cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS)

Summary Nonrhabdmyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS) is a heterogenous group of tumors analyzed as a unique group because of the rarity of each histopathological subtype. Initial information available has been obtained from adult series or pediatric case studies. Recent reports by several multi-center groups have been published that evaluated prognostic factors and treatment protocols. Established prognostic factors include tumor grade, invasiveness, size, and intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma study (IRS) group. Identification of sarcoma-specific chromosomal translocations has allowed for more accurate definitive diagnosis. Some may have prognostic significance and may offer as potential therapeutic targets. Surgery remained important, as many of the tumors are scarcely chemosensitive. With the development of multimodalities, surgical management has evolved over the years. Patients with localized unresectable disease are managed with surgery +/− radiotherapy with very good results. Localized unresectable disease is intermediate in behavior and prognosis. Patients are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, +/− radiotherapy, followed by delayed surgical resection. Prognosis in patients with metastatic disease has been poor despite combination chemotherapy with surgical resection. The addition of ifosfamide and doxorubicin in the chemotherapy regimes has provided some improvement. With the lack of new active agents, we will depend on advances in molecular techniques to develop novel targeted therapies, better molecular markers and histology-specific trials to evaluate this group of tumors.
Polymerization of actin does not regulate desensitization in human basophils

Previous studies have suggested that maintenance of IgE-mediated signaling results from regulation of the activity of signaling complexes by actin polymerization. This process is also hypothesized to be related to desensitization of basophils and mast cells. Recent studies demonstrated that any signaling process dependent on syk or PI-3K activity cannot be a mechanism of desensitization, and in this context, syk and PI-3K inhibitors were found to inhibit actin polymerization. Inhibitors of actin polymerization were tested for their effect on desensitization of human peripheral blood basophils. Latrunculin A, in particular, removed all resting and stimulated f-actin but did not inhibit desensitization. Cytochalasin D and latrunculin A also did not reverse the loss of syk phosphorylation that accompanies desensitization. These results demonstrate that desensitization mechanisms are not dependent on actin polymerization. In this context, it was also shown that progressive immobilization of FceRI during aggregation was sensitive to syk or actin polymerization inhibition. Therefore, desensitization is also not dependent on receptor immobilization. These studies demonstrate that desensitization is not the result of two signaling pathways once considered relevant to down-regulation of IgE-mediated signaling.
Severity of leukoaraiosis, leptomeningeal collaterals, and clinical outcomes after intra-arterial therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background and purpose Leukoaraiosis (LA) is defined as ischemic white matter lesions associated with increased stroke risk and poor post-stroke outcomes. These lesions are likely the result of diffuse angiopathic changes affecting the cerebral small vessels. We investigated whether pre-existing LA burden is associated with outcomes in patients with large cerebral artery occlusion undergoing intra-arterial therapy (IAT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods We analyzed consecutive AIS subjects undergoing IAT from the institutional Get With The Guidelines-Stroke database enrolled between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009, who had National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores of ≥8, baseline diffusion weighted imaging volume ≤100 mL, and evidence of proximal artery occlusion (PAO) on pre-IAT computed tomography angiography (CTA). LA volume (LAv) was assessed on fluid attenuated inversion recovery MRI using a validated semi-automated protocol. We used CTA for collateral grade, post-IAT angiogram for recanalization status (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b), and the 24 h head CT for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of 90 day post-stroke good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) and mortality. Results Increasing LAv independently reduced the odds of good collateral grade (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.98). Good functional outcome was independently predicted by intravenous tissue plasminogen activator use (OR 12.86, 95% CI 2.20 to 76.28), and recanalization status (OR 6.94, 95% CI 1.56 to 30.86). Mortality was independently associated with recanalization status (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.51), age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.15), and antecedent use of hypoglycemic agents (OR 6.55, 95% CI 1.58 to 54.01). Conclusions Severity of LA is linked to poor collateral grade in AIS patients undergoing IAT for PAO; however, greater LAv appears not to be a contraindication for acute intervention.
Erratum to: Dissolution Similarity Requirements: How Similar or Dissimilar Are the Global Regulatory Expectations?

