cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purified Recombinant Fmrp Exhibits Selective RNA Binding as an Intrinsic Property of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene due to a trinucleotide repeat expansion. The encoded protein, Fmrp, has been found to be a nucleocytoplasmic RNA-binding protein containing both KH domains and RGG boxes that associates with polyribosomes as a ribonucleoprotein particle. RNA binding has previously been demonstrated with in vitro-translated Fmrp; however, it remained uncertain whether the selective RNA binding observed was an intrinsic property of Fmrp or required an associated protein(s). Here, baculovirus-expressed and affinity-purified FLAG-tagged murine Fmrp was shown to bind directly to both ribonucleotide homopolymers and human brain mRNA. FLAG-Fmrp exhibited selectivity for binding poly(G) > poly(U) > > poly(C) or poly(A). Moreover, purified FLAG-Fmrp bound to only a subset of brain mRNA, including the 3* untranslated regions of myelin basic protein message and its own message. Recombinant isoform 4, lacking the RGG boxes but maintaining both KH domains, was also purified and was found to only weakly interact with RNA. FLAG-purified I304N Fmrp, harboring the mutation of severe fragile X syndrome, demonstrated RNA binding, in contrast to previous suggestions. These data demonstrate the intrinsic property of Fmrp to selectively bind RNA and show FLAG-Fmrp as a suitable reagent for structural characterization and identification of cognate RNA ligands.
COMPUTATION OF DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE SEED IMPLANTS

An interactive treatment planning program for the computation of dose distributions for 125I and 192Ir seed implants of up to 300 sources is described. The seed coordinates are entered using either the keyboard or a sonic digitizer from either orthogonal or stereo films. The program produces a dose matrix which can be displayed and plotted directly or combined with the putput of other treatment planning programs to provide composite plans for treatments using multiple modalities. Seeds of different activities can be combined within a single plan. The program uses two-letter mnemonics for specifying the available options, among which are commands for choosing standard antero-posterior, lateral, and transverse plans.
k-Arc Hamilton graphs

A simple graph is a k-arc Hamilton graph if every arc of length k is contained in a Hamilton circuit. Various conditions are given for a graph to be k-arc Hamilton. Results of Kronk, Posa and of Chvatal and Erdos are generalized.
Shorter stay, longer life: age at migration and mortality among the older Mexican-origin population.

Objectives: In this article, we investigate the association between age at migration and mortality during a 13-year period in a sample of Mexican American immigrants 65 and older at baseline. Method: We employ the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-PESE) to control for mortality-related health and social factors. Results: Our analyses show that the immigrant generation does not represent a homogeneous mortality risk category. Individuals who migrated to the United States in mature adulthood have a considerably lower risk of death than individuals who migrated in childhood or midlife. Chronic conditions or functional capacity do not account for these differences. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that standard risk pools may differ significantly on the basis of genetic and unmeasured life-course factors. A better understanding of the late-life immigrant mortality advantage has important implications for more effective and targeted social and medical interventions.
New series representation for the madelung constant

A new series for the Madelung constant M is derived on the basis of a representation given by Crandall [Exp. Math. 8 (1999), 367]. We are able to write it in the form M = C+S, where S is a rapidly convergent series, and the constant C is fundamental: C=-1/8-ln2/4π-4π/3+1/2√(1/8)Γ(3/8) π 3/2 √2 -1.747564594... The remarkable result is that even if S is discarded, the constant C alone gives ten significant figures of M. This result advances the state of the art in the discovery of what Crandall has termed close calls to an exact Madelung evaluation. We present related identities and discuss how this fundamental ten-digit accuracy might be improved further.
Further Validation of a Psychiatric Symptom Index in a Normal Population

A shortened version of the Hopkins Symptom Distress Checklist was constructed for use in a Chicago survey of stress and coping and administered to a cross-section of 2,299 non-patient adults. Labeled the Psychiatric Symptom Index, it measures intensity of 29 different symptoms and allows retrospective self-report of their duration for those respondents reporting high symptoms. This paper reports on the rationale of its construction and on its concurrent validity. For the general adult population the responses to the Index, when factor analyzed, break very clearly into four syndromes: depression, anxiety, anger, cognitive disturbance. Concurrent validity is tested by three criteria: having sought out professional help for emotional problems, having recently used psychoactive drugs, and interviewers' rating respondents' degree of tension. These criteria are significantly related to the Psychiatric Symptom Index and to each of its four syndrome factors.
The signaling helix: a common functional theme in diverse signaling proteins

Background The mechanism by which the signals are transmitted between receptor and effector domains in multi-domain signaling proteins is poorly understood.
Suppression of protein kinase C theta contributes to enhanced myogenesis In vitro via IRS1 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation

