cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Basic sciences in medical education: why? How? When? Where?

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the medical education enterprise in the United States was in crisis. In the absence of clearly defined outcomes, proprietary medical schools enrolled large numbers of unqualified students who were not adequately prepared to practice medicine. These major inadequacies in medical training prompted Flexner’s (1910) landmark report, in which he insisted that medical education be university-based and that the curriculum should include rigorous instruction in basic science and that medical faculty should be heavily engaged in basic research (Weissmann 2008). As a result of this study, non-universitybased proprietary medical schools went out of business and university-based medical schools established research departments in basic biomedical sciences. Although the ‘‘scientific basis of medicine’’ was emphasized in curricula based on the Flexnerian model (Flexner 1910), this often led to a compartmentalization of preclinical and clinical studies. In 1940, the ‘‘Weiskotten Report’’ on medical education found dissatisfaction from preclinical education. Interestingly, it was noted that ‘‘in higher ranking schools the preclinical educational programs were less rigid and less formal than in the lower ranking schools’’ (Weiskotten et al. 1940). This observation shed light early on a possible future direction for basic sciences education. It was further reported that faculty in higher ranking departments believed ‘‘that the early appreciation of the various techniques as applied to clinical medicine detracted in no way from scientific value of these [basic science] courses’’ (Weiskotten et al. 1940). The 40 years following the ‘‘Weiskotten Report’’ (1940) are best characterized as an uncomfortable status quo. The lack of clinical relevance, lack of integration, and the division of preclinical and clinical instruction caused dissonance and dissatisfaction among preclinical teachers and students alike (McLaren 1980). Educators were most concerned about the learning and retention of basic science knowledge. Most of the preclinical medical science was taught in a passive, lecturebased format by basic scientists who felt uncomfortable trying to put their teaching into clinical contexts. This situation mirrored that of clinicians who also felt uncomfortable teaching basic science relevance in their clinical cases (McCrorie 2000). As time progressed, critics began to downplay the role of basic sciences in favor of other aspects of medical education (Boshuizen and Schmidt 1992; Whitcomb 2006), yet others became crusaders to preserve the essential role of basic sciences (Norman 2000). They expressed absolute confidence based on research evidence that basic science needed to remain a fundamental part of medical education (Norman 2007; Woods et al. 2007). Since the early 1990s, many medical curricula underwent
Artificial intelligence methods for theory representation and hypothesis formation

This article describes artificial intelligence methods for representing theories in molecular biology, and for improving the predictive power of these theories using experimental data. A program called GENSIM provides a framework for representing theories that includes descriptions of classes of biological objects (genes, enzymes, etc.), and processes that specify potential interactions among these objects (such as enzymatic reactions). GENSIM can employ a theory specified within this framework to predict the outcomes of biological experiments. A program called HYPGENE comes into play when the observed outcome of an experiment does not match the outcome predicted by GENSIM. HYPGENE works backward from the error in GENSIMs prediction to postulate changes to both the theory embodied by GENSIM, and the presumed initial conditions of the experiment. I view HYPGENEs hypothesis generation task as a design problem, and I have adapted AI methods developed for design and planning to this task. These techniques were developed in conjunction with an in-depth study of the discovery of the gene regulation mechanism of attenuation in the E. coli tryptophan operon. Both GENSIM and HYPGENE have been tested on sample problems from the history of attenuation, and produced many of the same solutions as biologists did.
Attitudes of BCLS instructors about mouth-to-mouth resuscitation during the AIDS epidemic