The objective of this article is to compare and contrast the international expectations associated with the model-independent similarity factor approach to comparing dissolution profiles. This comparison highlights globally divergent regulatory requirements to meet local dissolution similarity requirements. In effect, experiments customized to meet the current international regulatory expectations for dissolution and drug release unnecessarily increase manufacturing costs, hinder science and risk-based approaches, increase collective regulatory burden, reduce continuous improvement and innovation, and potentially delay patient access to urgently needed medication. Comparative assessment of regulatory differences in applying dissolution to demonstrate product similarity is crucial to reduce non-scientifically justified experiments and foster collaborative harmonization among global regulatory health authorities and the pharmaceutical industry.
Validity of hospital discharge diagnosis codes for stroke: The atherosclerosis risk in communities study

Background and Purpose—Characterizing International Classification of Disease 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code validity is essential given widespread use of hospital discharge databases in research. Using the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, we estimated the accuracy of ICD-9-CM stroke codes. Methods—Hospitalizations with ICD-9-CM codes 430 to 438 or stroke keywords in the discharge summary were abstracted for ARIC cohort members (1987–2010). A computer algorithm and physician reviewer classified definite and probable ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Using ARIC classification as a gold standard, we calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity of ICD-9-CM codes grouped according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) 2013 categories and an alternative code grouping for comparison. Results—Thirty-three percent of 4260 hospitalizations were validated as strokes (1251 ischemic, 120 int...
Management of a Patient with a Diagnosis of Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinitis

This case report describes an approach for determining when fabricated orthoses might be useful in the treatment of a patient with foot-related problems. The patient is of special interest because she is an aerobics instructor, and her type of injury is relatively common. Particular emphasis in the report is placed on hypothesizing the cause of the patient's complaints and then basing treatment on that hypothesis.
Social Capital Benefits of Peer Mentoring Relationships in Law School

Scholars have addressed the rigors of law school and suggest mentorship may help students better navigate their educational environments. However, literature largely addresses the role of faculty mentors, less often considering peer mentors in the law school context. This study explores first-year law students' motivations in forming peer mentoring relationships and the roles peer mentors play in students' lives. Analyses of survey and focus group data collected from 203 first-year law students at eleven institutions reveal that the majority rely on peer support, forming formal, informal, and "organizational" peer-mentoring relationships. Relationship formation is motivated by students' acknowledged need for help transitioning into law school, a lack of formal academic advising, and the discomfort associated with seeking faculty assistance. Mentoring relationships also represent an important form of social capital for new students, introducing them to the academic rigors of law school while also offering individualized social support.
Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory

In this section of the book we turn from the mechanistic, drive reduction theories of Freud and Hull to the cognitive, expectancy-value framework advocated by Kurt Lewin. John Atkinson, and Julian Rotter. Lewin is the key transition figure between Sections I and II of this book, for his theory contains many of the tension-reduction notions advocated by Freud and Hull. However, these ideas are incorporated within a more cognitive conception of behavior. Lewin thus provides the bridge from the past to the present. Lewin also was the first psychologist to test experimentally some of Freud’s beliefs about psychodynamics and insisted upon the study of complex, everyday behaviors. Yet he built a quasi-mathematical model of behavior that is surprisingly similar to Hull’s Drive X Habit theory. In this manner, a step was made to include the divergent goals of Freud and Hull within one framework. Later in this book, we will also learn that Lewin greatly influenced attribution theory, another conception for the study of motivation, and even initiated the “T-group” (group therapy) movement, an essential component of humanistic psychology (see Chapter Nine). The pervasive contributions and influence of Lewin often go unnoticed by psychologists. His theory has had a fate similar to what American economists label as “creeping socialism”—we do not like to admit its presence, but readily accept the benefits that it brings.
Testimony on Law Enforcement in Indian Country before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 110th Congress, 1st Session

Public safety and criminal justice on Indian reservations are better served when Indian tribes play a central role in these functions. Most of the successes of law enforcement in Indian country have involved careful cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies of different sovereigns. Even informal cooperation can be highly effective in improving public safety. Lack of cooperation undermines public safety.
Experimental vibration analysis of the zigzag structure for energy harvesting

The results of the previously developed analytical model for vibrations of a zigzag microstructure is compared with the findings from Rayleigh’s method and experiments. Cantilever type energy harvesters use a substrate to mount a piezoelectric transduction element on. The maximum power output of such device is when the substrate fundamental frequency is near to dominant frequency of ambient vibration insuring a resonance response maximizing the strain into piezoelectric material. The high natural frequencies of the existing designs of MEMS vibrational energy harvesters are due to their short length constraint and present a serious drawback in the development of MEMS scale energy harvesting devices. The zigzag design was proposed by the authors and was proved capable of reducing the natural frequency of the MEMS harvesters. The electromechanical vibrations of the zigzag structures have been analytically modeled. This paper verifies the findings from analytical model by remodeling the structure using Rayleigh’s approach. It also compares the previous model with experimental results. The previous model neglected the mass of the links and that results in a noticeable underestimation of the natural frequencies. After modifying the analytical model and considering the link masses the model and the experiment match.
Querying constraints