Differentiation and fusion of skeletal muscle myoblasts into multi-nucleated myotubes is required for neonatal development and regeneration in adult skeletal muscle. Herein, we report novel findings that protein kinase C theta (PKCθ) regulates myoblast differentiation via phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and ERK1/2. In this study, PKCθ knockdown (PKCθshRNA) myotubes had reduced inhibitory insulin receptor substrate-1 ser1095 phosphorylation, enhanced myoblast differentiation and cell fusion, and increased rates of protein synthesis as determined by [3H] phenylalanine incorporation. Phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 ser632/635 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) was increased in PKCθshRNA cells, with no change in ERK5 phosphorylation, highlighting a PKCθ-regulated myogenic pathway. Inhibition of PI3-kinase prevented cell differentiation and fusion in control cells, which was attenuated in PKCθshRNA cells. Thus, with reduced PKCθ, differentiation and fusion occur in the absence of PI3-kinase activity. Inhibition of the ERK kinase, MEK1/2, impaired differentiation and cell fusion in control cells. Differentiation was preserved in PKCθshRNA cells treated with a MEK1/2 inhibitor, although cell fusion was blunted, indicating PKCθ regulates differentiation via IRS1 and ERK1/2, and this occurs independently of MEK1/2 activation. Cellular signaling regulating the myogenic program and protein synthesis are complex and intertwined. These studies suggest that PKCθ regulates myogenic and protein synthetic signaling via the modulation of IRS1and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Myotubes lacking PKCθ had increased rates of protein synthesis and enhanced myotube development despite reduced activation of the canonical anabolic-signaling pathway. Further investigation of PKCθ regulated signaling may reveal important interactions regulating skeletal muscle health in an insulin resistant state.
A Review of “Risk Management: Clinical, Ethical, & Legal Guidelines for Successful Practice”

In his book, Risk Management: Clinical, Ethical, & Legal Guidelines for Successful Practice, psychologist William F. Doverspike offers practical guidelines to the clinical professional to help prev...
Stability of fluid–structure thermal simulations on moving grids

This article analyses the stability of a thermally coupled fluid–structure interaction problem with a moving interface. Two types of fluid and structural discretizations are investigated: finite-difference/finite-difference as well as the more traditional finite-volume/finite-element (FV/FE) configuration. In either case, the material properties and grid spacing are treated as uniform within each domain. A theoretical stability analysis and corresponding numerical tests show that greater stability is associated with the algorithm in which the fluid domain is passed a Dirichlet condition and the solid domain a von Neumann condition and that the stability of the coupled scheme may be strongly affected by the interface velocity. Furthermore, it shows that the interface velocity has a larger destabilizing effect on the FV/FE discretization than on a finite-difference/finite-difference discretization. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two of a kind? A canonical correlational study of transformational leadership and authentic leadership

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and authentic leadership (AL) using a canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Design/methodology/approach – The sample was 427 knowledge workers from a Fortune Global 100 company in Korea. Descriptive statistics and CCA were used to test the relationship between the two perceived leadership constructs. Findings – A canonical correlation indicated that the composite of TL (i.e. idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration) was strongly and significantly related to the composite of AL (i.e. transparency, moral/ethical, balanced processing and self-awareness), accounting for 82.3 per cent of the shared variance between the two variable sets. Research limitations/implications – This empirical study was based on employees’ perceptions on the two leadership behaviors of their supervisors, using a cross-sectional survey method. In addition, this stu...
A Framework to Report the Production of Renewable Diesel from Algae

Recently, algae have received significant interest as a potential feedstock for renewable diesel (such as biodiesel), and many researchers have attempted to quantify this potential. Some of these attempts are less useful because they have not incorporated specific values of algal lipid content, have not included processing inefficiencies, or omitted processing steps required for renewable diesel production. Furthermore, the associated energy, materials, and costs requirements are sometimes omitted. The accuracy and applicability of these estimates can be improved by using data that are more specific, including all relevant information for renewable diesel production, and by presenting information with more relevant metrics. To determine whether algae are a viable source for renewable diesel, three questions that must be answered are (1) how much renewable diesel can be produced from algae, (2) what is the financial cost of production, and (3) what is the energy ratio of production? To help accurately answer these questions, we propose an analytical framework and associated nomenclature system for characterizing renewable diesel production from algae. The three production pathways discussed in this study are the transesterification of extracted algal lipids, thermochemical conversion of algal biomass, and conversion of secreted algal oils. The nomenclature system is initially presented from a top-level perspective that is applicable to all production pathways for renewable diesel from algae. Then, the nomenclature is expanded to characterize the production of renewable diesel (specifically, biodiesel) from extracted algal lipids in detail (cf. Appendix 2). The analytical framework uses the presented nomenclature system and includes three main principles: using appropriate reporting metrics, using symbolic notation to represent unknown values, and presenting results that are specific to algal species, growth conditions, and product composition.
Code scheduling and register allocation in large basic blocks