We surveyed 5,823 American Heart Association Virginia Affiliate basic cardiac life support (BCLS) instructors to assess the impact that the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic has had on their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with respect to the training and performance of mouth-to-mouth (MTM) ventilation. The response rate by those whose mail survey could be delivered to a valid address was 41% (women, 63%; men, 37%; mean age, 38 ± 1 years; health care providers, 87%; laypersons, 11%; and public safety workers, 2%). Of those surveyed, 49% had performed CPR within the past three years. Of these, 40% reported having hesitated to provide MTM ventilation at least once. Of those who had hesitated, more than one half identified fear of exposure to disease as the reason for their hesitation. Forty percent of all respondents had witnessed another provider hesitate to provide MTM ventilation. When presented with mock rescue scenarios, the majority of respondents indicated that they would not perform or would hesitate to perform MTM ventilation on most adult strangers. More than half felt that there was some risk of contracting AIDS from ventilating a manikin, and 71% said that their attitudes about providing CPR to strangers had changed as a result of the AIDS epidemic. We conclude that concern about AIDS appears to be adversely affecting the attitudes, beliefs, and self-reported behaviors of BCLS instructors in Virginia regarding the use of MTM ventilation on strangers.
Monte Carlo study of photoneutron production in U-235 following perturbations in cross section data

Active photon interrogation systems may be employed to detect high-Z isotopes without significant spontaneous fission emissions. These systems induce photonuclear reactions with emissions (such as fission neutrons) that may be detected. However, there are inconsistencies in the literature reporting resonance photonuclear interaction data for many isotopes. Recent publications show variations as large as 20% between various measurements of photonuclear cross section data. A perturbation methodology utilizing the modular nature of the MCNPX/MCNP-PoliMi code system has been implemented and is applied here to highly-enriched uranium. Monoenergetic photon sources between 8 and 18 MeV were simulated; neutron detection was performed using the MCNP-PoliMi liquid scintillator model. At photon energies less than 12 MeV, the number of detected neutrons is approximately 70% sensitive to changes in the (c, f) cross section and 30% sensitive to changes in the (c, n) cross section. As gamma-ray energy increases the (c, f) sensitivity increases and the (c, n) sensitivity decreases. There is a small (c ,2 n) sensitivity at photon energies between 15 and 17 MeV. The ability of modern simulation tools to predict photonuclear responses is greatly limited in this energy region due to the high sensitivity of the simulated results to
Depth sectioning of attenuation

We derive an approach for imaging attenuative sample parameters with a confocal scanning system. The technique employs computational processing to form the estimate in a pixel-by-pixel manner from measurements at the Fourier plane, rather than detecting a focused point at a pinhole. While conventional imaging system analysis and design assumes an independent scatterer at each point in the sample, attenuation must be treated with a tomographic approach. We show that a simple estimator may be derived that requires minimal computation and compare it to the conventional pinhole estimate. The method can potentially be used to image attenuation parameters and occlusion with incoherent detection, as well as refractive index variation with coherent detection, and could potentially allow for video rate imaging due to its computational simplicity. We further consider the application to the problem of an unknown gain or phase value, such as in the measurement of phase with a gradient sensor. And we propose a technique to mitigate the effect by computationally imaging off-focus planes. The principles are demonstrated with numerical simulations in two dimensions.
Urodynamic evaluation of lower urinary tract function in cats after perineal urethrostomy with minimal and extensive dissection.

Perineal urethrostomy was performed in five male cats with minimal, sharp intrapelvic transection of the ischiocavernous and ischiourethralis muscles and ventral penile ligaments, and in five male cats with extensive blunt intrapelvic dissection and sharp muscle transection. Urethral pressure profiles and cystometrograms with simultaneous fine wire electrode sphincter electromyography were performed in sedated cats before surgery and on days 14 and 28. Premicturition pressure, urethral opening pressure, maximum detrusor pressure, total volume infused, and residual volume were measured during cystometry, and maximal urethral closure pressure was measured during profilometry. A grading of (+), (++), or (+++) was used to represent the intensity of electromyographic activity. There was no difference between minimal and extensive dissection for any cystometrogram or profile variable at days 14 or 28. Urethral opening pressure and maximal detrusor pressure during cystometrography were higher in preoperative studies than after minimal or extensive dissection. Sphincter electromyography after surgery was not significantly different from preoperative results in either surgical group. The results of this study indicate that neither sharp nor blunt intrapelvic dissection significantly alters the postoperative urodynamic status in male cats.
The Evolving Board: A Look at the Board's Changing Roles and Information Needs