The design of languages to tackle constraint satisfaction problems has a long history. Only more recently the reverse problem of introducing constraints as primitive constructs in programming languages has been addressed. A main task that the designers and implementers of such languages face is to use and adapt the concepts and algorithms from the extensive studies on constraints done in areas such as Mathematical Programming, Symbolic Computation, Artificial Intelligence, Program Verification and Computational Geometry. In this paper, we illustrate this task in a simple and yet important domain: linear arithmetic constraints. We show how one can design a querying system for sets of linear constraints by using basic concepts from logic programming and symbolic computation, as well as algorithms from linear programming and computational geometry. We conclude by reporting briefly on how notions of negation and canonical representation used in linear constraints can be generalized to account for cases in term algebras, symbolic computation, affine geometry, and elsewhere.
Film Ties: Crowd-sourced Teaching of Cinematography Using Intelligent Example Galleries

Learning the craft of cinematography involves understanding when to use particular camera shots to communicate a given narrative. Although guidelines exist for frequently-used or idiomatic scenarios, the filmmaker must also consider her individual style, narrative context, and 3D scene configuration. Consequently, our Web-based, social interface for teaching film enables educators to create and share their own example shots and rationale for their selection. This collaborative system crowdsources the aesthetic expertise of instructors and intelligently suggests applicable example shots and commentaries to all students. This paper presents preliminary evaluation of the prototype.
HIP of Powder Mixtures

Models of pressure-sintering and consolidation (such as that found in the HIP process) often assume a uniform spherical powder. However, it is known that use of mixtures, containing particles of differing composition and/or size, alters the initial powder packing and subseguent HIPing behavior. We have experimentally investigated these effects using the simplest form of mixture; a bi-modal powder with various size ratios and particle fractions. Packing experiments confirm the existence of “optimum” packing fractions for which the density is maximized over both monosized and the as-received (continuously distributed) powders. During HIPing these powder mixes remain relatively more dense than monosize packings. The consolidation of composite powder mixtures as well as microstructural evolution during HIP are also discussed. Results are compared with those predicted by modeling.
Ideology and Discourse Some Differences Between State-Planned and Community-Based Justice*

Ethnographic methods were used to study alternative dispute resolution as practiced by two mediation projects. Observations of actual mediation sessions, interviews with key informants, and archival data were used. The authors found that the projects could be distinguished according to (a) uses of coercion and consensus in effecting a resolution, (b) the type of posturing that took place between mediator and disputants, and (c) the type of discourse employed. The authors argue that differences between the two projects emanated from whether the project was planned and executed by a state agency or whether it was community-based.
GENOTYPIC VARIATION AND CLONAL STRUCTURE IN CORAL POPULATIONS WITH DIFFERENT DISTURBANCE HISTORIES.

Genotypic diversity in six populations of the endemic Hawaiian reef coral, Porites compressa, was directly related to habitat-disturbance history. The highest diversity (lowest amount of clonal proliferation) was found in populations that had been intensely or recently disturbed. In these populations, space was not limited and mean colony size was small ( 2500 cm2 ). Populations in intermediately disturbed habitats showed intermediate levels of diversity and clonal structure as a result of the combined contributions of sexual and asexual reproduction. Individual clones were distributed over small areas ( 256 m2 ) and over longer distances (> 90 m) in the older, undisturbed population. Interpretations of life-history parameters and estimates of total genetic variability in species that have the potential to reproduce asexually are dependent upon an assessment of the overall clonal structure of populations. The power of genotypic assays to reliably detect clonal versus unique colonies, as well as the spatial scales over which clonal populations are sampled, are critical to such assessments.
The Diffusive Instability in Growth: DLA, Dendritic Growth, and Solidification

We give an overview of the influence of the diffusive instability in forming various growth morphologies. We review dendritic growth of crystals, and discuss the DLA model as an approach to the disordered, fractal case. We consider various systems which are reasonably well described by DLA including island shapes in surface growth.
Whither the Resource Curse

What is it about oil? Whereas one might think that countries that produce the world's energy have it good, much scholarship has come to the conclusion that countries that produce oil have it bad: they are worse off economically and politically than they would otherwise be. This counter-intuitive idea has become so widespread that the “resource curse” is often discussed in popular outlets, from Thomas Friedman to Stephen Colbert. And yet scholarship is increasingly questioning whether this curse actually exists. After several decades of research on the topic, we still do not have a clear idea what it is about oil—if anything—that causes problems.
Effect of sodium depletion on the steroidogenic and pressor actions of angiotensin in the rat.