We discuss the issues about the interdependency between code scheduling and register allocation. We present two methods as solutions: (1) an integrated code scheduling technique; and (2) a DAG-driven register allocator. The integrated code scheduling method combines two scheduling techniques—one to reduce pipeline delays and the other to minimize register usage—into a single phase. By keeping track of the number of available registers, the scheduler can choose the appropriate scheduling technique to schedule a better code sequence. The DAG-driven register allocator uses a dependency graph to assist in assigning registers; it introduces much less extra dependency than does an ordinary register allocator. For large basic blocks, both approaches were shown to generate more efficient code sequences than conventional techniques in the simulations.
Sources of evidence for embedded assessment in immersive games

In this poster, we offer a designer's look at how the activities and data of learning and assessment can be structured in immersive virtual game environments called Massively Multi-Player Online Games (MMOG). In doing so, we examine the sources of evidence from which learning and assessment activities are derived in MMOGs, offering examples of how multiple evidence channels in operation through game-based activities can be utilized to construct rich data trails for assessment.
The implications of high‐quality staff break areas for nurses’ health, performance, job satisfaction and retention

Aim The main study objective was to explore policy and design factors contributing to nurses’ perception of how well-designed staff break areas can play an important beneficial role in relation to their overall job satisfaction, retention, performance and job-related health concerns. Background Nurses are extremely valuable to the healthcare industry; however, today's nursing profession is challenged by nurses’ fatigue and its negative consequences on nurses’ health and the quality of patient care they provide. Methods Preliminary interviews were conducted with 10 nurses who worked as consultants in the healthcare design and construction industry. Based on findings, an online survey was developed and distributed to over 10 000 members of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses in the United States. Results The majority of nurses viewed high-quality break spaces as ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ important in terms of their potential to positively influence staff, patient and facility outcomes. Stress, rest breaks and the quality of break areas were some of the significant factors contributing to their perception. Conclusion/implications for nursing management The results of this empirical study support the conclusion that improvements in healthcare facility policies regarding staff breaks, as well as the creation of better-designed break areas, can be of significant benefit for nurses and the patients that they serve.
Are Zebras Simply Striped Horses

Information about a real patient is presented in stages (boldface type) to experts (Drs Olson, Michelena, and Gersh) who respond to the information, sharing their reasoning with the reader (regular type). A discussion by the authors follows . Patient presentation: A 46-year-old man was transferred from an outside facility to our inpatient pulmonary service with alveolar hemorrhage, transfusion-requiring anemia, and incidentally found obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Two weeks earlier, he presented to a regional hospital with persistent cough, progressive dyspnea, orthostasis, and new low-volume hemoptysis. On admission to the outside hospital, the patient was hypoxic and urgently intubated after he failed to respond to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. A bronchoscopy demonstrated blood within the airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) revealed a bloody return containing a large percentage of hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Cytology and cultures of the BAL were negative for infection or malignancy. He was extubated but continued to have intermittent bouts of dyspnea, hypoxia, and bilateral alveolar infiltrates on chest imaging. Therefore, a right lung lower-lobe wedge biopsy was performed. The biopsy specimen was not immediately available for review at the time of transfer but was interpreted elsewhere as demonstrating hemosiderosis without capillaritis. A systolic murmur prompted a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), which reported obstructive HCM. Dr Olson (pulmonary consultant): The constellation of hemoptysis, anemia, diffuse pulmonary parenchymal opacities on chest imaging, and bloody BAL with increased hemosiderin-laden macrophages suggested diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) as the cause of the patient’s hypoxic respiratory failure. DAH refers to bleeding into the alveolar spaces as a result of disruption of the conjoined alveolar-capillary basement membrane.1 DAH may be a result of a wide variety of diseases that are usually grouped into immune-mediated and non–immune-mediated conditions (Table 1).2 The immune-mediated conditions include anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitides, connective tissue diseases, anti-glomerular basement membrane disease, and …
High dose rate brachytherapy with surface applicators: Treatment for nonmelanomatous skin cancer

15543 Background: To assess the use of HDR surface applicators as an alternative radiotherapy modality to external radiation (electrons or low-energy x-rays) for the treatment of skin lesions of th...
Developing the Langer Mindfulness Scale

This article outlines the development of a 14-item measure of socio-cognitive mindfulness. Using 8 samples (including multisource and multi-wave data) with a total of 4,139 responses the authors de...
My Universal Internship (Say \"Yes\")

