cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abnormal distribution of complex carbohydrates in neutrophils of a patient with lactoferrin deficiency.

Previous studies have identified patients with susceptibility to bacterial infection associated with lactoferrin deficiency in dysmorphic neutrophils containing abnormal or no secondary granules and abnormal nuclear segmentation. We have investigated the subcellular distribution of vicinal glycol-containing complex carbohydrates in marrow and blood myeloid cells of such a patient using the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (PA-TCH-SP) staining method and have examined the response of these neutrophils to the degranulating agents N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). As in normal specimens, immature primary granules were strongly PA-TCH-SP reactive; however, unlike normal specimens, masking of PA-TCH-SP reactivity did not occur in mature primary granules. Endoplasmic reticulum demonstrated moderately strong PA-TCH-SP staining, in contrast to absent staining of this organelle in normal promyelocytes and consistent with abnormal primary granule genesis. Small abnormal elongated granules (0.1–0.2 micron in diameter) were identified at the myelocyte state of development and were the predominant granule type in late neutrophils. These granules were identified as secondary granules on the basis of their PA-TCH-SP positivity and were differentiated from primary and tertiary granules on the basis of a lack of peroxidase, acid phosphatase, and sulfate staining. When the neutrophils were exposed to PMA, cell aggregation occurred, and the abnormal granules degranulated in a manner similar to the degranulation observed with normal secondary granules. Although PA- TCH-SP staining of the plasma membrane appeared normal, a decrease in FMLP receptors was demonstrated. Thus, a defect(s) is present in complex carbohydrate distribution and staining that involves primary and secondary granules and possibly the plasmalemma of neutrophils from this patient. This results in abnormal packaging of primary granules and synthesis of normal numbers of secondary granules that are qualitatively and morphologically abnormal, but can be recruited to degranulate with PMA.
Effect of Acute Intermittent CPAP Depressurization during Sleep in Obese Patients.

Background Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) describes intermittent collapse of the airway during sleep, for which continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is often prescribed for treatment. Prior studies suggest that discontinuation of CPAP leads to a gradual, rather than immediate return of baseline severity of OSA. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of OSA recurrence during short intervals of CPAP depressurization during sleep. Methods Nine obese (BMI = 40.4 ± 3.5) subjects with severe OSA (AHI = 88.9 ± 6.8) adherent to CPAP were studied during one night in the sleep laboratory. Nasal CPAP was delivered at therapeutic (11.1 ± 0.6 cm H20) or atmospheric pressure, in alternating fashion for 1-hour periods during the night. We compared sleep architecture and metrics of OSA during CPAP-on and CPAP-off periods. Results 8/9 subjects tolerated CPAP withdrawal. The average AHI during CPAP-on and CPAP-off periods was 3.6 ± 0.6 and 15.8 ± 3.6 respectively (p<0.05). The average 3% ODI during CPAP-on and CPAP-off was 4.7 ± 2 and 20.4 ± 4.7 respectively (p<0.05). CPAP depressurization also induced more awake (p<0.05) and stage N1 (p<0.01) sleep, and less stage REM (p<0.05) with a trend towards decreased stage N3 (p = 0.064). Conclusion Acute intermittent depressurization of CPAP during sleep led to deterioration of sleep architecture but only partial re-emergence of OSA. These observations suggest carryover effects of CPAP.
Toward a Man-Machine Interactive System for Project Scheduling

A preliminary man-machine interactive system for project scheduling is described in which computer graphics facilities are combined with a heuristic program for allocating resources to activities in a project network. The user can quickly generate feasible schedules and graphically display the results on a cathode ray tube. By means of a light pen and tablet, he can adjust resource levels, change scheduling parameters or modify program heuristics, and readily determine the effects of these changes on the project schedule. The combination of man’s intuitive skills and the computer’s computational powers enhances the effectiveness of both in searching for good project schedules.
Comparative strength of women's movements over time: conceptual, empirical, and theoretical innovations

ABSTRACTWomen's movements in Western democracies have a long history, yet there are few conclusions we can draw with confidence about their trajectories over the decades. In recent years, scholars have begun to use conceptual tools that allow for more valid and reliable comparison across a variety of temporal, sectoral, and cultural contexts. Such efforts are necessary to construct sound theory about women's movements, their characteristics, and their impacts. This article contributes to these ongoing efforts by further developing the concept of movement strength in terms of mobilization and institutionalization as a more promising way to compare variations in women's movement change. The analysis begins with current scholarship on women's movements as well as the concepts developed by the Research Network on Gender Politics and the State (RNGS) project to offer a new and arguably more reliable and valid way of studying changes in movement strength. Using RNGS data on movements in 13 Western democracies, ...
Prevalence of metatarsus adductus in patients undergoing hallux valgus surgery.