1. To investigate the relative roles of angiotensin II (AII) and des-Asp 1 -angiotensin II (angiotensin III) in the control of blood pressure and aldosterone release, the effects of seven angiotensin agonists on mean arterial blood pressure and serum aldosterone concentrations were compared in normal and sodium-depleted, conscious rats. 2. In normal rats, angiotensin I, α-Asp 1 -angiotensin II, β-Asp 1 -angiotensin II, and angiotensin II-amide were equipotent in elevating mean arterial blood pressure. Angiotensin III, des-Asp 1 -angiotensin I, and poly- O -acetylserine-angiotensin II were 25%, 25%, and 41% as potent as angiotensin II, respectively. After sodium depletion, pressor responses to these angiotensin peptides were reduced approximately 60–80% when compared with control responses. In contrast, pressor responses to noradrenaline were not significantly affected by sodium depletion. 3. Angiotensin II, β-Asp 1 -angiotensin II, angiotensin II-amide, and angiotensin III were equipotent in increasing serum aldosterone concentrations in normal animals. Angiotensin I was 59% and des-Asp 1 -angiotensin I only 5% as potent as angiotensin II in their abilities to release aldosterone. After sodium depletion, control serum aldosterone concentrations increased as did the slope of the dose—response curve for each angiotensin peptide. Angiotensin II was the most potent steroidogenic peptide in sodium-depleted rats with angiotensin III and β-Asp 1 -angiotensin II being 27%, angiotensin I 7%, angiotensin II-amide 3%, and des-Asp 1 -angiotensin I 1% as potent as angiotensin II in releasing aldosterone. Poly- O -acetylserine-angiotensin II has less steroidogenic effect than angiotensin II or III in both normal and sodium-depleted animals. 4. Infusions of the angiotensin II antagonist, Sar 1 -Ile 8 -angiotensin II, and the angiotensin III antagonist, Ile 7 -angiotensin III, enhanced aldosterone release in normal rats without altering blood pressure. After sodium depletion, Sar 1 -Ile 8 -angiotensin II decreased blood pressure without affecting aldosterone release whereas Ile 7 -angiotensin III diminished aldosterone release without altering blood pressure. 5. These data suggest that angiotensin II, independent of its conversion into angiotensin III, is an important regulator of steroidogenesis in the rat in normal sodium states. In sodium depletion, the octapeptide retains significant steroidogenic activity; however, the contribution of angiotensin III to its steroidogenic effects is increased.
Gas chromatographic determination of ethyl maltol in food

Objective:To establish a method for the determination of ethyl maltol in food by gas chromatography.Methods:Ethyl maltol was enriched by SPE column and determined by gas chromatography with DB-WAX column.Results:The calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 5 mg/L~100 mg/L,RSD was 0.59%~1.95%,the recovery was 85.1%~97.4%,the detection limit was 1.0 mg/L.Conclusion:The method has advantages of simple operation,high sensitivity as well as accurate results,which is suitable for the determation of ethyl maltol in food.
THE USE OF A STATIC MEASURE TO PREDICT FOOT POSTURE AT MIDSUPPORT DURING RUNNING.

Background The posture of the foot has been implicated as a factor in the development of running-related injuries. A static measure of foot posture, such as the longitudinal arch angle (LAA), that can be easily performed and is predictive of the posture of the foot at midsupport while running could provide valuable information to enhance the clinician's overall evaluation of the runner.
Evaluation of transient pin-stress requirements for spacecraft launching in Lightning environments: Pain free analysis to alleviate those pin stress headaches

Spacecraft are generally protected from direct lightning attachment by encapsulation within the payload fairing of a launch vehicle and the ground structures that exist at the launch site. Regardless of where lightning strikes, potentially damaging indirect effects prevail from the coupling of electromagnetic fields into a loop created by outer shield of the payload umbilical. The energy coupled into individual spacecraft circuits is dependent on the umbilical current drive, the cable transfer impedance and the source/ load circuitry, and the reference potential used. Lightning induced transient susceptibility of the spacecraft avionics needs to be fully understood in order to define realistic re-test criteria in the event of a lightning occurrence during the launch campaign. Use of standards such as RTCA/DO-160 & SAE 5412 has some applicability but do not represent the indirect environment adequately. This paper evaluates the launch pad environments, the measurement data available, and computer simulations to provide pain-free analysis to alleviate the transient pin-stress headaches for spacecraft launching in Lightning environments.
Driven by Fear: Epidemics and Isolation in San Francisco’s House of Pestilence. History of Emotions Series. By Guenter B. Risse. Foreword by Peter N. Sterns

Driven by Fear: Epidemics and Isolation in San Francisco’s House of Pestilence. History of Emotions Series . By Guenter B. Risse. Foreword by Peter N. Sterns. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2016. xvi + 300 pp. Illustrations, notes, index. $95.00 cloth; $30.00 paper.) Eminent historian Guenter B. Risse adds to his stellar catalogue of research with his new book— Driven by Fear: Epidemics and Isolation in San Francisco’s House of Pestilence (2016). Risse, who counts the William H. Welch Medal (1988) and Lifetime Achievement Award (2005) from the American Association for the History of Medicine among his many accolades, again focuses his analytical eye on late nineteenth/early twentieth century San Francisco to examine the mix of “psychological, ideological and pragmatic reasons” for isolating the sick from the well which lays at the “junction of biology, culture, politics, race, and nativism.”1 Part of the University of Illinois Press’ new series on the role of emotion … george.dehner{at}wichita.edu
Hallucinations Experienced by Visually Impaired: Charles Bonnet Syndrome

