cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New textural evidence on the origin of carbonado diamond: An example of 3-D petrography using X-ray computed tomography

Three-dimensional textural observations of inclusion and porosity patterns in a 23carat carbonado diamond using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography reveal new information bearing on the nature and origin of this enigmatic material. A prominent patinaed surface is texturally linked to a banding and grading of inclusions and pore space beneath, extending several millimeters into the specimen. In situ observation demonstrates that almost all inclusions are polymineralic and show replacement textures, corroborating previous work indicating that the pore network is fully three-dimensionally (3-D) connected, and that virtually all macroinclusions are secondary. Large metal inclusions are only found immediately adjacent to the margin of the specimen, and are thus also likely to be secondary or even tertiary. However, we also report pseudomorphs after a phase forming pristinely euhedral rhombic dodecahedra, individually and in clusters from 0.3 to 1 mm in diameter; although we could fi nd no evidence of this phase persisting, it nevertheless represents the fi rst “true” macro-inclusion reported in carbonado, which almost certainly formed syngenetically with the diamond material. The pore system is essentially trimodal, consisting of single and clustered pseudomorphs, oblate pores 0.1‐0.3 mm in length with a clear preferred orientation, and 20 µm to <1 µm pores that form the connected network. Our observations support recent work suggesting that carbonado crystallized from a carbon-supersaturated fl uid and suggest that the second stage may correspond with the creation of the pore alignment fabric. We further postulate that, although the present-day macroinclusions are certainly secondary, the bulk material that comprises them may not be, and may instead be broken-down remains of the original included phase(s). While further verifi cation is needed, a model built around this hypothesis may provide the simplest explanation to many of the unusual features of carbonado.
Radiology Pearls for the Transplant Provider

A wide variety of complications, infectious and noninfectious, can occur in patients post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The type of abnormality developed post HSCT depends on the type of transplant, conditioning regimen, and time-elapsed post transplant. Imaging plays a crucial role in detection and monitoring of post-transplant abnormalities. This chapter reviews imaging appearance of some of the most frequently encountered post-transplant pulmonary and abdominal complications.
Shoulder arthroplasty for sequelae of poliomyelitis.

Background Polio infection can often lead to orthopedic complications such as arthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, skeletal deformation, and chronic instability of the joints. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes and associated complications of arthroplasty in shoulders with sequelae of poliomyelitis. Methods Seven patients (average age, 70 years) were treated between 1976 and 2013 with shoulder arthroplasty for the sequelae of polio. One patient underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty, 2 had a hemiarthroplasty, and 4 had total shoulder arthroplasty. Average follow-up was 87 months. Outcome measures included pain, range of motion, and postoperative modified Neer ratings. Results Overall pain scores improved from 5 to 1.6 points (on a 5-point scale) after shoulder arthroplasty. Six shoulders had no or mild pain at latest follow-up, and 6 shoulders rated the result as much better or better. Mean shoulder elevation improved from 72° to 129°, and external rotation improved from 11° to 56°. Average strength in elevation decreased from 3.9 to 3.4 postoperatively, and external rotation strength decreased from 3.9 to 3.3. This, however, did not reach significance. Evidence of muscle imbalance with radiographic instability was found in 4 shoulders that demonstrated superior subluxation, anterior subluxation, or both. This remained asymptomatic. No shoulder required revision or reoperation. Conclusions Shoulder arthroplasty provides significant pain relief and improved motion in patients with sequelae of poliomyelitis. Muscle weakness may be responsible for postoperative instability, and careful selection of the patient with good upper extremity muscles must be made.
Radiographic manifestations of rheumatic diseases affecting the foot and ankle

Radiologic evaluation of the foot and ankle affected by rheumatic disease involves objective assessment of the radiologic changes that may be associated with a specific arthritis. Assessment of the severity of involvement and evaluation of progression or regression of the disease are important in the treatment regimen and ultimate clinical outcome of every patient.
Genetic Modification in Dedicated Bioenergy Crops and Strategies for Gene Confinement

Genetic modification of dedicated bioenergy crops is in its infancy; however, there are numerous advantages to the use of these tools to improve crops used for biofuels. Potential improved traits through genetic engineering (GE) include herbicide resistance, pest-, drought-, cold- and salt-tolerance, lower inputs, compositional alterations, addition of cellulases and other biofuels-specific traits such as increased biomass yields and increased photosynthetic efficiencies. To achieve these goals on an agricultural scale, these improvements must meet regulatory standards for release into the environment. In most cases, these criteria will probably require gene confinement strategies to prevent gene flow into wild and non-transgenic populations. Here, we consider the options for prevention or mitigation of gene flow in genetically modified (GM) biofuels crops.
PNMT-containing neurons of the C1 cell group express c-fos in response to changes in baroreceptor input