Background:Metatarsus adductus (MA) is a congenital condition in which there is adduction of the metatarsals in conjunction with supination of the hindfoot through the subtalar joint. It is generally believed that MA precedes the development of hallux valgus. Historically, studies have demonstrated that patients with a history of MA were ~3.5 times more likely to develop hallux valgus. The purpose of this study was to identify the relative prevalence of MA in patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic hallux valgus.Methods:Between 2002 and 2012, 587 patients who underwent hallux valgus surgery were retrospectively identified following IRB approval and parameters including the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and the metatarsus adductus angle (MAA) were recorded. The MAA was considered abnormal if the value was greater than 20 degrees. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability studies for the measurement of the MAA were completed as well.Results:Using the modified Sgarlato tec...
Collaboration between a drug information center and an academic detailing program

Purpose The collaboration between a drug information center (DIC) and an academic detailing program is described. Methods An agreement was reached between the South Carolina Offering Prescribing Excellence (SCORxE) academic detailing program and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Drug Information Center (DIC) to provide responses to drug information (DI) questions pharmacists received on academic detailing visits. Questions received were analyzed to determine the impact that the collaboration had on MUSC DIC requests. Results From May 2009 to October 2012, the MUSC DIC answered 2727 DI questions, 62 (2.3%) of which were generated by SCORxE. Compared with DIC questions received from other sources, academic detailing questions were more likely to be therapeutic consultations, reference searches, or dosage queries and less likely to be about formulation or drug interactions. When comparing the deadline for the 62 academic detailing requests with the deadline for all other requests, the academic detailing requests allowed for a longer median time to deadline per request (21.2 days versus 27.1 hours). The majority of SCORxE questions (68%) were completed by students or residents. Benefits of the collaboration for the DIC included advanced educational opportunities for learners, increased dissemination of provided information, external funding, and scholarship opportunities. SCORxE has benefited from increased access to information and efficiency. Conclusion Collaboration between an academic detailing program and an academic medical center DIC has proven beneficial for both parties. Questions have been communicated by a simple and effective process and have required more research than queries received from other sources.
An analysis of anti-HIV detection results in 2006-2009 in Daxing District,Beijing

Objective:To understand the HIV infective condition in different high risk people,from 2006 to 2009,Daxing CDC of Beijing tested Anti-HIV 19758 persons to provide scienific basis for HIV prevention and control in future.Methods: According to GB16000-1995,WS213-2008 and other standards,we tested samples. Results: 63 persons in 19758 were founded as positive results,the total infection rate is 0.32%.There is higher infection rate in VCT persons and persons on drugs,males are more than females,positive persons are almost young people.Conclusion: Infection rate in high risk people is obviously higher than common people,and different people have different infection rate,we must take effective measures to decrease the infection rate in future.
Models of energy homeostasis in response to maintenance of reduced body weight.

Objective To test three proposed models for adaptive thermogenesis in compartments of energy expenditure following different degrees of weight loss. Specifically, (1) there is no adaptive thermogenesis [constant relationship of energy expenditure (EE) to metabolic mass]. (2) There is a fixed degree of adaptive thermogenesis once fat stores are below a “threshold.” (3) The degree of adaptive thermogenesis is proportional to weight loss. Methods The relationship between weight loss and EE was examined in 17 inpatient subjects with stable weight and obesity studied at usual weight and again following a 10% and a 20% weight loss. Results Following initial weight loss (10%), resting (REE) and non-resting (NREE) EE were significantly below those predicted on the basis of the amount and composition of weight lost. Further reductions below predicted values of NREE but not REE occurred following an additional 10% weight loss. Changes in body weight, composition, and/or energy stores were significantly correlated with changes in EE. Conclusions All models are applicable to the decline in EE following weight loss. The disproportionate decline in REE is consistent with a threshold model (no change with further weight loss) while the disproportionate decline in NREE is largely reflective of the degree of weight loss.
Conformal model of gravitons

In the description of general covariance, the vierbein and the Lorentz connection can be treated as independent fundamental fields. With the usual gauge Lagrangian, the Lorentz connection is characterized by an asymptotically free running coupling. When running from high energy, the coupling gets large at a scale which can be called the Planck mass. If the Lorentz connection is confined at that scale, the low energy theory can have the Einstein Lagrangian induced at low energy through dimensional transmutation. However, in general there will be new divergences in such a theory and the Lagrangian basis should be expanded. I construct a conformally invariant model with a larger basis size which potentially may have the same property.
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF WRITING INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES: A SYNTHESIS OF THE LITERATURE