: Charles Bonnet Syndrome is a condition where visual hallucinations occur as a result of damage along the visual pathway. Patients with Charles Bonnet Syndrome maintain partial or full insight that the hallucinations are not real, absence of psychological conditions, and absence of hallucinations affecting other sensory modalities, while maintaining intact intellectual functioning. Charles Bonnet Syndrome has been well documented in neurologic, geriatric medicine, and psychiatric literature, but there is lack of information in optometric and ophthalmologic literature. Therefore, increased awareness of signs and symptoms associated with Charles Bonnet Syndrome is required among practicing clinicians. This review of the literature will also identify other etiologies of visual hallucinations, pathophysiology of Charles Bonnet Syndrome, and effective management strategies.
Understanding the Oxide Superconductors

Here you will find descriptions of the various classes of compounds in which bonding between metal atoms and oxygen is a prominent feature and which become superconducting at relatively high temperatures (often greater than 77K). Compounds of this kind, much investigated since the epochal work of Bednorz and Muller in 1986, are high-temperature or high-transition-temperature superconductors — usually referred to as high-T c superconductors. It is argued that the bonds referred to, which are affected by doping, give rise to resonances (somewhat narrow absorptions) in the spectral density function associated with the dielectric permittivity DP (as defined in one of the usual ways), and that these resonances (excitations) can lead to Cooper-pairing of the electrons and hence superconductivity. The resonances are excitations of many (coupled) small sub-systems, in each of which the distances between the metal and oxygen atoms are strongly sensitive to the state of excitation of the bonding electrons. It is argued further that analysis of such a system is greatly facilitated by including at an early stage consideration of its DP. DP’s for simple model systems are exhibited, special attention being paid to the way in which the resonances are incorporated in them and how these resonances enter into the determination of T c as a functional of the DP. Finally, it is conjectured that Bose condensation of bipolarons formed form the self-trapped holes which give rise to the resonances — as well as Cooper-pairing of the electrons — can contribute to the superconductivity of these oxides.
How to Study Ethnogeriatrics from the Global to the Local

Health disparities at the population level are the consequences of health-related actions of health care workers, public and private policy that constrain their actions, and the individual decisions of patients. Our language supports the implicit assumption that difference imparts disadvantage. We are able to make granular distinctions among people “like us” to an extent far greater than we can among people who are superficially “not like us.” The idea for this chapter is to explain the kinds of data and research designs we can use in ethnogeriatrics and to consider the limitations of each to address “disparities” in care for the elderly that seem to be based on cultural factors.
Non-linearity cancellation in MEMS resonators for improved power-handling

In this work, we present mathematical analysis and experimental verification of the bifurcation limited power handling in MEMS resonators. We report useful cancellation between electrical and mechanical non-linearities. Within the scaling limits it has been found that the power handling improves for devices with larger electrode to resonator gaps. We also report an alternative method of measuring critical bifurcation using shifts in resonant frequency
Mechanisms behind Prolonged Effects of Parental Divorce: A Phenomenological Study

ABSTRACTMuch research has been aimed at evaluating the effect of divorce on children. The effects via the perceptions of adult children of divorce, however, are substantially underrepresented in this literature. Further, the studies that are published are out of date (often 20 years old), thus leading to questions as to whether the effects are the same as described. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain a retrospective analysis directly from adults who experienced their parents’ divorce in childhood to understand what aspects of the divorce, either positive or negative, followed them into adulthood. Specifically, we were interested in learning the mechanisms contributing to such effects. Eight women and 1 man participated in semistructured interviews. Participants identified communication and support as key factors in their experience, both positively and negatively. Implications for clinical treatment are presented.
Lumbee traditional medicine: Neuroprotective activities of medicinal plants used to treat Parkinson's disease-related symptoms