The immunocytochemical detection of Fos, the protein product of the immediate-early gene c-fos, was used as a marker for activated neurons to examine whether the C1 neurons in the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) respond to changes in baroreceptor afferent activity. After hydralazine-induced hypotension or sinoaortic denervation, two treatments that reduce baroreceptor afferent activity, numerous Fos-positive neurons were observed in the RVLM. The number of Fos-positive neurons in the RVLM was counted in brain stem sections from hydralazine-treated rats that had been previously injected with Fluorogold into the upper thoracic spinal cord to label spinally projecting RVLM neurons as well as stained for phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) as a marker of C1 neurons. The results indicate that approximately 80% of the C1 neurons expressed Fos in response to hydralazine injection; this was true of spinally projecting C1 neurons as well as those C1 neurons that were not labeled with Fluorogold. Furthermore, in hydralazine-treated rats, the majority of Fluorogold-labeled Fos-positive neurons contained PNMT. These results suggest that C1 neurons are sensitive to baroreceptor afferent input and support a role of these neurons in cardiovascular regulation.
Tenure and Design Research: A Disappointingly Familiar Discussion

AbstractIn response to discourse on an AIGA listserv, this article argues that the longstanding, arts-based criteria for evaluating design faculty in American colleges and universities suppress the development of a research culture in design. The article summarizes the state of faculty tenure and promotion standards in schools of art and design that favor creative production and commercial freelance over the discovery of new knowledge. Acknowledging that these traditional practices have merit in evaluating faculty contributions, it is suggested that the graduate preparation of most design faculty leaves graduates unprepared to meet the typical research demands applied to faculty in other fields. As such, design often remains on the margins of activities that institutions value most. The article follows with descriptions of an emerging research culture and the challenges it represents for American colleges and universities with respect to design.
The Death of Politics as a Liberal Art

This paper argues that the study of politics as a liberal art is under assault today, both from outside pressures on liberal arts education and from the discipline’s vision of the study of politics as a narrow “political science.”
The La Tolita—Tumaco Culture: Master Metalsmiths in Gold and Platinum

The archaeological setting of the La Tolita—Tumaco culture is briefly discussed as a framework for the examination of the metallurgy of the area, in particular the gold—platinum alloys used to make platinum-coated gold objects, platinum—gold sintered alloys, and platinum—gold foil—plated objects. The sophisticated approach to the manipulation of metallic materials resulted in several notable advances being made by the La Tolita—Tumaco culture: the production of extremely fine rectangular wire, bimetallic tumbaga alloys, small lead spheres inlaid with platinum, soldering, granulation, and a degree of sophistication to metalworking that is very impressive and, in some cases, unique in the world. Some selected examples are discussed, and the microstructure of a representative selection of the La Tolita material, bimetallic tumbaga construction, the initial sintered gold—platinum product, platinum-plated gold, and heavily worked gold—platinum composite artifacts are presented.
Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Urethra: Evidence for Origin within Paraurethral Ducts

AbstractWe report a case of clear cell adenocarcinoma arising in a paraurethral duct treated by anterior pelvic exenteration. Immunohistochemical stains for prostate specific acid phosphatase and prostate specific antigen were positive in the primary tumor and regional metastases. Focal positive staining also was noted in normal paraurethral duct epithelium. Our observations suggest that clear cell adenocarcinoma arises from the female paraurethral ducts, rather than embryonic remnants. These ducts appear to be homologous to the prostate and in some cases may be misinterpreted as urethral diverticula.
Lipoplasty of the knees and anterior thighs.

The knee and thigh regions are divided into six areas for more systematic patient evaluation and treatment. Technical tips for improved suctioning results are offered.
Energy Efficient Traffic-Aware Virtual Machine Migration in Green Cloud Data Centers

Cloud computing has overtaken the traditional computing technologies by providing virtualized resources on demand. Cloud data centers consume a huge amount of power and emit much carbon dioxide, resulting in two challenging problems: high energy consumption and global warming. Our prior work has derived an enhanced energy model that considered energy consumed in computing, migration and host reactivating, and proposed three highly efficient virtual machine (VM) migration schemes. In this work, the three schemes are further enhanced, through considering the traffic factor in VM migration and adopting VM clustering. The resulting schemes have significantly reduced the number of VM migration and their migration costs. The time complexities of these schemes have been analyzed, their performance evaluated through simulation. Results showed that, comparing with the ones without VM clustering, the migration energy usage is dropped to 32%, resulting in the total energy saving of 23%, with a small increase in SLA violation. The proposed schemes would have significant impact when applying to virtualization of wireless mobile networks, in which the communication cost, including bandwidth and delay factors, is significant.
Slow motion increases perceived intent