Twenty-three single-subject studies aimed at improving the writing achievement of students identified as having a learning disability were analyzed meta-analytically. The effect size phi was used to compare the writing strategies. The dependent measures used to assess the efficacy of the interventions were also coded and reviewed. Results suggest intervention studies using the self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) or a non-SRSD writing strategy produced high effect sizes, suggesting the overall success of the writing interventions. Findings also indicate the 23 studies used a total of 39 dependent measures, which show the way writing achievement is measured varies greatly. Furthermore, many of the dependent measures were not standardized or technically sound.
Nutritional control of antibiotic production by Streptomyces platensis MA7327: importance of l -aspartic acid

Streptomyces platensis MA7327 is a bacterium producing interesting antibiotics, which act by the novel mechanism of inhibiting fatty acid biosynthesis. The antibiotics produced by this actinomycete are platensimycin and platencin plus some minor related antibiotics. Platensimycin and platencin have activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus; they also lack toxicity in animal models. Platensimycin also has activity against diabetes in a mouse model. We have been interested in studying the effects of primary metabolites on production of these antibiotics in our chemically defined production medium. In the present work, we tested 32 primary metabolites for their effect. They included 20 amino acids, 7 vitamins and 5 nucleic acid derivatives. Of these, only l-aspartic acid showed stimulation of antibiotic production. We conclude that the stimulatory effect of aspartic acid is due to its role as a precursor involved in the biosynthesis of aspartate-4-semialdehyde, which is the starting point for the biosynthesis of the 3-amino-2,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid portion of the platensimycin molecule.
Decoupling in random linear estimation

The problem linear estimation problem has applications in linear regression, communications, compressed sensing, and machine learning. In recent work, we have provided a rigorous characterization of mutual information (MI) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) in the large system limit. In this talk, we address a phenomenon known as the decoupling principle, which says that the posterior distribution on subset of the signal can be well approximated by the product of the marginals. In particular, we discuss how a weak form of this decoupling used in our proof of the MI and MMSE can be extended to prove results that has been predicted using the heuristic replica method from statistical physics.
Youth Suicide Deaths: Investigation of Clinical Predictors in a Statewide Sample.

Death by suicide is a significant cause of mortality among youth. However, there is limited information on the demographic and clinical factors associated with youth suicide deaths. The objective of this study was to link large statewide databases to describe demographic, clinical, and cause of death characteristics among youth who died by suicide. We examined 1,218 decedents under age 26 who died by suicie between 2000 and 2014. Eighteen died before age 12, 53 died between ages 12 and 14, 292 died between ages 15 and 18, and 855 died between ages 19 and 25. Most were male (83%), and firearm was most common cause of death; 28% previously attempted suicide, 31% had a mental health diagnosis, and 17% were prescribed psychotropic medication. Younger children died by hanging/smothering (89% of all 7- to 11-year olds), and overdose/poisoning increased progressively with age. Adolescents had a higher proportion of females than young adults (23% vs. 14%, p = .002). Combining data from the medical examiner and large hospital systems allows examination of youth suicide from a developmental perspective. Differences between age groups included gender, method, diagnosed mental illness, and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These data point to missed opportunities for effective interventions for specific developmental stages.
Effect of magnesium on the osteogenesis of normal human osteoblasts.

Biomaterials containing magnesium are used for implants and bone regeneration. However, mechanisms underlying the biologic effects of magnesium are still largely unknown and have not been examined on normal human osteoblasts. This study was designed to test the effect of supplemented Mg2+ concentrations between 0.5 mM and 16 mM on the osteogenic behaviors of normal human primary osteoblasts. Human primary osteoblasts were cultured in the groups with various concentrations of supplemented magnesium for various time intervals. Cell proliferation was measured using crystal violet staining. Degree of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured by fluorometric assay. Expression of osteocalcin was measured by immunosorbent assay. Mineralization of cultures was determined by Alizarin Red S staining. Results showed that initial cell attachment efficiency was not affected by supplemented Mg2+ (P > 0.05). At 21 days, proliferation rates increased in groups containing 0.5 mM-4 mM supplemented Mg2+ and decreased in groups of supplemented 8 mM and 16 mM Mg2+. ALP activity and osteocalcin expression were upregulated in groups of supplemented Mg2+ between 0.5 mM-2.0 mM (P < 0.05), but downregulated in groups with supplemented Mg2+ concentrations of 4mM and above (P < 0.05). Cultures with 1 mM and 2 mM supplemented Mg2+ showed upregulated mineralization activity compared to the control (P < 0.05), but downregulated in groups with supplemented Mg2+ concentrations of 4 mM and above (P < 0.05). The present study based on an experimental design demonstrated the impact of 2 mM supplemented Mg2+ on induced-proliferation and differentiation of normal human osteoblasts.
full-FORCE: A target-based method for training recurrent networks

Trained recurrent networks are powerful tools for modeling dynamic neural computations. We present a target-based method for modifying the full connectivity matrix of a recurrent network to train it to perform tasks involving temporally complex input/output transformations. The method introduces a second network during training to provide suitable "target" dynamics useful for performing the task. Because it exploits the full recurrent connectivity, the method produces networks that perform tasks with fewer neurons and greater noise robustness than traditional least-squares (FORCE) approaches. In addition, we show how introducing additional input signals into the target-generating network, which act as task hints, greatly extends the range of tasks that can be learned and provides control over the complexity and nature of the dynamics of the trained, task-performing network.
Dietary protocols that maximize fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) efficiency to assess patients with suspected sarcoidosis.