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder affecting 5% of the population over the age of 85 years. Current treatments primarily involve dopamine replacement therapy, which leads to temporary relief of motor symptoms but fails to slow the underlying neurodegeneration. Thus, there is a need for safe PD therapies with neuroprotective activity. In this study, we analyzed contemporary herbal medicinal practices used by members of the Pikuni-Blackfeet tribe from Western Montana to treat PD-related symptoms, in an effort to identify medicinal plants that are affordable to traditional communities and accessible to larger populations. Aim of the study The aims of this study were to (i) identify medicinal plants used by the Pikuni-Blackfeet tribe to treat individuals with symptoms related to PD or other CNS disorders, and (ii) characterize a subset of the identified plants in terms of antioxidant and neuroprotective activities in cellular models of PD. Materials and methods Interviews of healers and local people were carried out on the Blackfeet Indian reservation. Plant samples were collected, and water extracts were produced for subsequent analysis. A subset of botanical extracts was tested for the ability to induce activation of the Nrf2-mediated transcriptional response and to protect against neurotoxicity elicited by the PD-related toxins rotenone and paraquat. Results The ethnopharmacological interviews resulted in the documentation of 26 medicinal plants used to treat various ailments and diseases, including symptoms related to PD. Seven botanical extracts (out of a total of 10 extracts tested) showed activation of Nrf2-mediated transcriptional activity in primary cortical astrocytes. Extracts prepared from Allium sativum cloves, Trifolium pratense flowers, and Amelanchier arborea berries exhibited neuroprotective activity against toxicity elicited by rotenone, whereas only the extracts prepared from Allium sativum and Amelanchier arborea alleviated PQ-induced dopaminergic cell death. Conclusions Our findings highlight the potential clinical utility of plants used for medicinal purposes over generations by the Pikuni-Blackfeet people, and they shed light on mechanisms by which the plant extracts could slow neurodegeneration in PD.
Butyric anhydride modified lignin and its oil-water interfacial properties

Abstract A bio-based surfactant was prepared by chemical modification of kraft lignin. Herein, grafting of butyric anhydride (BA), 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS) and 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) onto kraft lignin were conducted to change its amphiphilicity and the chemical reactions were confirmed by FTIR, 1H NMR, GPC, TGA and 31P NMR. The lignin modified with MPS and BIBB was only partially dissolved in organic monomers due to the low grafting ratio. In contrast, over 95% of the hydroxyl group conversion was achieved when BA was used. The BA modified lignin (lignin-B) was found to be completely soluble in the monomers. The interfacial tension measurement indicated the capability of lignin-B to decrease the interface energy between water and styrene from 35 J m−2 to 15 J m−2. As the result, a stable water-in-oil emulsion was achieved using lignin-B as the emulsifier. The average diameters of emulsion droplets were 499.4 nm and 363.9 nm with a lignin-B content of 0.5 wt% and 5 wt% respectively. Due to both steric and electrokinetic effects, the as-prepared water-in-oil emulsion was kept stable over 30 days. These results suggest that lignin-B has a promising potential to be used as a bio-based surfactant.
Application of the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis (Sepsis-3) Classification: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

Summary Background The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) present clinical criteria for the classification of patients with sepsis. We investigated incidence and long-term outcomes of patients diagnosed with these classifications, which are currently unknown. Methods We did a retrospective analysis using data from 30 239 participants from the USA who were aged at least 45 years and enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Patients were enrolled between Jan 25, 2003, and Oct 30, 2007, and we identified hospital admissions from Feb 5, 2003, to Dec 31, 2012, and applied three classifications: infection and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, elevated sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score from Sepsis-3, and elevated quick SOFA (qSOFA) score from Sepsis-3. We estimated incidence during the study period, in-hospital mortality, and 1-year mortality. Findings Of 2593 first infection events, 1526 met SIRS criteria, 1080 met SOFA criteria, and 378 met qSOFA criteria. Incidence was 8·2 events (95% CI 7·8–8·7) per 1000 person-years for SIRS, 5·8 events (5·4–6·1) per 1000 person-years for SOFA, and 2·0 events (1·8–2·2) per 1000 person-years for qSOFA. In-hospital mortality was higher for patients with an elevated qSOFA score (67 [23%] of 295 patients died) than for those with an elevated SOFA score (125 [13%] of 960 patients died) or who met SIRS criteria (128 [9%] of 1392 patients died). Mortality at 1 year after discharge was also highest for patients with an elevated qSOFA score (29·4 deaths [95% CI 22·3–38·7] per 100 person-years) compared with those with an elevated SOFA score (22·6 deaths [19·2–26·6] per 100 person-years) or those who met SIRS criteria (14·7 deaths [12·5–17·2] per 100 person-years). Interpretation SIRS, SOFA, and qSOFA classifications identified different incidences and mortality. Our findings support the use of the SOFA and qSOFA classifications to identify patients with infection who are at elevated risk of poor outcomes. These classifications could be used in future epidemiological assessments and studies of patients with infection. Funding National Institute for Nursing Research, National Center for Research Resources, and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Time as Space in the Structure of (Literary) Experience: The Prelude