To determine the appropriate punishment for a harmful action, people must often make inferences about the transgressor’s intent. In courtrooms and popular media, such inferences increasingly rely on video evidence, which is often played in “slow motion.” Four experiments (n = 1,610) involving real surveillance footage from a murder or broadcast replays of violent contact in professional football demonstrate that viewing an action in slow motion, compared with regular speed, can cause viewers to perceive an action as more intentional. This slow motion intentionality bias occurred, in part, because slow motion video caused participants to feel like the actor had more time to act, even when they knew how much clock time had actually elapsed. Four additional experiments (n = 2,737) reveal that allowing viewers to see both regular speed and slow motion replay mitigates the bias, but does not eliminate it. We conclude that an empirical understanding of the effect of slow motion on mental state attribution should inform the life-or-death decisions that are currently based on tacit assumptions about the objectivity of human perception.
Aquinas’ Natural Law Versus Ethical and Cultural Pluralism

I argue that Aquinas’ natural law ethics is so true that it can manage ethical and cultural pluralism. I first argue that the meaning of the subject in the basic proposition of natural law ethics, “The good ought to be done,” is best understood in terms of Aquinas’ philosophical psychology of the intellection of being. Being is also the good. Hence, the person as intellector of being is a particularly intense presencing of the good and calls for respectful and solicitous treatment. But the intellection of being can play two tricks in the human psyche. First, because it is abstracted from sensible data, our attention can become stuck on the data and miss intellection. Hence, many ethicists have only a weak sense of human dignity such that actions really immoral are judged to be moral. Second, some sensible data are prone to an intense but superficial cognitive association with being such that the data acquire a value out of all proportion to the truth. I employ his second “trick” of the intellection of being to understand cultural pluralism as described by Christopher Dawson.
Canonical Barsotti-Tate Groups of Finite Level

Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$. Let $c,d\in \mathbb{N}$ be such that $h=c+d>0$. Let $H$ be a $p$-divisible group of codimension $c$ and dimension $d$ over $k$. For $m\in\mathbb{N}^\ast$ let $H[p^m]=\ker([p^m]:H\rightarrow H)$. It is a finite commutative group scheme over $k$ of $p$ power order, called a Barsotti-Tate group of level $m$. We study a particular type of $p$-divisible groups $H_\pi$, where $\pi$ is a permutation on the set $\{1,2,\dots,h\}$. Let $(M,\varphi_\pi)$ be the Dieudonne module of $H_\pi$. Each $H_\pi$ is uniquely determined by $H_\pi[p]$ and by the fact that there exists a maximal torus $T$ of $GL_M$ whose Lie algebra is normalized by $\varphi_\pi$ in a natural way. Moreover, if $H$ is a $p$-divisible group of codimension $c$ and dimension $d$ over $k$, then $H[p]\cong H_\pi[p]$ for some permutation $\pi$. We call these $H_\pi$ canonical lifts of Barsotti-Tate groups of level $1$. We obtain new formulas of combinatorial nature for the dimension of $\boldsymbol{Aut}(H_\pi[p^m])$ and for the number of connected components of $\boldsymbol{End}(H_\pi[p^m])$.
Thymus-Derived PTH (TPTH) Is Increased after Thyroparathyroidectomy in C57BL6/Kalwrij Mice and Modulates Mouse Sensitivity to 5TGM1 Myeloma Cell Line

Abstract We have previously reported a significant correlation between serum PTH levels and myeloma responses to proteasome inhibition and have recently demonstrated a crucial role for the parathyroid hormone receptor 1 (PTHR1) in vitro and in vivo. In this study the effect of abrogation of parathyroid-derived PTH was tested in 5TGM1 myeloma transplanted C57BL6/KaLwRij mice. To interrogate PTH activity in vivo, thyroparathyroidectomy (TX-PTX) was performed on the C57BL6/KaLwRij mice before or after the transplantation of 5TGM1 cells. Surgical success was confirmed by the rapid loss of measureable circulating PTH. In TX-PTX mice bearing transplanted 5TGM1 tumors, serum PTH levels was noted to recover 3-4 weeks after surgery and to achieve levels consistently higher than baseline levels pre TX-PTX. These data raised the compelling possibility of an alternative PTH source. To determine the potential source of the recovered PTH levels, multiple organs were examined. Whole tissue lysates were analyzed by Western blot and revealed a faint but specific band from thymic tissue, as expected with no obvious bands detected in 13 other tissues investigated including the liver, lung, kidney, ovary and testis. In addition, murine PTH mRNA transcripts from thymus RNA were measured by Real-Time PCR, using a specifically designed primer set that spans exons 1 and 2, since intron 1 is >1kb. These primers specifically discriminate mRNA transcripts from genomic DNA and improve the assay sensitivity for the detection of PTH transcripts. Using these custom-designed primers, control thymus expressed measureable PTH mRNA transcripts that was significantly elevated in TX-PTX mice. Since the thymus is considerably bigger than the parathyroid glands, PTH was immunoprecipitated before performing Western blot analysis. Following immunoprecipitation, a distinct PTH protein band was observed from the thymus in both TX-PTX and control mice. These data suggest that the thymus is the major source of serum PTH in TX-PTX mice and that the organ can compensate for the loss of serum PTH from the parathyroid gland. We propose that thymus-derived PTH in the TX-PTX mouse may contribute to the control of the 5TGM1 murine myeloma model. Disclosures Zangari: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: Employment; Novartis: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding.
Misleading Earnings Guidance