In looking at the practices of firms in developing active boards with highly informed directors, information needs of directors were found to increase dramatically with increased board activity. This article discusses the changing role of the board and the corresponding change in director information needs.
A 1024-element high-performance silicon tactile imager

A 32*32-element capacitive silicon tactile imager, for use in precision robotics applications where high density and high resolution are important, is discussed. The silicon chip measures 1.6 cm*1.6 cm, and is organized in an X-Y matrix of 1024 capacitor elements on 0.5-mm centers. The process uses two boron diffusions (deep and shallow) followed by a silicon-to-glass electrostatic bonding step and subsequent unmasked wafer dissolution. This results in a thick center plate for the sense capacitor supported by thinner beams. Only four noncritical masking steps for silicon and two for glass are required. A measured force sensitivity of 0.27 pF/gmf/element, temperature sensitivity of less than 3o p.p.m./ degrees C, and maximum operating force of approximately=1 gm/element has been obtained. A discrete data acquisition system used with the device offers over 6 b of force resolution, and the imager can be read at a rate of 15-20 mu s/element, offering an effective frame rate of 5.1 ms. >
Systems in English Grammar: An Introduction for Language Teachers

Unit I: The Building Blocks of English Chapter 1: Words Chapter 2: Groups of Words Unit II: The Verb Chapter 3: The Auxiliary System Chapter 4: The Verb Tense System Chapter 5: The Negation System Chapter 6: The Modal System Chapter 7: The Question System Unit III: The Noun Chapter 8: Subjects and Objects Chapter 9: The Pronoun System Chapter 10: The Determiner System Chapter 11: The Adjective System Unit IV: The Adverb Chapter 12: The Adverbial System Chapter 13: The Preposition and Particle Systems Unit V: Sentence Combining Chapter 14: The Coordination and Subordination System Chapter 15: The Complement System Appendixes Answer Key to Exercise Irregular Verbs Index
Attention and emotion: Does rating emotion alter neural responses to amusing and sad films?

Functional neuroimaging of affective systems often includes subjective self-report of the affective response. Although self-report provides valuable information regarding participants' affective responses, prior studies have raised the concern that the attentional demands of reporting on affective experience may obscure neural activations reflecting more natural affective responses. In the present study, we used potent emotion-eliciting amusing and sad films, employed a novel method of continuous self-reported rating of emotion experience, and compared the impact of rating with passive viewing of amusing and sad films. Subjective rating of ongoing emotional responses did not decrease either self-reported experience of emotion or neural activations relative to passive viewing in any brain regions. Rating, relative to passive viewing, produced increased activity in anterior cingulate, insula, and several other areas associated with introspection of emotion. These results support the use of continuous emotion measures and emotionally engaging films to study the dynamics of emotional responding and suggest that there may be some contexts in which the attention to emotion induced by reporting emotion experience does not disrupt emotional responding either behaviorally or neurally.
A Distributed Algorithm for Congestion-Minimized Multi-Path Routing Over Ad-Hoc Networks

When an ad hoc network with limited link capacities is used to transport high-rate, latency-constrained multimedia streams, it is important that routing algorithms not only yield high aggregated bandwidth, but also minimize network congestion to avoid excessive delay. We propose a distributed algorithm to achieve congestion-minimized multi-path routing. The optimal solution can be approximated by decomposing the total target rate into a sequence of rate increments, and using the classical Bellman-Ford algorithm to find a corresponding minimum-cost route for each increment. Simulation results for video streaming over an ad hoc network show that compared to a centralized scheme, the approximations introduced by the distributed algorithm lead to performance loss of less than 0.5 dB in PSNR of received video quality
The Relationship of CdS/CdTe Cell Band Profiles to J-V Characteristics and Bias-Dependent Quantum Efficiency

