
Longitudinal assessment of adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 at steady state and during vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by frequent and unpredictable vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). Sickle erythrocytes (SSRBCs) contribute to VOCs by participating in a series of adhesive events with blood cells and the vascular endothelium. Adhesion assays have been used to evaluate the relationship between SSRBC adhesion and SCD severity. We developed a standardized, clinical flow adhesion assay of whole blood to vascular cell adhesion molecule (FA-WB-VCAM). The objective of this study was to assess the variability and clinical predictive value of FA-WB-VCAM in a six-month longitudinal, observational study (ELIPSIS) in SCD subjects during at-home, steady-state and self-reported VOCs, and following VOC resolution. We observed a strong relationship between FA-WB-VCAM and SCD severity. Adhesion indices were significantly lower in SCD subjects on hydroxycarbamide and increased during VOCs; at-home VOCs had significantly higher FA-WB-VCAM than steady-state and contact VOCs. SCD subjects with a high frequency of self-reported VOCs had a pro-adhesive phenotype at steady state and were stratified into a high-adhesive phenotype cohort; two years prospectively we observed a higher frequency of VOCs in the high-adhesion cohort. This study supports stratifying SCD subjects based on steady-state FA-WB-VCAM and suggests that FA-WB-VCAM may be a plausible surrogate end-point for SCD severity.
Application of CT Filter Algorithms to Digitized Film Data

The CT studies performed thus far in the RAS division have been based on neutron radiographs of two 7-pin reactor fuel bundles which were subjected to over-power accident simulations in the TREAT reactor. The tests as referenced below were named LO5 and LO6. As a result of the tests, the pins were severely damaged, with molten fuel and steel spreading throughout the fuel assembly. After removal of parts of the test vehicle, the remaining assembly is approximately 2-m long, and about 10-cm diameter.
Deferred sequelae incident to pelvic irradiation

Abstract In the follow-up of irradiation therapy late sequelae should be anticipated, and the differential diagnosis of persistent alimentary complaints must include a gamut of conditions ranging from recurrence to factitial pathology. Appropriate diagnostic procedures, including surgical exploration are indicated in any instance where there is change in the patient's status, irrespective of how long ago the patient was treated with irradiation. Factitial injury can be diminished by careful selection of x-ray portals and radium applicator and by the control of infection and measurement of radiation exposure.
Regulation of type I collagen synthesis. Total pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) mRNAs are maintained in a 2:1 ratio under varying rates of collagen synthesis.

The type I collagen molecule contains two α1(I) chains and one α2(I) chain. Previous investigations, using embryonic chick calvaria, have indicated that the two chains are synthesized in a 2:1 ratio which is controlled at a pretranslational level, since the cells contain twice as much translatable proα1(I) mRNA as proα2(I) mRNA. The present report describes hybridization analyses of the cellular levels of total cellular RNAs coding for the proα1(I) and proα2(I) chains, using as probes two cloned cDNAs complementary to chick proα1(I) and proα2(I) mRNA, respectively. Total cellular RNA was extracted from embryonic chick calvaria, proα1(I) and proα2(I) RNA sequences were quantified by Northern hybridization using conditions ensuring that hybridization efficiency and specific radioactivity were the same for the two probes. Similar analyses were carried out on RNA extracted from calvaria with different levels of collagen synthesis after culture in the presence or absence of ascorbic acid. The results for all samples analyzed indicate that total cellular proα1(I) and proα2(I) mRNAs are present in a 2:1 ration which is maintained even during variations in collagen synthesis rate. There is no evidence for regulation mediated by different rates of processing of mRNA precursors, although preferential degradation of the proα2(I) gene transcript cannot be excluded. Thus, the synthesis of type I procollagen chains is presumably coordinated by transcriptional control.
Derivation of Mutants of Erwinia carotovora subsp. betavasculorum Deficient in Export of Pectolytic Enzymes with Potential for Biological Control of Potato Soft Rot