The ostensible purpose of managers’ voluntary earnings guidance is to lead earnings expectations toward the actual earnings realization. Our study examines cases in which guidance does the opposite, increasing the error in expectations. We find that 1/4 of guidance is directionally incorrect. We view the occurrences of such guidance as economically meaningful in that, on average, they increase the error found in the analyst consensus by $0.05 or 36%. In terms of the realized impact of misleading guidance, we find that both the aggregate-market and analysts discount (but, do not fully discount) such guidance. We also find that the market provides more complete discounts than do the analysts. Finally, we offer cross-sectional evidence on when the market and analysts provide relatively more complete discounts to misleading guidance.
A Lightweight Framework for the Dynamic Creation and Configuration of Virtual Platforms in SystemC

Virtual prototypes leverage SystemC/TLM for simulating programmable platforms comprising hundreds of modules. Their efficient creation and configuration is vital for acceptable turnaround times, for example, during performance exploration or software development. Therefore, our lightweight framework provides a factory that creates designs from abstract descriptions of module instances, properties, and connections. Modules mark properties as creation or runtime parameters. The resulting generic design descriptions are usable by non-experts and enable front-ends. The infrastructure is a small C++ library with only 1,350 lines of code that can be combined with existing SystemC/TLM models and simulation kernels. An industrial case study of a complex multiprocessor SoC shows a distinct productivity gain.
Subcutaneous Implant-based Breast Reconstruction with Acellular Dermal Matrix/Mesh: A Systematic Review

Background The availability of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and synthetic mesh products has prompted plastic surgeons to revisit subcutaneous implant-based breast reconstruction. The literature is limited, however, with regards to evidence on patient selection, techniques, and outcomes. Methods A systematic review of the Medline and Cochrane databases was performed for original studies reporting breast reconstruction with ADM or mesh, and subcutaneous implant placement. Studies were analyzed for level of evidence, inclusion/exclusion criteria for subcutaneous reconstruction, reconstruction characteristics, and outcomes. Results Six studies (186 reconstructions) were identified for review. The majority of studies (66.7%) were level IV evidence case series. Eighty percent of studies had contraindications for subcutaneous reconstruction, most commonly preoperative radiation, high body mass index, and active smoking. Forty percent of studies commenting on patient selection assessed mastectomy flap perfusion for subcutaneous reconstruction. Forty-five percent of reconstructions were direct-to-implant, 33.3% 2-stage, and 21.5% single-stage adjustable implant, with ADM utilized in 60.2% of reconstructions versus mesh. Pooled complication rates included: major infection 1.2%, seroma 2.9%, hematoma 2.3%, full nipple-areola complex necrosis 1.1%, partial nipple-areola complex necrosis 4.5%, major flap necrosis 1.8%, wound healing complication 2.3%, explantation 4.1%, and grade III/IV capsular contracture 1.2%. Conclusions Pooled short-term complication rates in subcutaneous alloplastic breast reconstruction with ADM or mesh are low in preliminary studies with selective patient populations, though techniques and outcomes are variable across studies. Larger comparative studies and better-defined selection criteria and outcomes reporting are needed to develop appropriate indications for performing subcutaneous implant-based reconstruction.
Reversible and Irreversible Binding of Organics to Soils and the Effect of Biodegradation

Remediation of contaminated soil is complicated by our incomplete understanding of processes which control sorption, desorption, and biodegradation of organic contaminants associated with soil surfaces. Because of the interest in intrinsic or natural remediation, knowledge of these processes is necessary if we are to understand the risks associated with this and other soil treatment strategies. One major area of concern is the potential for release of contaminants associated with soils that are not readily extracted during soil testing. Ball and Roberts (1991) have shown that for some soils, the time scale associated with adsorption and desorption can be of the order of several years. In addition, the apparently irreversible binding of organic contaminants to soils has been observed, especially for phenolic compounds, and this binding has generally been attributed to oxidative coupling wherein phenolics are incorporated into soil humic matter by chemical (Stone 1987) or biological (Bollag 1992) mechanisms. The magnitude and ultimate fate of contaminants that are not easily extracted from soils are the main focus of this chapter.
Unilateral retinoblastoma with contralateral isolated choroidal Melanocytosis: case report of an unexpected presentation