I got involved with laser and photonics engineering because I thought it would be where I wanted my life to go. I'd work in some lab, improving fiber optics or something. Maybe I'd work for NASA and build something that would travel to Mars. These were the thoughts of a student with no concept of what was really out there. John Lennon wrote in his song "Beautiful Boy" that "Life is what happens when you're making other plans." These words could not be more true.
14 NEONATAL TETANY LEADING TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF MATERNAL HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

Background The neonate is susceptible to hypocalcemia from a variety of etiologies. At particular risk is the low birth weight or premature infant, those born to diabetic mothers and those who have increased perinatal stress. Case Report We report a two week old full term male infant with a 7 day history of twitching, jerking movements of the extremities. The mother reported respiratory and feeding difficulties one day prior to admission. The history was negative for fever, lethargy, emesis or diarrhea. Laboratory analysis revealed a serum calcium 6.3 mg/dL, ionized calcium 0.9 mmol/L, phosphorus 11.3 mg/dL, magnesium 1.2 mg/dL, and albumin 3.2 g/dL. The rest of her metabolic panel, liver function studies, CBC, CRP, chest x-ray, and CT scan of the brain were all within normal limits. The infant was admitted to the PICU and treated with a calcium gluconate infusion. Serum calcium increased to 10.6 mg/dL and phosphorus to 7 mg/dL. Symptoms resolved within 2 days. He was sent home on oral calcium supplements. Further investigation for the hypocalcemia of the infant revealed normal levels of PTH, vitamin D, and thyroid function studies. A workup on the mother was performed and demonstrated increased serum calcium 12.3 mg/dL, phosphorus 1.9 mg/dL, PTH 323 pg/dL (normal 15-75) and vitamin D 10 mg/mL. An ultrasound of the neck and radiothallium scanning revealed a parathyroid adenoma of the right superior gland. Discussion Neonatal hypocalcemia and tetany may be observed as a result of maternal hypercalcemia or hyperparathyroidism. There will generally be a prolonged but temporary suppression of parathyroid function in the infant. Hypocalcemia in a full term baby with no complications in pregnancy or perinatal history should prompt an investigation in the mother.
Hospital efforts in smoking control: remaining barriers and challenges

Background This study reports the barriers and challenges for hospital tobacco control efforts after the institution of smoke-free policies. Methods Surveys of employees and inpatients of five hospitals in Augusta, Georgia, were conducted and evaluated 4 months after joint hospital implementation of smoke-free policies. A random sample of 1997 employees and a convenience sample of 517 inpatients returned usable surveys. Results Although attitudes to the hospital bans on smoking reflected strong support for smoke-free policies, four out of five hospitals reported significant implementation problems. Despite the bans, 49% of patients who were smokers continued to smoke while hospitalized, and almost one half of all hospitalized smokers had received no advice to quit smoking from a physician or a nurse since admission. Employees and patients both agreed that the smoke-free policies had benefited employees more than patients. Conclusions Despite achieving a smoke-free status, there are many challenges that remain for comprehensive hospital tobacco-control efforts. Hospitals and health care professionals must remain particularly alert and attentive to the needs of patients and employees still addicted to tobacco.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor activates microtubule-associated protein 2 kinase in neutrophils via a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway.

Receptors of the hematopoietin superfamily, including the granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor, lack a tyrosine kinase domain as well as other sequences indicative of a known signaling mechanism. In this report, we identify the serine/threonine kinase, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) kinase, as an intermediate in the GM-CSF signal transduction pathway. Treatment of peripheral blood neutrophils or terminally differentiated HL-60 cells with GM-CSF induced a rapid and dose-dependent increase in MAP2 kinase activity. Maximal activity occurred within 5 minutes and the kinetics of the response varied depending on the target cell (prolonged in neutrophils and transient in neutrophilic HL-60 cells). MAP2 kinase activity in these cells correlates with the induction of a 42-Kd tyrosine phosphoprotein. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation is necessary for MAP2 kinase activation since its activity is inhibited by treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erbstatin analog. These data suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation is important in GM-CSF- mediated signal transduction and that MAP2 kinase activation may be a central biochemical event involved in its signaling.
Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

The extinction vortex is a theoretical model describing the process by which extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations owing to interactions between environmental, demographic, and genetic factors. However, empirical demonstrations of these interactions have been elusive. We modelled the dynamics of a small mountain lion population isolated by anthropogenic barriers in greater Los Angeles, California, to evaluate the influence of demographic, genetic, and landscape factors on extinction probability. The population exhibited strong survival and reproduction, and the model predicted stable median population growth and a 15% probability of extinction over 50 years in the absence of inbreeding depression. However, our model also predicted the population will lose 40–57% of its heterozygosity in 50 years. When we reduced demographic parameters proportional to reductions documented in another wild population of mountain lions that experienced inbreeding depression, extinction probability rose to 99.7%. Simulating greater landscape connectivity by increasing immigration to greater than or equal to one migrant per generation appears sufficient to largely maintain genetic diversity and reduce extinction probability. We provide empirical support for the central tenet of the extinction vortex as interactions between genetics and demography greatly increased extinction probability relative to the risk from demographic and environmental stochasticity alone. Our modelling approach realistically integrates demographic and genetic data to provide a comprehensive assessment of factors threatening small populations.
Compliance of the abdominal wall during laparoscopic insufflation