Erwinia carotovora subsp. betavasculorum Ecb168 produces an antibiotic(s) that suppresses growth of the related bacterium Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora in culture and in wounds of potato tubers. Strain Ecb168 also produces and secretes pectolytic enzymes and causes a vascular necrosis and root rot of sugar beet. Genes (out) involved in secretion of pectolytic enzymes by Ecb168 were localized to two HindIII fragments (8.5 and 10.5 kb) of Ecb168 genomic DNA by hybridization to the cloned out region of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and by complementation of Out- mutants of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora. Out- mutants of Ecb168, which did not secrete pectate lyase into the culture medium, were obtained when deletions internal to either HindIII fragment were introduced into the genome of Ecb168 through marker exchange mutagenesis. Out- mutants of Ecb168 were complemented to the Out+ phenotype by introduction of the corresponding cloned HindIII fragment. Out- mutants of Ecb168 were less virulent than the Out+ parental strain on potato tubers. Strain Ecb168 and Out- derivatives inhibited the growth of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora in culture, indicating that the uncharacterized antibiotic(s) responsible for antagonism was exported through an out-independent mechanism. Strain Ecb168 and Out- derivatives reduced the establishment of large populations of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora in wounds of potato tubers and suppressed tuber soft rot caused by E. carotovora subsp. carotovora.
Bridging or buffering?: The impact of schools’ adaptive strategies on student achievement

Purpose – Rational and open system theories offer divergent sets of tactics on how best to deal with factors outside the boundary of the school. This study compared two competing strategies that emerge from these theories: bridging and buffering. The impact of how schools interact with their environments was examined in relation to student achievement.Design/methodology/approach – The competing theories were operationalized into two survey measures that tapped teacher perceptions of their schools’ orientations toward the environment. Using schools as the unit of analysis, two competing perspectives were contrasted together with their relative impact on student achievement on standardized tests.Findings – Multiple regression was used to assess the relative weight of each of these constructs in explaining the variance in student achievement. Bridging strategies explained a greater proportion of the variance than buffering.Research limitations/implications – Data were limited to teacher perceptions of the st...
Special Commentary on the Dublin Principles of Cooperation Among the Beverage Alcohol Industry, Governments, Scientific Researchers, and the Public Health Community

Special Commentary on the Dublin Principles of Cooperation among the Beverage Alcohol Industry, Governments, Scientific Researchers, and the Public Health Community.
Tactics, Resistance, and Bad-Ass Teaching in a Generation 1.5 Basic Writing Classroom

This ethnographic narrative recounts a small piece of a larger story of a full-time temporary ESL developmental writing instructor and self-styled bad-ass named Roberta whose charge was to prepare “not-American English speakers” for college level writing courses in North Georgia. Focusing on a critical incident I witnessed early in our relationship involving a spoof of the five-paragraph essay, I theorize the event through neo-Vygtoskian understandings of tactics (Wertsch, 2002) to argue the need for more nuanced representations of ESL developmental writing faculty and their complex and conflicted agency in the face of high stakes testing and institutional policies that perpetuate the notion of ESL writers as inherently inferior to their “native” counterparts.
Kepler planet candidates consistent with core accretion

We show that the distribution of Kepler candidate planets from Borucki et al. is consistent with the predictions of the core accretion model.
Existence and regularity of isometries

We use local harmonic coordinates to establish sharp results on the regularity of isometric maps between Riemannian manifolds whose metric tensors have limited regularity (e.g., are Holder continuous). We also discuss the issue of local flatness and of local isometric embedding with given first and second fundamental form, in the context of limited smoothness.
Investigation of novel anthracene‐bridged carbazoles as sensitizers and Co‐sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells

Summary Novel anthracene-bridged carbazole organic dyes (designated ML4 and ML5) were synthesized using the Suzuki coupling reaction. These dyes were designed to be donor-π-conjugation-acceptor sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells, where the carbazole moiety acts as the donor, the anthracene moiety provides the π-conjugation, and the cyano acrylic acid acts as the acceptor. Solar cells were fabricated with ML4 and ML5 alone with low power conversion efficiencies, but they were also used as co-sensitizers with N719, improving the efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells produced by ~3% and ~10%, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heavy Chain Variable Region Gene Utilization in Human Antibodies