Congenital ocular melanocytosis has been shown to be extremely uncommon in studies of numerous infants and children with retinoblastoma and disorders such as retinopathy of prematurity. A 33-month-old Caucasian boy presented with a solid white predominantly endophytic retinoblastoma filling most of the nasal aspect of the fundus and extensive vitreous seeding. Fundus exam of the contralateral eye showed a broad-based flat melanotic area of the choroid extending from the subfoveal region to the ora serrata temporally. The child was treated by enucleation of the retinoblastoma-containing eye (homozygous non-germline RB1 mutation) and is being monitored annually. The patient has been followed for 4 years. This rare presentation of advanced unilateral retinoblastoma and contralateral isolated choroidal melanocytosis in a young child emphasizes the importance of detailed fundus mapping of the non-affected eye and has potential implications due to the increased incidence of uveal melanoma later in life.
Culturally Relevant Teaching in the English Language Arts Classroom: A Guide for Teachers

This book is a practical, research-based, classroom-ready resource for English language arts teachers interested in learning how to incorporate culturally relevant pedagogy into all aspects of their instruction, including writing, reading, and vocabulary lessons. It also provides suggestions for building an inclusive classroom environment in which all students’ backgrounds are valued. Topics covered: Writing strategies and diverse texts Dialect and student writing Applying reading strategies to texts that represent diverse backgrounds Using reading strategies in out-of-school contexts Considering students’ funds of knowledge and language awareness Connecting linguistic diversity to word-root instruction Building an inclusive classroom environment The appendix features several useful tools, including a study guide, a comprehensive list of suggested texts, recommendations for parent communication, and reproducible tools for the classroom. The study guide and reproducibles are available for free download from our website at www.routledge.com/9781138393318.
Electronic structure of SnSe2 films grown by molecular beam epitaxy

SnSe2 is a layered main-group metal dichalcogenide that has exhibited gate-tunable interfacial superconductivity as well as promising optoelectronic applications. Here, we synthesize SnSe2 films by molecular beam epitaxy and investigate their electronic structure with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). A comparison between density functional theory calculations and ARPES data from a thick film reveals the importance of spin-orbit coupling and out-of-plane dispersion in the SnSe2 valence bands, which were neglected in previous studies of its electronic structure. We conclude that the conduction band minimum lies along the M-L direction in momentum space, while the valence band maximum lies along Γ−K.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Device Guided, Slow-Paced Respiration in Women with Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Purpose:We evaluated the effects of device guided, slow-paced respiration on urgency associated urinary symptoms, perceived stress and anxiety, and autonomic function in women with overactive bladd...
Diagnosis of Ventricular Shunt Infection in Children: A Systematic Review.

Background No widely accepted gold standard for diagnosis of shunt infection exists, with definitions variable among clinicians and publications. This article summarizes the utility of commonly used diagnostic tools and provides a comprehensive review of optimal measures for diagnosis. Methods A query of PubMed was performed extracting articles related to shunt infection in children. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed, resulting in 1756 articles related to shunt infection, 49 of which ultimately met inclusion criteria. Results Of the 49 articles included in the analysis, 9 did not define infection, 9 used culture alone, 9 used cultures and/or symptomatology, and 4 used a combination of cultures, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and symptomatology. The remainder of the studies used definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n = 2) and the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (n = 2) or borrowed elements from these definitions. Variation in definition stems from the lack of sensitivity and specificity of commonly used signs, symptoms, and tests. Shunt tap alone is considered half as sensitive as hardware culture. Fever upon presentation was present in 16% to 42% of cases. CSF pleocytosis combined with fever has a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 99%. CSF eosinophilia, lactic acid, serum anti-Staphylococcus epidermidis titer, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein are non-specific and their utility is not well established. Conclusions The definition of shunt infection is variable across studies, with CSF culture and/or symptomatology being the most commonly utilized parameters.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with no identifiable risk factors.

Abstract Background A subset of patients have no risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated differences in clinical variables between patients with and without risk factors who underwent surgical resection. Methods A prospectively maintained database was queried for patients who underwent R0/R1 resection of HCC between 1992 and 2016. Risk factors included HCV, HBV, hemochromatosis, alcoholic liver disease, or cirrhosis, stage 2 or 3 fibrosis or severe (>66%) steatosis of the non-neoplastic liver. Variables were compared between patients with and without risk factors. Results There were 416 patients who underwent resection; 276 (66%) had known risk factors while 140 (34%) did not. Patients without risk factors were more likely to be older, female and have hyperlipidemia or coronary artery disease (p Conclusion Patients without risk factors for HCC presented with larger tumors yet had similar outcomes, suggesting these tumors may represent a different disease process, and underlying liver dysfunction can influence overall outcome.
The anesthesia airway evaluation: Correlation with sleep endoscopy findings.