2722 Objectives Cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis can be determined by using F18-FDG PET/CT as long as a patient preparation is adhered to. There are two diet protocols for the patient preparation that help give the study reliability, including a low carbohydrate combined with fasting and a high fat, low carbohydrate diet. Although studies conflict as to which is the more reliable preparation the one that is easiest for the patient will improve patient cooperation. Making the preparation as easy as possible for the patient will give the best results for the images. It is important to find the most reliable preparation because cardiac sarcoidosis is challenging to detect and because finding ways to increase the ability to examine patients with this disease will decrease future fatalities. Methods Methods: Several journal articles were reviewed pertaining to the different dietary protocols for the FDG-PET/CT for detecting sarcoidosis. Results Results: Both the low carbohydrate and the low carbohydrate, high fat diets attempt to reduce glucose-based metabolism to avoid false positive studies. According to a compilation of journals, adhering to the low carbohydrate diet is more feasible for patients, which in turn offers a more reliable study. To increase cooperation, it is crucial to give the patient an adequate amount of attention. Preliminary and follow up meetings and or phone calls between the technologist and the patient should be scheduled to make certain the patient is following the instructions for patient preparation. These steps will help ensure that the diet is followed appropriately and the study remains effective. Conclusions Conclusion: According to these several journal articles and protocols as long as steps are being taken to ensure patient cooperation the low carbohydrate diet prior to 18F-FDG injection should be considered a useful protocol in order to complete an effective study for patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis
Dose Finding for Drug Combination in Early Cancer Phase I Trials Using Conditional Continual Reassessment Method

We describe a dose escalation algorithm for drug combinations in cancer phase I clinical trials. Parametric models for describing the association between the doses and the probability of dose limiting toxicity are used assuming univariate monotonicity of the dose-toxicity relationship. Trial design proceeds using the continual reassessment method, where at each stage of the trial, we seek the dose of one agent with estimated probability of toxicity closest to a target probability of toxicity given the current dose of the other agent. A Bayes estimate of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) curve is proposed at the conclusion of the trial for continuous doses or a set of MTDs is determined in the case of discrete dose levels. We evaluate design operating characteristics in terms of safety of the trial and percent of dose recommendation at dose combination neighborhoods around the true MTD under various model generated scenarios and misspecification. The method is further assessed for varying algorithms enrolling cohorts of two and three patients receiving different doses and compared to previous approaches such as escalation with overdose control and two-dimensional design.
A new species, new synonymy and new records of Mexican and Central American Xyleborini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

Coptoborus silviasalasi Atkinson, new species is described from Oaxaca, Mexico. New synonyms include: Dryocoetoides capucinus Eichhoff, 1869 ( =monachus Blandford, 1898) and Taurodemus sharpi Blandford, 1898 (= sharpi lenis Wood, 1974). Significant new distribution records are given for Xyleborini from Mexico and Central America.
Changes in [3H]Forskolin Binding to Adenylate Cyclase and [3H]Phorbol Dibutyrate Binding to Protein Kinase C in Pentobarbital Tolerant/Dependent Rats

These studies were designed to examine the effect of chronic administration of pentobarbital on activity of adenylate cyclase (AC) and protein kinase C (PKC) in the rat brain by autoradiography. Recently, it has been suggested that the phosphorylation of specific proteins may be involved in the development of physical dependence. An experimental model of barbiturate tolerance and dependence was developed using i.c.v. infusion of pentobarbital (300 μg/ 10 μl/hr for 7 days) by osmotic minipumps and abrupt withdrawal from pentobarbital. The levels of [3H]forskolin binding were elevated (28–67%) in cortex, thalamus, dentate gyrus, hippocampal CA3 and cerebellum of the pentobarbital withdrawal animals, while these changes were not observed in tolerant rats. The levels of [3H]phorbol dibutyrate binding were highly elevated (38–65%) in the region of cortex, caudate putamen, septum, thalamus, dentate gyrus, and cerebellum of rats withdrawal from pentobarbital. These results show that the levels of AC and PKC were significantly elevated in pentobarbital withdrawal rats, and suggest that the levels of AC and PKC are altered in a region-specific manner during pentobarbital withdrawal.
Statistical Inference Focusing on a Single Mean