To provide adequate workspace between the viscera and abdominal wall, insufflation with carbon dioxide is a common practice in laparoscopic surgeries. An insufflation pressure of 15 mmHg is considered to be safe in patients, but all insufflation pressures create perioperative and postoperative physiologic effects. As a composition of viscoelastic materials, the abdominal wall should distend in a predictable manner given the pressure of the pneumoperitoneum. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between degree of abdominal distention and the insufflation pressure, with the goal of determining factors which impact the compliance of the abdominal wall. A prospective, IRB-approved study was conducted to video record the abdomens of patients undergoing insufflation prior to a laparoscopic surgery. Photo samples were taken every 5 s, and the strain of the patient’s abdomen in the sagittal plane was determined, as well as the insufflator pressure (stress) at bedside. Patients were insufflated to 15 mmHg. The relationship between the stress and strain was determined in each sample, and compliance of the patient’s abdominal wall was calculated. Subcutaneous fat thickness and rectus abdominus muscle thickness were obtained from computed tomography scans. Correlations between abdominal wall compliances and subcutaneous fat and muscle content were determined. Twenty-five patients were evaluated. An increased fat thickness in the abdominal wall had a direct exponential relationship with abdominal wall compliance (R 2 = 0.59, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between muscle and fat thickness. All insufflation pressures create perioperative and postoperative complications. The compliance of patients’ abdominal body walls differs, and subcutaneous fat thickness has a direct exponential relationship with abdominal wall compliance. Thus, insufflation pressures can be better tailored per the patient. Future studies are needed to demonstrate the clinical impact of varying insufflation pressures.
Dynamic Data Driven Adaptive Simulation Framework for Automated Control in Microgrids

In this paper, we introduce a novel dynamic data driven adaptive simulation framework for the operation and control of microgrids (MGs) that significantly accelerates the real-time computation of the resource allocation, and controls decisions to optimize the operational cost, energy surety, as well as emissions per MW. The proposed framework includes a database receiving input from electrical and environmental sensors, a fault detection algorithm that discovers liabilities and potential hazards within the MG, an agent-based simulation of the MG system, an optimal computing budget allocation-based control selection algorithm that uses the agent-based simulation to decide the best control design of the MG, and a multiobjective algorithm for optimizing the decisions of the MG given the best control design. For validating our framework, we use the structure of a realistic MG that is simulated using real-historical data. The experiments reveal that the proposed framework significantly reduces the computational burden of a considerably complex multiobjective problem.
Fabry-Perot Cavity antenna system with beam-splitting of near-field radiation

This paper describes the design and behavior of a Fabry-Perot Cavity (FPC) antenna system with split beam in the near-field and decreased beamwidth of the far-field pattern. The FPC antenna system is a coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed slot antenna with 9 × 27 rectangular aperture unit cells in the frequency selective surface (FSS) oriented in horizontal and vertical directions. The far-field response has 3dB beamwidth of 21° and gain of 12.84 dBi at 11.2 GHz.
Inner Secrets of the Respirasome

Structure determination by cryo-electron microscopy has approached atomic resolution and helped solve structures of large membrane-protein complexes that resisted crystallography. The 4.0 A cryo-EM structure of one of the most intricate enzyme systems, the respirasome, in the mitochondrial inner membrane is reported in this issue of Cell.
Cultivating Support for Punitive Criminal Justice Policies: News Sectors and the Moderating Effects of Audience Characteristics

This study investigates whether exposure to various news sectors (local television, network television, cable television, radio, daily print newspapers, and Internet) is associated with audience members' criminal justice policy preferences, and how these relationships are moderated by audience members' socio-demographic characteristics. I propose that the relationship between news exposure and punitiveness is mediated by audience members' instrumental concerns (fear of crime and previous victimization) and expressive concerns (belief in the importance of traditional ties, feelings of racial resentment, and pessimism about the national economy). I further suggest that the relationship between news exposure and punitiveness is moderated by audience members' socio-demographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, local crime rate, and political ideology). Finally, I contend that individual news sectors vary in their attention to crime and their rhetorical framing, and thus have differing relationships with punitiveness. Results of a nationally representative survey suggest that news exposure cultivates punitiveness among whites, but not among blacks or Hispanics. Among whites, local news viewership has a significant positive relationship with punitiveness, particularly among individuals living in low-crime areas. Cable television, radio, print newspaper, and Internet news exposure have significant relationships with punitiveness, the direction of which hinges on audience members' partisanship. I discuss the results in the context of the social construction of reality, highlighting the interplay between experienced and vicarious sources of knowledge, and in terms of selective exposure, emphasizing that audience members' news outlet choices have profound implications for their worldviews.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in resectable synovial sarcoma