Abstract Purpose Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is a cost-effective, safe, and reliable tool to evaluate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients by revealing upper airway sites, patterns, and severity of obstruction. DISE provides valuable data because reliable evaluation of the OSA airway while awake has remained elusive. Few studies (with mixed results) have analyzed the correlation between pre-operation, awake airway assessments routinely performed by anesthesia and DISE results. Methods Preoperative anesthesia evaluation records and subsequent DISE reports were obtained for 99 adult patients undergoing DISE between 2016 and 2018. All patients carried the diagnosis of OSA, based on polysomnography. Anesthesia-collected variables were compared with DISE findings in an effort to determine if commonly-utilized physical exam findings correlated to patterns of upper airway collapse observed on sleep endoscopy. Results Most anesthesia preoperative evaluation variables were not found to be predictive of any identifiable patterns of collapse on DISE, including Mallampati score, ability to prognath, and overall airway assessment score. Obesity did not correlate with circumferential collapse at the velopharynx, or to multi-level collapse. Thyromental distance Conclusions Anesthesia airway assessment algorithms and physical exam findings do not correlate well with findings on sleep endoscopy. DISE remains the gold standard for evaluating levels of collapse and operative planning in the OSA population.
From genes to-omics: The evolving molecular landscape of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are rare, aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that occur with significantly increased incidence in people with the neuro-genetic syndrome neurofibromatosis type I (NF1). These complex karyotype sarcomas are often difficult to resect completely due to the involvement of neurovascular bundles, and are relatively chemotherapy- and radiation-insensitive. The lifetime risk of developing MPNST in the NF1 population has led to great efforts to characterize the genetic changes that drive the development of these tumors and identify mutations that may be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Advancements in genetic sequencing and genomic technologies have greatly enhanced researchers' abilities to broadly and deeply investigate aberrations in human MPNST genomes. Here, we review genetic sequencing efforts in human MPNST samples over the past three decades. Particularly for NF1-associated MPNST, these overall sequencing efforts have converged on a set of four common genetic changes that occur in most MPNST, including mutations in neurofibromin 1 (NF1), CDKN2A, TP53, and members of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2). However, broader genomic studies have also identified recurrent but less prevalent genetic variants in human MPNST that also contribute to the molecular landscape of MPNST and may inform further research. Future studies to further define the molecular landscape of human MPNST should focus on collaborative efforts across multiple institutions in order to maximize information gathered from large numbers of well-annotated MPNST patient samples, both in the NF1 and the sporadic MPNST populations.
Pedagogy training among political scientists: Opportunities, interest, and obstacles

Over the last two decades there have been periodic calls for improved teacher training and a growth in scholarship on teaching and learning. Yet, we know little about opportunities and participatio...
Data-Driven Predictive Modeling of Highway Construction Cost Items

AbstractThe highway network is an economically necessary form of transportation that has a significant impact on the quality of the life of the citizens who use it. Cost overruns in highway project...
Dynamic Thresholding Leading to Optimal Inventory Maintenance

Optimal inventory management always requires the right number and types of parts to be available at the right time at the right place. However, this has become even more critical in the age of prescriptive maintenance, which seeks to predict an impending failure along with what part(s) are about to fail. To take advantage of these predictions, it is essential that the parts, personnel and time frame are made available in a timely fashion to keep the operation going uninterrupted. Usually, the level of parts maintained in a part warehouse is determined using static thresholding where quantities of each part is determined and is fixed for a given part. In literature, such methods are known as static thresholding. While work has been done to accommodate unpredictability of parts usage in supply chain, there is lack of attention that has been paid to consider the demand of parts in future due to prediction of impending failure. To address this, this paper introduces a noble method and system, entitled dynamic thresholding, to ensure the part inventory adapts to predicted usage while maintaining minimum inventory management cost. The feasibility of the concept and system is demonstrated using simulated datasets.
An experimental modal analysis of clavicle bending modes

Clavicle fractures are common medical emergencies; their prevention through design of protection systems depends upon understanding injury mechanisms. This work analyzes the bending natural frequen...
Outcomes of referrals from endodontic to orofacial pain specialists: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES Diagnosis and treatment of non-odontogenic pain is challenging for endodontists. The purpose of the study was to investigate the outcomes of referrals to orofacial pain specialists made for patients with suspected non-odontogenic pain, after evaluation and/or treatment by an endodontist. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of dental records was conducted for 60 patients referred from a postgraduate endodontic clinic to an orofacial pain clinic. Patient demographics, pain history, endodontic, and orofacial pain diagnoses were collected. Number of visits, length of treatment, and treatments prescribed were recorded. For analysis of outcomes, data pertinent to resolution/persistence of symptoms and patient compliance were analyzed. RESULTS Thirty-five patients were included in the study. The most frequent pulpal and periapical diagnoses were previously treated (62%) and symptomatic apical periodontitis (72%), respectively. The most common orofacial pain diagnosis was temporomandibular disorder. The average time spent to diagnose and treat the pain was 17 months. Pain reduction varied and was documented for 51% of patients. Indications of non-compliance with orofacial pain appointments and treatments were documented for 66% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Non-odontogenic pain diagnosis and treatment are challenging. Patients may have an increased predilection for developing persistent pain after endodontic treatment and/or have an undiagnosed, chronic orofacial pain condition as a true source of their chief complaint. It may be helpful for endodontists to set expectations of typical treatment times/plans when referring patients for evaluation and treatment of non-odontogenic pain.
Antigen receptor signaling induces differential tyrosine kinase activation and population stability in B-cell lymphoma.