Statistical inference is to infer whether or not the observed sample data are evidencing the population characteristics of interest. If the whole population data were gathered collectively then there is no room for uncertainty about the population due to a sampling and the statistical inference is unnecessary. It is ideal but unrealistic to collect the whole population data and complete the investigation solely by descriptive data analysis. For this reason, a smaller size of sample data set than that of the whole population is gathered for an investigation. Since the sample data set does not populate the entire population, it is not identical to the population. This chapter will discuss the relationship between the population and sample by addressing (1) the uncertainty and errors in the sample, (2) underpinnings that are necessary for a sound understanding of the applied methods of statistical inference, (3) forms and paradigms of drawing inference, and (4) good study design as a solution to minimize the unavoidable errors contained in the sampling.
Morbidity Associated with Air Pollution

Numerous population studies have shown associations between community air pollution levels and various indices of morbidity. Mixtures of sulfur oxides and particulates (sulfur dioxide vapors, sulfuric acid and its ammonium salts, and other particulate matter) have been associated with increased rates of respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions for respiratory diseases, clinic visits, work-days lost, and persistent reductions in lung function. Ozone has been associated with transient reductions in lung function in healthy persons and increased symptom rates among persons with asthma. Carbon monoxide causes more rapid onset of angina and electrocardiographic pattern abnormalities among cardiovascular patients. Lead has been associated with a variety of neurobehavioral and functional deficits in children, including reductions in intelligence quotient, delayed developmental rates, increased postural sway, and reduced hearing acuity. In adults, lead has been associated with elevated blood pressures.
An asymptotic analysis of speedup learning

Based on a simple asymptotic analysis, this paper presents two observations regarding the state-of-the-art in speedup learning. First, reducing the match cost of control rules to a polynomial or even linear function of rule length does not guarantee polynomial-time problem solving or any speedup for that matter. Hence, the elimination expensive control rules is not guaranteed to solve the utility problem. Second, augmenting a problem solver's operator set with macro-operators can increase the branching factor of the problem solver's search. The overhead of this increase, even when it occurs only in a vanishingly small fraction of the problems encountered, dominates any search reduction on the remaining problems. Thus, acquiring macro-operators is guaranteed to slow down a problem solver, in the limit, unless the macros modify the topology of the search space so that sufficient search-depth reduction accompanies branching-factor increase, everywhere.
Biological Effects of Electric Fields: An Overview

Extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields, many times above ambient levels, occur in the vicinity of existing and proposed energy generating, storage and transmission systems. Concern over possible deleterious health effects due to exposure to these electromagnetic fields was first expressed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In an early Soviet study, a variety of neurological symptoms, including headaches, excitability, fatigue, and nausea, were reported in workers at ultra-high-voltage (>345 kV) switchyard stations (Asanova and Rakov, 1966; Korobkova et al., 1972). Although it is not possible to conclude that the reported functional changes resulted from exposure to the electromagnetic fields, the research findings led to additional research in the USSR and throughout the rest of the world. Numerous studies were initiated in a wide range of investigations to assess the potential biological consequences of exposure to static and ELF electromagnetic radiation (e.g., Singewald et al., 1973; deLorge and Marr, 1974; Kouwenhoven et al., 1967; Knickerbocker et al., 1967; Graves et al., 1979; Knave et al., 1979; Cerretelli et al., 1979; Phillips et al., 1979a; 1981). These studies included epidemiological investigations of people exposed, both occupationally and nonoccupationally, to electric fields, as well as experiments on laboratory animals.
Bone as the Calcium Nutrient Reserve

In addition to its obvious structural role, the skeleton is an important reservoir of calcium, serving both to maintain plasma calcium concentrations and to make optimal use of ingested calcium. It serves both functions mainly by adjusting the balance between bone formation (which transfers mineral from blood to bone) and bone resorption (which transfers mineral from bone to blood). It is important to stress at the outset that calcium cannot generally be withdrawn from bone per se; instead, it is scavenged from the tearing down of structural bony units. Thus, reduction in skeletal calcium reserves is equivalent to reduction in bone mass, and augmentation of the reserve is equivalent to augmentation of bone mass.
Identification of Substandard and Falsified Antimalarial Pharmaceuticals Chloroquine, Doxycycline, and Primaquine Using Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering

Falsified antimalarial pharmaceuticals are a worldwide problem with negative public health implications. Here, we develop a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) protocol to recognize substandard and falsified antimalarial drugs present in commercially available tablets. After recording SERS spectra for pure chloroquine, primaquine, and doxycycline, SERS is used to measure these drugs formulated as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the presence of common pharmaceutical caplet excipients. To demonstrate the viability of our approach, a red team study was also performed where low-quality and falsified formulations of all three drugs presented as unknowns were identified. These data in conjunction with promising results from a portable Raman spectrometer suggest that SERS is a viable technique for on-site analysis of drug quality.
The Parthian rival and Rome’s failure in the East: Roman propaganda and the stain of Crassus