Introduction The role of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for synovial sarcoma (SS) is controversial. Using a large national dataset we evaluate the impact of AC on overall survival (OS) following curative-intent resection of SS. Methods Patients with stage I-III SS 2004-2012 undergoing resection were identified in the National Cancer Data Base. Clinicopathologic factors associated with OS were identified using Cox proportional-hazard modeling, adjusting for factors associated with receipt of AC. Results Among 544 patients, 131 received AC. Median age of the cohort was 42 years; 269 were female. AC was not associated with OS in univariate analysis in the overall cohort. After stratification by stage, AC was associated with prolonged OS in univariate analysis in stage III patients only (P = 0.028), which remained significant in multivariable analysis (P = 0.033). Other factors associated with OS in stage III patients were age >55 years, (P = 0.001), positive margins (P = 0.037), biphasic histology (P = 0.013), and adjuvant radiation (P < 0.001). The association between AC and OS remained significant after adjustment for factors predictive of receipt of AC. Conclusions In this national cohort, AC was associated with prolonged OS for SS for stage III patients but not in lower stages. Less restricted use of this therapy may be warranted in this population.
Albert Speer: In Retrospect

Albert Speer is frequently viewed the most sympathetically of the twenty-two defendants at the 1945-46 Nuremberg trial, where he acknowledged responsibility for Nazi war crimes and was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment. Speer's efforts at public rehabilitation are contradicted by his clear distinction between responsibility and guilt. By accepting responsibility, while denying guilt, Speer avoided the hangman's noose, thus rationalizing the salient crime of the century the Holocaust. Speer's example stands as a warning for the future that others may similarly reject moral and legal culpability for their involvement in destroying human beings.
Electromagnetic Waves in Chiral Media

The phenomenon of natural optical activity has played a major role in the study and development of such diverse areas of science as the physics of light, the structure of molecules, and the nature of life itself. Organic optical activity has been looked upon as a unique characteristic of life. The present living matter on Earth is asymmetric, as it contains mainly L-amino acids and D-sugars. An optically active molecule exists in two distinct mirror image forms, it either has the left-handed L- or the right-handed D-type structure. On a macroscopic scale, chirality occurs in nature and in man-made articles. Screws, gloves, golf clubs, and springs are some examples of manufactured chiral objects; whereas flowers, winding vegetations, and snails are a few examples of natural chiral objects.
Learner Readiness and L2 Production in Spanish: Processabitily Theory on Trial

This study investigates interactions between learner readiness and instruction type as they affect stage development in second language (L2) learners of Spanish. Working from a Processability framework (Pienemann, 1998) and Johnston’s (1995) proposed stages for Spanish, learner development was examined in terms of emergence of stage forms in oral L2 production. Three instruction types were administered to L2 Spanish learners categorized as ready or unready for personal a and the subjunctive. These two forms were predicted by Johnston (1995) to belong to Stage 4 and Stage 7 in his hierarchy. Results indicate that learners produced a form for which Pienemann and Johnston would classify them as unready. In addition, full processing instruction brought about effects that were significantly different from explicit information and structured input. These results do not lend support to Processability Theory as presented by Pienemann (1998) and call into question the hierarchy for Spanish proposed by Johnston (1995).
Global Financial/Happiness Crisis and End of Capitalism

With the fall of socialist regimes at the end of last century, the free market capitalism, which started in Europe a few centuries ago, has become the dominant system across the world. The system has provided an unprecedented level of production and consumption to the people of developed countries through increasing productivity and efficiency in the use of limited resources. It is fair to say that most people around the world benefit from the material gains despite the unfair distribution of wealth. People are better off compared to those who lived a century ago in terms of material possessions. In other words, people now could purchase and consume much more than what they were able to do few decade ago. However, many studies indicate that this material gain has not translated into happiness. On the contrary, many studies indicate that we are experiencing a growing “happiness crisis”. As if the “happiness crisis” was not enough, capitalism is also currently facing the biggest financial/economic crisis since the Great Depression. Starting with the crash of the U.S. housing and mortgage market in the summer of 2008, the the financial tsunami has caused over trillions of dollar to be lost over the world. Some economists estimate that the full economic cost of current crisis to the U.S. alone will be $15 trillion. Even the most liberal governments decided to intervene in the free market.In short, the happiness and financial crises have touched almost every nation around the world. People are watching with awe and shock and asking the following questions: is this going to be the end for capitalism? Or is it just another great depression? Was Karl Marx right in his view of capitalism? Is capitalism preparing its own end? Why does capitalism face a happiness and financial crisis? I will try to answer those questions in this paper. I would like to cover both the happiness and financial crisis because I think they are closely related to the capitalist theory of human nature. Therefore, I will first discuss the success and failure of capitalism in terms of its assumptions about human nature. Then, I will offer an alternative theory of human nature, called the “Grand Theory of Inner Universe”, to explain, overcome, and prevent both financial and happiness crises. The new theory provides an easy answer to some challenging questions regarding the success of capitalism against socialism, the root causes of financial and happiness crises. These questions can not be easily answered with the current understanding of human nature. The theory also provides some recommendations to the policy makers and individuals to properly deal with the irrational aspects of human nature.
Climate Science, Weather and Climate Engineering, and Scientific Objectivity