Cancer dormancy is a phenomenon where neoplastic cells exist within a host without progressive growth (1–3). Clinical examples of dormancy in humans can be found in cases of melanoma (4, 5), breast carcinoma (6), and lymphoma [R. Levy personal communication]. To identify potential mechanisms regulating cancer dormancy, a murine lymphoma model has been established. This dormancy model system utilizes a mouse B-cell lymphoma, BCL1, whose aggressive growth normally leads to rapid splenomegaly, late onset leukemia, and eventual death within 30 days after challenge. However, the development of splenomegaly and subsequent disease can be prevented by immunization of syngeneic recipients with membrane immunoglobulin (mlg) purified from BCL1, prior to challenge. Seventy percent of immunized animals do not develop tumor by 60 days and in some cases can survive up to 2 years, the lifespan of a normal animal. Dormancy established in these animals is not simply the elimination of BCL1 by the host immune system because BCL1, can be specifically detected using polymerase chain reaction and can be isolated using flow cytometry from the spleen of dormant animals. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from dormant animals to naive recipients results in regrowth of the tumor (7), and is further evidence that BCL1, cells are present.
MONEY AND THE BANKING SYSTEM

There have been three great inventions since the beginning of time: fire, the wheel, and central banking.
A novel approach to propagating distrust

Trust propagation is a fundamental topic of study in the theory and practice of ranking and recommendation systems on networks. The Page Rank [9] algorithm ranks web pages by propagating trust throughout a network, and similar algorithms have been designed for recommendation systems. How might one analogously propagate distrust as well? This is a question of practical importance and mathematical intrigue (see, e.g., [2]). However, it has proven challenging to model distrust propagation in a manner which is both logically consistent and psychologically plausible. We propose a novel and simple extension of the Page Rank equations, and argue that it naturally captures most types of distrust that are expressed in such networks. We give an efficient algorithm for implementing the system and prove desirable properties of the system.
Impacts on Earth in the Late Triassic

Sprayet al.1 postulate that five widely dispersed terrestrial impact structures with very similar geological age estimates (about 214 million years ago, in the Late Triassic epoch) are evidence of a multiple impact event. Most notably, the three largest impact structures, Saint Martin in western Canada (∼40 km diameter), Manicouagan in eastern Canada (∼100 km diameter), and Rochechouart in France (∼25 km diameter), plot at virtually the same palaeolatitude in a continental reconstruction. Spray et al. suggest that this apparent crater chain was produced within hours as a series of coaxial projectiles collided in rapid succession with the rotating planet Earth, and drew analogies to the recent collision sequence of fragmented comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter.
Retroviral-mediated gene transfer.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses on the vector design, development of different packaging cell lines, and employment of single and multiple gene vectors in different model systems. Several retroviruses have been used to generate recombinant gene transfer vectors. These include Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), reticuloendotheliosis virus (Rev), murine mammary tumor virus (Mu- MTV), murine myeloproliferative sarcoma virus (MuMPSV), and Harvey murine sarcoma virus (HaMuSV). Gene transfer by retroviral vectors has become a widely used approach to study expression of foreign gene sequences in mammalian cells. Although other methods of gene transfer exist, investigators have taken advantage of both the structure and the life cycle of retroviruses to achieve efficient transduction of cells. This chapter addresses some of the issues concerning the use of recombinant retroviruses for human gene therapy. Many questions are still unresolved concerning the efficiency of transduction, attaining appropriate levels of expression, the possibility of specific cell targeting, and long-term safety questions that arise when this form of therapy is considered for use in the humans.
Application of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis to clinical practice.