As an essentially temporal yet highly patterned event, literary experience mirrors cognitive experience more generally. In both, past experience pervasively informs present experience and present experience, in turn, predicts and conditions future experience. In literature, however, this conversion of actual sequence into perceived superposition, of time into space, tends to be more palpable and accordingly more legible. Using the example of William Wordsworth’s spatial poetics as enacted in The Prelude and as analyzed by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Geoffrey Hartman, and Isobel Armstrong, this chapter argues that literary experience may provide unique insight and access into the temporal structure of cognition. This foundational dimension of cognitive experience is mischaracterized by our habitual conceptualizations of time, and as a consequence it has been largely overlooked in cognitive analyses of these conceptualizations, such as those proposed by blending theory. Attention to the temporal dynamics of literary comprehension may help to remedy this oversight.
Concentric substrate geometry for a multi-mode and dual-band rectangular array

This paper presents a multi-mode, planar array made up of co-located elements. The array operates in dual-bands, S- and X-band, with dual-polarizations. The dual-band operation necessitates different electrical spacing between the S-band and X-band array elements. We optimize the electrical spacing by co-locating dual-band radiating elements with X-band only elements. The enabling technology for the co-located spacing is a concentric dual substrate that shrinks the size of the S-band element with respect to the X-band element. The results show 13.2 dB of realized gain for a 3×3 rectangular array at 2.9 GHz and 20.5 dB of realized gain for a 5×5 rectangular array at 9.4 GHz. The array achieves 4 distinct modes of operation by achieving either horizontal or vertical polarization at each of the two bands.
The Early War of Resistance and the Changsha ymca, 1937-41

During the early stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-1945), organizations such as the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) were vital to the local and regional humanitarian relief effort in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. While the city endured intense bombing from Japanese planes, YMCA volunteers cared for the wounded and dug victims out of rubble. The work of Sophia Zhu Tierong 朱铁荣 (1915-2009) and her husband, Zhang Yifan 张以藩 (1906-1957), were integral to the YMCA ’s leadership and organization. Prior to Changsha’s Fire of 1938, the YMCA also organized an evacuation of refugees from the outskirts of the city to West Hunan. This paper argues that, in the wake of the Nationalist government’s preoccupation with the larger war effort, non-state agencies such as the YMCA were critical to the humanitarian relief effort in both the city and region.
Robust mutant strain design by pessimistic optimization.

Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) based mathematical modeling enables in silico prediction of systems behavior for genome-scale metabolic networks. Computational methods have been derived in the FBA framework to solve bi-level optimization for deriving “optimal” mutant microbial strains with targeted biochemical overproduction. The common inherent assumption of these methods is that the surviving mutants will always cooperate with the engineering objective by overproducing the maximum desired biochemicals. However, it has been shown that this optimistic assumption may not be valid in practice. We study the validity and robustness of existing bi-level methods for strain optimization under uncertainty and non-cooperative environment. More importantly, we propose new pessimistic optimization formulations: P-ROOM and P-OptKnock, aiming to derive robust mutants with the desired overproduction under two different mutant cell survival models: (1) ROOM assuming mutants have the minimum changes in reaction fluxes from wild-type flux values, and (2) the one considered by OptKnock maximizing the biomass production yield. When optimizing for desired overproduction, our pessimistic formulations derive more robust mutant strains by considering the uncertainty of the cell survival models at the inner level and the cooperation between the outer- and inner-level decision makers. For both P-ROOM and P-OptKnock, by converting multi-level formulations into single-level Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) problems based on the strong duality theorem, we can derive exact optimal solutions that are highly scalable with large networks. Our robust formulations P-ROOM and P-OptKnock are tested with a small E. coli core metabolic network and a large-scale E. coli iAF1260 network. We demonstrate that the original bi-level formulations (ROOM and OptKnock) derive mutants that may not achieve the predicted overproduction under uncertainty and non-cooperative environment. The knockouts obtained by the proposed pessimistic formulations yield higher chemical production rates than those by the optimistic formulations. Moreover, with higher uncertainty levels, both cellular models under pessimistic approaches produce the same mutant strains. In this paper, we propose a new pessimistic optimization framework for mutant strain design. Our pessimistic strain optimization methods produce more robust solutions regardless of the inner-level mutant survival models, which is desired as the models for cell survival are often approximate to real-world systems. Such robust and reliable knockout strategies obtained by the pessimistic formulations would provide confidence for in-vivo experimental design of microbial mutants of interest.
A deep auto-encoder model for gene expression prediction