The consequences of Crassus’ invasion of Mesopotamia in 54–53 BCE were unanticipated and unintended; however, his disastrous failure shocked the Roman world and suddenly established the Parthians as a serious rival to Rome. Moreover, the shame the Romans felt after the Battle of Carrhae was considerable. The battle scarred the Roman psyche and severely damaged the Roman ego. This study synthesizes and investigates what became a vicious and virulent Roman literary tradition of anti-Crassus propaganda, examining how numerous Roman writers over the course of numerous centuries used the dead and disgraced Crassus as a convenient scapegoat to help explain Rome’s failure to dominate the East and subdue the Parthian rival. It demonstrates that these writers ignored the legitimate causes for the First Romano-Parthian War (56 BCE – 1 CE), which Crassus had inherited, and illustrates that the disaster at Carrhae became a popular moralizing lesson about the consequences of greed, impiety, and hubris.
ROUTINE ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BASILIC VENOUS ACCESS WITH 7F CATHETERS FOR RIGHT HEART CATHETERIZATION

Right Heart Catheterization (RHC) by femoral approach is associated with several complications and thus delayed discharge. Ultrasound-guided access has been demonstrated to decrease vascular complications, the number of attempts and access time. Antecubital peripheral venous access has been
Weed control with herbicide-coated or -blended fertilizer in 'August Beauty' gardenia.

Abstract Prostrate spurge (Euphorbia maculata L.) control and injury to container-grown ‘August Beauty’ gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) were evaluated using Ronstar 50WP (oxadiazon) or Pennan...
Homonymy and Sound Change in the Child's Acquisition of Phonology

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses homonymy and sound change in the child's acquisition of phonology. The vocal tract, through the medium of phonetic features, is capable of furnishing sufficient units (phonemes) to create enough distinctive phonological shapes (words) for lexical communication to take place efficiently. The phonological units and rules of a language will permit far more distinctive shapes than are actually represented in the lexicon of that language. Children's error-produced homonyms are not likely to come to their attention, as language contains a number of homonyms anyway, as one the alternate meanings of a surface form are not typically thought of, and because children characteristically are unaware that their utterances differ from their internal representations. It is clear that children commonly delete phonemic segments, perceptibly replacing them with another phoneme or with silence. These errors, which usually are systematic, have the capability of making the intended word sound like an unintended one.
Mandatory Arbitration as an Employer's Contractual Prerogative: The Efficiency Challenge to Equal Employment

The Supreme Court’s classification of mandatory employee arbitration policies as contracts has severely impeded the vindication of employee antidiscrimination rights in derogation of the statutory scheme. The Court has in effect decided that rights expressly granted to employees do not operate as a restraint on employers' contractual liberty if employees can vindicate those rights in arbitration using alternative processes. After reviewing the historical conditions that led to the enactment of various antidiscrimination statutes, the article weighs a history of employer abuses against potential social conditions supporting enforcement (e.g., deters fraudulent suits). The article concludes that these agreements should only be enforced when they are voluntary, bargained-for, and supported by consideration to the employee.
Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Potential Fire Retardant for Polymer Composites

The flammability of synthetic thermoplastic polymers has been recognized as an increasingly important safety problem. The goal of this study was to evaluate a green and safe fire-retardant system comprising of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO). CNCs coated with nano ZnO were incorporated in the high-density polyethylene polymer (HDPE) matrix at different concentrations. Fire testing results of different formulations of HDPE containing 0.4 to 1.0% zinc oxide coated CNC exhibited a substantial decrease in the average mass loss, peak heat release rate and total smoke release. The time to ignition exhibited a positive correlation with CNC-ZnO concentration. Modest improvement in the flexural strength and moduli of composites was noticed validating no adverse effects of CNC-ZnO complex. The transmission electron microscopy further confirmed dispersion of nanoparticles as well as the presence of some nanoparticle aggregates in the matrix. The uniform dispersion of CNC-ZnO complex is expected to further improve fire and mechanical properties of polymer.
"They are talking from the Encyclopedia Britannica brain": diabetes patients' perceptions of barriers to communicating with physicians