This article is intended to introduce the reader to the concepts of CEA/CBA for purposes of evaluating innovative pharmacy services. Furthermore, sensitization to the issues surrounding CEA/CBA studies should allow the reader to be more discriminating in reviewing such reports in the literature. Rising costs for health care and the existence of limited resources are forcing policy makers to allocate resources in ways that maximize return-on-investment. It is felt by some that in the 1980s, researchers will be expected to answer the questions, "How much better is the innovation?" and "How do the expected benefits of an innovation compare with the benefits that could be obtained if the resources were used in some alternative way?" Part of the solution will require changes in the training and practice of health professionals. Future physicians, pharmacists, and others will need to acquire skills from the behavioral, social, and decision sciences (e.g., epidemiology, statistics, economics, decision analysis). The notion of cost-effective clinical decision making needs to be taught at all levels. Health practitioners involved with decision making at the level of the patient need to become more knowledgeable of the overall impact (regarding costs and benefits) of their decisions. Finally, evaluation of innovative pharmacy services is but one element of a management program for clinical services. Our attempt is not to deemphasize the need for studies documenting the value of clinical services, but rather to put evaluation in perspective with an equally important need, the need for development of an overall pharmacy program that is not only cost effective but efficient as well. The means to this end is a total management program integrating all pharmacy services.
Structure of a paralytic peptide from an insect, Manduca sexta

Paralytic peptide 1 (PP1) from a moth, Manduca sexta, is a 23-residue peptide (Glu-Asn-Phe-Ala-Gly-Gly-Cys-Ala-Thr-Gly-Tyr-Leu-Arg-Thr-Ala-Asp-Gly-Arg -Cys-Lys-Pro-Thr-Phe) that was first found to have paralytic activity when injected into M. sexta larvae. Recent studies demonstrated that PP1 also stimulated the spreading and aggregation of a blood cell type called plasmatocytes and inhibited bleeding from wounds. We determined the solution structure of PP1 by two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy to begin to understand structural-functional relationships of this peptide. PP1 has an ordered structure, which is composed of a short antiparallel beta-sheet at residues Tyr11-Thr14 and Arg18-Pro21, three beta turns at residues Phe3-Gly6, Ala8-Tyr11 and Thr14-Gly17, and a half turn at the carboxyl-terminus (residues Lys20-Phe23). The well-defined secondary and tertiary structure was stabilized by hydrogen bonding and side-chain hydrophobic interactions. In comparison with two related insect peptides, whose structures have been solved recently, the amino-terminal region of PP1 is substantially more ordered. The short antiparallel beta-sheet of PP1 has a folding pattern similar to the carboxyl-terminal subdomain of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Therefore, PP1 may interact with EGF receptor-like molecules to trigger its different biological activities.
Notes Toward a Theory of Complex Learning

I do not care about simple learning. I am not interested in the kind of learning that only takes 30 minutes. I want to understand real learning, the kind we all do during the course of our lives, the kind of learning that takes years to accomplish and that may, indeed, never be completed. I want to understand the learning of complex topics. A complex topic is one with such a rich set of conceptual structures that it requires learning periods measured in weeks or even years. The learning of complex topics differs from the learning that can be completed in minutes. I have estimated that to become an expert in a complex topic requires at least 5000 hours of study. Where does this estimate come from? I made it up. But it is remarkably robust, having been defended for a wide variety of topics.
Halothane does not alter Ca2+ affinity of troponin C.

Troponin C has been suggested as a possible target for the negative inotropic action of volatile anesthetics. This study has examined the effect of halothane on the structure and response of isolated cardiac troponin C to Ca2+and the response of skinned soleus and cardiac muscle fibers to Ca2+. The high-affinity Ca2+-binding sites of cardiac troponin C were assessed by measurement of the change in intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence and ultraviolet circular dichroism in response to Ca2+in the presence and absence of halothane. Halothane (0.9 mM, 1.4%) did not alter the 45% enhancement in intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence that occurs with saturation of the high-affinity sites or change the Ca2+concentration at which half-maximal enhancement occurred. The molar ellipticity in the far ultraviolet region, a measure of the secondary structure, increased to a similar extent with addition of 10-6M Ca2+in the absence and presence of 1.0 mM (1.6%) halothane. The binding rate of the sulfhydryl reagent, 5,5‘-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid), to troponin C in response to Ca2+titration was used as a measure of the integrity of the low-affinity Ca2+-binding site in troponin C in the presence and absence of 1.0 mM (1.6%) halothane. The rate of reaction was stimulated twofold, and the half maximal effect was observed at pCa 4.8 ± 0.2 in both control and halothane-treated samples. Halothane (5 mM; 7.8%) did not change the pCa/tension response of skinned soleus fibers; the data were fit to the Hill equation and yielded dissociation constants of 6.2 X 10-7M for control and halothane-treated specimens. Cardiac skinned fibers were not altered by exposure to 1.0 mM (1.6%) halothane; Ca/tension curves were essentially identical and yielded dissociation constants of 5.9 X 10-7M and 6.0 X 10-7M for control and halothane-treated specimens, respectively. Halothane had no effect on the maximal tension achieved by either skinned soleus or cardiac fibers. The authors conclude from these observations that halothane does not alter the affinity of cardiac troponin C for Ca2+and that the myofibrils are not an important site for the negative inotropic effect of halothane.