Gene expression is a key intermediate level that genotypes lead to a particular trait. Gene expression is affected by various factors including genotypes of genetic variants. With an aim of delineating the genetic impact on gene expression, we build a deep auto-encoder model to assess how good genetic variants will contribute to gene expression changes. This new deep learning model is a regression-based predictive model based on the MultiLayer Perceptron and Stacked Denoising Auto-encoder (MLP-SAE). The model is trained using a stacked denoising auto-encoder for feature selection and a multilayer perceptron framework for backpropagation. We further improve the model by introducing dropout to prevent overfitting and improve performance. To demonstrate the usage of this model, we apply MLP-SAE to a real genomic datasets with genotypes and gene expression profiles measured in yeast. Our results show that the MLP-SAE model with dropout outperforms other models including Lasso, Random Forests and the MLP-SAE model without dropout. Using the MLP-SAE model with dropout, we show that gene expression quantifications predicted by the model solely based on genotypes, align well with true gene expression patterns. We provide a deep auto-encoder model for predicting gene expression from SNP genotypes. This study demonstrates that deep learning is appropriate for tackling another genomic problem, i.e., building predictive models to understand genotypes’ contribution to gene expression. With the emerging availability of richer genomic data, we anticipate that deep learning models play a bigger role in modeling and interpreting genomics.
An Examination of Second Language Education Provision Among U.S. and European Hospitality and Tourism Management Schools

The research investigated deans’ and directors’ attitudes toward and perceptions of the need for second language education and training in undergraduate hospitality and tourism courses in the United States and Europe and subsequently identified whether any differences exist in curricular programming efforts. The methodology utilized a mixed-methods approach that included (a) a qualitative assessment using content analysis of hospitality curricula from 4-year hospitality institutions and (b) a quantitative analysis of a questionnaire distributed online via the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education member listserv to U.S. and European hospitality and tourism school directors. The results highlight the disparity in approach between U.S. and European schools and emphasize the importance of second language education and training for successful student placement upon graduation. The regional differences suggest a need for a change in approach within the current U.S. educational system as it relates to the issue of 2nd language education and training
Divergent Small Tim Homologues Are Associated with TbTim17 and Critical for the Biogenesis of TbTim17 Protein Complexes in Trypanosoma brucei .

ABSTRACT The small Tim proteins belong to a group of mitochondrial intermembrane space chaperones that aid in the import of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins with internal targeting signals. Trypanosoma brucei, the protozoan parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis, possesses multiple small Tim proteins that include homologues of T. brucei Tim9 (TbTim9) and Tim10 (TbTim10) and a unique small Tim that shares homology with both Tim8 and Tim13 (TbTim8/13). Here, we found that these three small TbTims are expressed as soluble mitochondrial intermembrane space proteins. Coimmunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis showed that the small TbTims stably associated with each other and with TbTim17, the major component of the mitochondrial inner membrane translocase in T. brucei. Yeast two-hybrid analysis indicated direct interactions among the small TbTims; however, their interaction patterns appeared to be different from those of their counterparts in yeast and humans. Knockdown of the small TbTims reduced cell growth and decreased the steady-state level of TbTim17 and T. brucei ADP/ATP carrier (TbAAC), two polytopic mitochondrial inner membrane proteins. Knockdown of small TbTims also reduced the matured complexes of TbTim17 in mitochondria. Depletion of any of the small TbTims reduced TbTim17 import moderately but greatly hampered the stability of the TbTim17 complexes in T. brucei. Altogether, our results revealed that TbTim9, TbTim10, and TbTim8/13 interact with each other, associate with TbTim17, and play a crucial role in the integrity and maintenance of the levels of TbTim17 complexes. IMPORTANCE Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. The parasite’s mitochondrion represents a useful source for potential chemotherapeutic targets. Similarly to yeast and humans, mitochondrial functions depend on the import of proteins that are encoded in the nucleus and made in the cytosol. Even though the machinery involved in this mitochondrial protein import process is becoming clearer in T. brucei, a comprehensive picture of protein complex composition and function is still lacking. In this study, we characterized three T. brucei small Tim proteins, TbTim9, TbTim10, and TbTim8/13. Although the parasite does not have the classical TIM22 complex that imports mitochondrial inner membrane proteins containing internal targeting signals in yeast or humans, we found that these small TbTims associate with TbTim17, the major subunit of the TbTIM complex in T. brucei, and play an essential role in the stability of the TbTim17 complexes. Therefore, these divergent proteins are critical for mitochondrial protein biogenesis in T. brucei.
Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Probe Specific For The 230 Kilobase Pair Virulence Plasmid in Enteroinvasive Escherichia Coli and Shigella

Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli and the four Shigella species, S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. sonnei and S. boydii are the causative agents of bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) in higher primates. Shigella-induced infections are due to the ingestion of either contaminated water or, as is now becoming increasingly apparent, foods. The infective dose for humans is 101 to 104 bacterial cells, with an incubation period of 12–50 hours. The illness is characterized by cramps, nausea, diarrhea and bloody stools and usually lasts about 4 days. According to Smith,24 the primary reason for many outbreaks in the developed world is poor personal hygiene of food handlers who contaminate the food that they contact.