We have sequenced by the polymerase chain reaction the heavy chain variable regions of over thirty human antibodies of defined specificity. The distribution of VH families in this group of antibodies is disproportionately skewed toward the recently discovered VH gene families. Within a family, there is also a disproportional use of individual gene segments. Numerous explanations for these imbalances are discussed.
First principles calculations of Ag2Al stability and electronic properties

The first principles layer Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker computational method is used to distinguish between two proposed atomic configurations for the binary Al-Ag h.c.p. intermediate phase, {gamma}, of composition Ag{sub 2}Al. A comparison between the calculated total energies of the two configurations is supported by a comparison of the resulting electron density of states to existing electron spectroscopy data. The present calculations indicate that the lowest internal energy is obtained for the atomic configuration reported by Howe et al. From atomic resolution TEM studies of partially coherent plates of the {gamma}{prime} transition phase. The {gamma}{prime} phase is identical to the equilibrium {gamma} phase except for the absence of misfit dislocations at the broad faces of the plates. The h.c.p. {gamma}{prime} structure possesses basal planes alternating in composition from pure Ag to AgAl{sub 2} and exhibits both short range order within the basal planes as well as long range order over alternate basal planes.
Enhancement of Poly(orthoester) Microspheres for DNA Vaccine Delivery by Blending with Poly(ethylenimine)

Poly(orthoester) (POE) microspheres have been previously shown to possess certain advantages for the in vivo delivery of DNA vaccines. In particular, timing of DNA release from POE microspheres in response to acidic phagosomal pH was shown to be an important factor in determining immunogenicity, which was hypothesized to be linked to the natural progression of antigen-presenting cell uptake, transfection, maturation, and antigen presentation. Here we report in vitro characterization of the enhanced efficacy of POE microspheres by blending poly(ethylenimine) (PEI), a well-characterized cationic transfection agent, into the POE matrix. Blending of a tiny amount of PEI (approximately 0.04 wt%) with POE caused large alterations in POE microsphere properties. PEI provided greater control over the rate of pH-triggered DNA release by doubling the total release time of plasmid DNA and enhanced gene transfection efficiency of the microspheres up to 50-fold without any significant cytotoxicity. Confocal microscopy results of labeled PEI and DNA plasmids revealed that PEI caused a surface-localizing distribution of DNA and PEI within the POE microsphere as well as focal co-localization of PEI with DNA. We provide evidence that upon degradation, the microspheres of POE-PEI blends released electrostatic complexes of DNA and PEI, which are responsible for the enhanced gene transfection. Furthermore, blending PEI into the POE microsphere induced 50-60% greater phenotypic maturation and activation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in vitro, judged by the up-regulation of co-stimulatory markers on the cell surface. Physically blending PEI with POE is a simple approach for modulating the properties of biodegradable microspheres in terms of gene transfection efficiency and DNA release kinetics. Combined with the ability to induce maturation of antigen-presenting cells, POE-PEI blended microspheres may be excellent carriers for DNA vaccines.
Study Finds Clinical Practice Lacking in Hospital Social-Work Departments.

(1972). Study Finds Clinical Practice Lacking in Hospital Social-Work Departments. Hospital Topics: Vol. 50, No. 9, pp. 42-43.
The role of family preservation therapists in facilitating use of aftercare services.

Abstract Objective: The aims were to: (1) examine the process that family preservation therapists use when developing and implementing aftercare plans, and (2) examine how family preservation therapists perceive the availability and accessibility of community services that families need after short-term family preservation services. Method: Focus groups were conducted with therapists (n = 26) from five agencies that provide family preservation services in a large Midwest city. One agency was the local public child welfare agency, and the other four were nonprofit agencies with state contracts to provide family preservation services. Results: Therapists viewed aftercare services as important and necessary, yet perceived barriers to families’ use of aftercare services. Therapists undertook a number of activities to help families access and use services, though some therapists took a less active role than others did in helping families link to services. It was perceived that more follow-up was needed to ensure service use. Participants viewed certain services as especially difficult to access or unavailable, including services for men and adolescents. Conclusions: More explicit and focused attention to facilitating service use is needed. This can be accomplished by therapists focusing on service use during assessment and treatment planning. Regular follow-ups after short-term family preservation services for the purpose of helping families to productively use services may be needed. However, systemic changes are also needed to ensure that needed services are available and accessible.