My main research areas are in modeling and observation of clouds and storms and how aerosols can influence clouds and storms, and as a result climate. I have recently co-authored two books and a chapter in another book that are relevant to the topic of this chapter. They are “Human Impacts on Weather and Climate, 2nd Edition” (Cotton and Pielke 2007), “Aerosol Pollution Impacts on Precipitation: A Scientific Review” (Levin and Cotton 2008), and “Perturbed Clouds in the Climate System” (Cotton 2009). When writing chapters in these books it became quite apparent to me all scientists walk a tightrope between being objective scientists and being advocates of their particular disciplines. For some if not most, they try hard to remain objective in their presentations and evaluations of their scientific studies. As our science has become more politically relevant, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many scientists to remain objective. The theme of this chapter is “scientific objectivity” and how it has become more difficult for scientists working in areas like climate change and weather and climate engineering to remain objective.
Fish and omega-3 fatty acid consumption and risk of hypertension

Background:Experimental studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acid have favorable effects on blood pressure (BP). However, data on the association of long-term dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acid or fish with risk of hypertension in healthy subjects are sparse. We examined whether fish or omega-3 fatt
Inpatients with neurologic disease referred for palliative care consultation.

Objectives To compare characteristics and needs of inpatients with neurologic disease to those with cancer referred for palliative care (PC) consultation. Methods This prospective cohort study used data collected by the Palliative Care Quality Network from January 2013 until December 2016. We compared demographics, reasons for consultation, discharge disposition, Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) score, and outcomes of care among patients with a primary diagnosis of neurologic disease vs cancer. Results The most common reason for PC consultation in all patients was assistance with goals of care and advanced care planning. PC consultation was less often requested for pain and symptom management in patients with neurologic disease compared to patients with cancer (13.7% vs 43%, odds ratio 0.3) and more often for assistance with transition to comfort measures only and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (19.1% vs 7.1%, odds ratio 1.3). Patients with cancer had higher PPS scores (42.1% vs 23.4%) and were more likely to be discharged home from the hospital, while patients with neurologic disease were more likely to die in hospital. Conclusions Patients with neurologic disease as a reason for PC consultation are more in need of end-of-life care planning and more likely to die in the hospital than those with cancer, suggesting that targeted approaches may best address the needs of each patient population. Our results can direct further research and education in neuropalliative care.
Bone reconstruction after malignant tumour resection using a motorized lengthening intramedullary nail in adolescents: preliminary results.

Abstract Purpose Bone reconstruction after malignant tumour of the lower limbs is a challenge. Our aim was to investigate the results of bone lengthening and transport using the Fitbone motorized l...
Three-Dimensional Point Groups

In this chapter, we give a complete classification of the 32 three-dimensional point groups. Our treatment is self-contained, but the principles of the classification come from [Sc80, Chap. 4]. Our goal is to describe the point groups as explicit groups of matrices.
Potential of Pembrolizumab in Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: Evidence to Date

Relapsed and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease previously associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options until the advent and implementation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The fully humanized monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab alone, or in combination with chemotherapy, was shown to have significantly improved overall survival (OS) when compared to the standard of care (SOC) EXTREME regimen consisting of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab combined with a platinum and 5-fluorouracil. Pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy will soon supplant the EXTREME regimen that has been in use for over a decade. Given the fast-approaching significant change in the treatment algorithm for R/M HNSCC and the novelty of ICIs in general, it is important to review the literature to date to understand how this rapidly growing treatment class has come about and explore potential areas of research for the plethora of questions that remain unanswered in selecting patients appropriate for treatment with ICIs in the R/M setting. In this review, we explore the landmark trials leading to the use of ICIs for R/M HNSCC with a particular focus on pembrolizumab, the most well-studied ICI in this setting. We also provide an overview of the rationale behind the use of ICIs in relation to the immune system and challenges surrounding tumor heterogeneity and PD-L1 expression status, human papilloma virus (HPV) and the efficacy of ICI, potential of radiation therapy for enhancement of ICI response, and complications of immune-related adverse events (irAEs).
Morality and mortality: The dialogical interpretation of Psalm 90 in the book of Job:

This article identifies dialogical interpretation in Job as a form of aggadic inner-biblical exegesis. Job and the friends frequently attack each other through allusions to each other’s words. This...
Pharmacological Treatments for Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Over a third of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not have an adequate response to first-line antidepressant treatments, i.e., they have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). These patients tend to have a more severe course of illness and are at an increased risk of suicide. Next step treatment options for patients with TRD, include switching to a different antidepressant, combining more than one antidepressant, or augmenting an antidepressant with another (non-antidepressant) medication. It is unclear which of these treatment approaches should be applied to a given patient, and in what order. Due to this ambiguity, comparing antidepressants and augmentation agents on the basis of their efficacy, tolerability, and speed of symptom relief would be beneficial for clinicians. To accomplish this, a systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Only randomized controlled trials were included in this qualitative synthesis, resulting in 66 articles. This review identified several effective pharmaco-therapeutic strategies that are currently available for patients with TRD. Ketamine and esketamine appear to be effective for the treatment of TRD. Augmentation with certain second generation antipsychotics, such as quetiapine or aripiprazole is likewise effective, and may be preferred over switching to antidepressant monotherapy. While the combination of olanzapine and fluoxetine was one of the first pharmacotherapy approved for TRD, and its use may be limited by metabolic side-effects. Other effective strategies include augmentation with lithium, liothyronine (T3), lamotrigine, or combination of antidepressants including bupropion, tricyclics, or mirtazapine. There is insufficient research to demonstrate the efficacy of ziprasidone or levothyroxine (T4). A shared decision-making approach is recommended to guide treatment selection to address each patient’s individual needs.
Meta-Analysis in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Challenging the Paradigm and Charting a New Path Forward

Meta-analyses are appearing more frequently in the criminological literature. Yet the methods typically used are guided by a methodological paradigm that risks producing meta-analyses of limited va...
Deletion of intestinal SHP impairs short-term response to cholic acid challenge in mice.

Small heterodimer partner (SHP) is a crucial regulator of bile acid (BA) transport and synthesis; however, its intestine-specific role is not fully understood. Here, we report that Intestine-specific Shp knockout (IShpKO) mice have higher intestinal and hepatic BAs, but not serum BAs when challenged with an acute (5-day) 1% cholic acid (CA) diet. Consistent with this finding, BA synthetic genes Cyp7A1 and Cyp8b1 are not repressed to the same extent in IShpKO compared to control mice post-CA challenge. Loss of intestinal SHP did not alter Fxrα mRNA but increased Asbt (BA ileal uptake transporter) and Ostβ (BA ileal efflux transporter) expression even under chow-fed conditions. Surprisingly, the acute CA diet in IShpKO did not elicit the expected induction of Fgf15 but was able to maintain the suppression of Asbt, and Ostα/β mRNA levels. At the protein level, ASBT was downregulated, while OSTα/β expression was induced and maintained regardless of diet. Examination of ileal histology in IShpKO mice challenged with acute CA diet revealed reduced villus length and goblet cell numbers. However, no difference in goblet cell number, villus morphology, crypt depth, and the expression of BA regulator and transporter genes was seen between f/f Shp and IShpKO mice after chronic (14-day) CA diet suggesting an adaptive response. We found the upregulation of the Pparα-Ugt axis, which can reduce the BA burden and compensate for the ileal SHP function. Thus, our study reveals that ileal SHP expression contributes to both overall intestinal structure and BA homeostasis.
On the spectral radius and stiffness of Markov jump process rate matrices

It is well known that the numerical stability of many finite difference time-stepping algorithms for solving the Kolmogorov differential equations for Markov jump processes depends on the magnitude...
Dual-Mechanism Quenched Fluorogenic Probe Provides Selective and Rapid Detection of Cathepsin L Activity**

Cathepsin L (CTL) is a cysteine protease demonstrating upregulated activity in many disease states. Overlapping substrate specificity makes selective detection of CTL activity difficult to parse from that of its close homologue CTV and the ubiquitous CTB. Current probes of CTL activity have limited applications due to either poor contrast or extra assay steps required to achieve selectivity. We have developed a fluorogenic probe, CTLAP, that displays good selectivity for CTL over CTB and CTV while exhibiting low background fluorescence attributed to dual quenching mechanisms. CTLAP achieves optimum CTL selectivity in the first 10 min of incubation, thus suggesting that it is amenable for rapid detection of CTL, even in the presence of competing cathepsins.