Understanding patients’ beliefs about their role communicating in medical visits is an important pre-requisite to encourage patients’ use of active participatory communication, and these beliefs may be particularly relevant for patients with diabetes. Focus groups were conducted to examine patients with diabetes view of their role communicating in medical encounters. Patients had type 2 diabetes, A1C ≥ 8% (64 mmol/mol), and were from an inner-city VA hospital. Guiding questions for the focus groups were based on theoretical models of patient-physician communication. Focus group transcripts were analyzed with the constant comparative method. Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 20 male Veterans. Participants mean age was 61 years, 65% self-identified as black or African-American, 80% completed high school or higher education, and mean A1C was 10.3% (89 mmol/mol). Eight themes were identified as to why patients might have difficulty communicating with physicians. These themes were grouped into three overarching categories explaining reasons why patients might avoid participatory communication and included patients’ view about their condition; about physician’s communication behaviors; and about external influences on patient-physician communication. For example, patients described how use of the EHR may deter patients’ use of active participatory communication. These results are important for understanding how patients’ use of active participatory communication is influenced by their beliefs and expectations, physicians’ behaviors, and structural factors. The results may be useful for educational efforts to increase patient, physician, and healthcare systems awareness of problems that patients perceive when communicating with physicians.
Receipt of Survivorship Care Plans and Self-Reported Health Status among Patients with Genitourinary Malignancy.

Purpose:Implementation of survivorship care plans has been emphasized as a key component to improving care for cancer survivors. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of survivorship care p...
Epigenetic Changes During Human Thyroid Cell Differentiation.

Objective: It has been demonstrated that the transcription factors TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif), paired box gene 8 (PAX8), and NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2-1) are coexpressed in...
Creation of discrete active site domains via mesoporous silica poly(styrene) composite materials for incompatible acid–base cascade reactions

This work highlights the design and synthesis of bifunctional mesoporous silicate – polymer composite dual acid–base supported cascade catalysts. Compartmentalization of the two incompatible active sites is sought by segregating acid sites on the silica surface, and base sites within polymer chains and/or polymer domains. The ability to isolate and segregate active sites via control of the mesoporous silica pore size and polymer molecular weight is probed with silica samples functionalized by a grafting-to process. Supplemental activator and reducing agent (SARA) atom transfer radical polymerization is used to synthesize random copolymers containing protected primary amines. Thiol–ene ‘click’ chemistry facilitates silica functionalization via a convergent approach, with the ene-functionalized polymer end group and silica-grafted thiols forming SBA/MCM-SH-poly(styrene-co-2-(4-vinylbenzyl)isoindoline-1,3-dione). Polymer deprotection and thiol oxidation produces primary amine/sulfonic acid containing composite catalysts. With the polymer supported Lewis base and silica grafted Bronsted acid, the two-step deacetalization – Knoevenagel condensation cascade is explored to assess the ability of these polymer/silica hybrids to segregate active sites, allowing both acid and base site accessibility. Six composite catalysts are synthesized and tested in individual and cascade reactions with kinetic results demonstrating that lower molecular weight SBA-15-P1 and MCM-41-P1 catalysts outperform (higher turnover frequencies and initial rates) their higher molecular weight analogues, as well as a polymer-free system containing molecular active sites dispersed on the silica surface. Higher molecular weight composite catalysts perform more poorly due to limited chain solubility, mass transfer limitations, and poor catalyst accessibility. In many cases, the polymer chains effectively thread into the mesopores, with higher molecular weight polymers leading to pore blockage and inhibited mass transfer.
Pediatric Oncologists’ Experiences Returning and Incorporating Genomic Sequencing Results into Cancer Care

Pediatric oncologists' perspectives around returning and incorporating tumor and germline genomic sequencing (GS) results into cancer care are not well-described. To inform optimization of cancer genomics communication, we assessed oncologists' experiences with return of genomic results (ROR), including their preparation/readiness for ROR, collaboration with genetic counselors (GCs) during ROR, and perceived challenges. The BASIC3 study paired pediatric oncologists with GCs to return results to patients' families. We thematically analyzed 24 interviews with 12 oncologists at two post-ROR time points. Oncologists found pre-ROR meetings with GCs and geneticists essential to interpreting patients' reports and communicating results to families. Most oncologists took a collaborative ROR approach where they discussed tumor findings and GCs discussed germline findings. Oncologists perceived many roles for GCs during ROR, including answering families' questions and describing information in lay language. Challenges identified included conveying uncertain information in accessible language, limits of oncologists' genetics expertise, and navigating families' emotional responses. Oncologists emphasized how GCs' and geneticists' support was essential to ROR, especially for germline findings. GS can be successfully integrated into cancer care, but to account for the GC shortage, alternative ROR models and access to genetics resources will be needed to better support families and avoid burdening oncologists.
Irreplaceable Role of Amendment-Based Strategies to Enhance Soil Health and Disease Suppression in Potato Production

Soilborne diseases are a major constraining factor to soil health and plant health in potato production. In the toolbox of crop management, soil amendments have shown benefits to control these diseases and improve soil quality. Most amendments provide nutrients to plants and suppress multiple soilborne pathogens. Soil amendments are naturally derived materials and products and can be classified into fresh or living plants, organic or inorganic matters, and microbial supplements. Fresh plants have unique functions and continuously exude chemicals to interact with soil microbes. Organic and inorganic matter contain high levels of nutrients, including nitrogen and carbon that plants and soil microorganisms need. Soil microorganisms, whether being artificially added or indigenously existing, are a key factor in plant health. Microbial communities can be considered as a biological reactor in an ecosystem, which suppress soilborne pathogens in various mechanisms and turn soil organic matter into absorbable forms for plants, regardless of amendment types. Therefore, soil amendments serve as an energy input, nutrient source, and a driving force of microbial activities. Advanced technologies, such as microbiome analyses, make it possible to analyze soil microbial communities and soil health. As research advances on mechanisms and functions, amendment-based strategies will play an important role in enhancing soil health and disease suppression for better potato production.
IMAGEimate - An End-to-End Pipeline to Create Realistic Animatable 3D Avatars from a Single Image Using Neural Networks

Current advances in image based 3D human shape estimation and parametric human models enable creating realistic 3D virtual humans. We present a pipeline which takes advantage of these models and takes a single input image to create realistic 3D animatable avatars. The pipeline extracts shape and pose parameters from the input image and builds an implicit surface representation, which is then fitted onto a parametric human model. This fitted human model is animated to new and novel poses extracting pose parameters from a motion capture dataset. We extend the pipeline showcasing realism and interaction by texture painting it using Substance Painter and embedding it in an AR scene using Adobe Aero respectively.
Fabry’s Disease

Fabry’s disease, also called angiokeratoma corporis diffusum universale, is an X-linked recessive condition of males. It is due to an inborn error of glycolipid metabolism due to a deficiency of the enzyme α-galactosidase and where ceramide trihexose is stored in tissues. Typically, these patients have cutaneous angiokeratomas and whorl-like corneal dystrophy. Painful febrile episodes, renal failure, and cardiovascular disease develop. The accumulation of the ceramide trihexose in tissues creates the clinical picture. In addition to the corneal whorls, there are associated anterior and posterior capsular lens changes, conjunctival vascular changes, and a tortuosity of the retinal vasculature.
The Role of Terminology in Future Health Information Systems

The HealthePeople vision of an electronic health record (EHR) depends upon the meaningful sharing of health data within and between enterprises and across various computer systems. This kind of sharing requires terminologies that are technically advanced and universally implemented. In this chapter, we explain the role of terminology and outline the steps to be taken at the national level to build health information systems to serve us in the future.
Role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and Fas-Fas ligand interaction in morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis.

In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms involved in morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. Both morphine and TGF-β promoted P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, and this phosphorylation was inhibited by SB 202190 as well as by SB 203580. Anti-TGF-β Ab as well as naltrexone (an opiate receptor antagonist) inhibited morphine-induced macrophage P38 MAPK phosphorylation. Anti-TGF-β Ab also attenuated morphine-induced p53 as well as inducible NO synthase expression; in contrast, N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of NO synthase, inhibited morphine-induced P38 MAPK phosphorylation and Bax expression. Morphine also enhanced the expression of both Fas and Fas ligand (FasL), whereas anti-FasL Ab prevented morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. Moreover, naltrexone inhibited morphine-induced FasL expression. In addition, macrophages either deficient in FasL or lacking p53 showed resistance to the effect of morphine. Inhibitors of both caspase-8 and caspase-9 partially prevented the apoptotic effect of morphine on macrophages. In addition, caspase-3 inhibitor prevented morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. These findings suggest that morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis proceeds through opiate receptors via P38 MAPK phosphorylation. Both TGF-β and inducible NO synthase play an important role in morphine-induced downstream signaling, which seems to activate proteins involved in both extrinsic (Fas and FasL) and intrinsic (p53 and Bax) cell death pathways.
Genetics Evaluation Guidelines for the Etiologic Diagnosis of Congenital Hearing Loss

The advent of hearing screening in newborns in many states has led to an increase in the use of genetic testing and related genetic services in the follow-up of infants with hearing loss. A significant proportion of those with congenital hearing loss have genetic etiologies underlying their hearing loss. To ensure that those identified with congenital hearing loss receive the genetic services appropriate to their conditions, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration funded the American College of Medical Genetics to convene an expert panel to develop guidelines for the genetic evaluation of congenital hearing loss. After a brief overview of the current knowledge of hearing loss, newborn screening, and newborn hearing screening, we provide an overview of genetic services and a guideline that describes how best to ensure that patients receive appropriate genetic services. The significant contribution of genetic factors to these conditions combined with the rapid evolution of knowledge about the genetics of these conditions overlaid with the inherently multidisciplinary nature of genetic services provides an example of a condition for which a well-integrated multidisciplinary approach to care is clearly needed.