The built-in voltage (Vbi) and the charged electronic state (ES) distribution in a solar cell determine its conduction and valence band profiles. Changes in the charge state of the ES give rise to J-V curve anomalies like cross-over, roll-over, and, in some cases, long J-V and capacitance transient effects. CdTe is highly compensated containing deep donor- and acceptor-like ES, with larger densities than the shallow acceptor density. For close compensation, the charge density in the depletion layer can be so low that Vbi is determined by the front and back contact work functions. In that case the cells must be analyzed in terms of an n/i/p junction model. AMPS models of two extreme profiles are discussed here as illustrations: an n/i/p junction, where Vbi is mainly supported by charge at the contacts, and an n/p junction, where Vbi is supported by charge in the bulk CdTe within the absorber.
Exceptional survival: Double inlet left ventricle presenting with aortic dissection

Adult survival with unoperated univentricular heart is unusual, particularly into the latter decades. Survival is most common in balanced circulations, such as double inlet left ventricle with moderate pulmonary stenosis. We describe a woman who presented with an aortic dissection and previously unrecognized univentricular heart.
A direct active set algorithm for large sparse quadratic programs with simple bounds

We show how a direct active set method for solving definite and indefinite quadratic programs with simple bounds can be efficiently implemented for large sparse problems. All of the necessary factorizations can be carried out in a static data structure that is set up before the numeric computation begins. The space required for these factorizations is no larger than that required for a single sparse Cholesky factorization of a matrix with the same sparsity structure as the Hessian of the quadratic. We propose several improvements to this basic algorithm: a new way to find a search direction in the indefinite case that allows us to free more than one variable at a time and a new heuristic method for finding a starting point. These ideas are motivated by the two-norm trust region problem. Additionally, we also show how projection techniques can be used to add several constraints to the active set at each iteration. Our experimental results show that an algorithm with these improvements runs much faster than the basic algorithm for positive definite problems and finds local minima with lower function values for indefinite problems.
On broken conformal invariance

The equal-time commutator algebra satisfied by the generators of the broken conformal group is derived. These expressions are then used to discuss Coleman's theorem for dilatations and conformal transformations and to give necessary and sufficient conditions in order for all the components of a local operator to have the same dimension.
Expanding the Range of Automatic Emotion Detection in Microblogging Text

Detecting emotions on microblogging sites such as Twitter is a subject of interest among researchers in behavioral studies investigating how people react to different events, topics, etc., as well as among users hoping to forge stronger and more meaningful connections with their audience through social media. However, existing automatic emotion detectors are limited to recognize only the basic emotions. I argue that the range of emotions that can be detected in microblogging text is richer than the basic emotions, and restricting automatic emotion detectors to identify only a small set of emotions limits their practicality in real world applications. Many complex emotions are ignored by current automatic emotion detectors because they are not programmed to seek out these “undefined” emotions. The first part of my investigation focuses on discovering the range of emotions people express on Twitter using manual content analysis, and the emotional cues associated with each emotion. I will then use the gold standard data developed from the first part of my investigation to inform the features to be extracted from text for machine learning, and identify the emotions that machine learning models are able to reliably detect from the range of emotions which humans can reliably detect in microblogging text.
A Closer Look at Business Education: China

The Chinese economy is hot, and MBA education in China is even hotter. For example, applications to MIT's traditional MBA program are down 30% since 2002, yet applications to their program in China have tripled since 1997. As China's role in the world economy grows, Chinese MBAs will, like their global counterparts, need to be trained to manage the social and environmental complexities of everyday business. And non-Chinese MBAs must get ready to face those complexities when acting in China.
Novel modeling of hydrogen/oxygen detonation

A standard ignition delay problem for a mixture of hydrogen, oxygen, and argon in a shock tube is extended to the viscous regime and solved using the method of Intrinsic Low Dimensional Manifolds (ILDM) coupled with a Wavelet Adaptive Multilevel Representation (WAMR) spatial discretization technique. An operator splitting method is used to describe the reactions as a system of ordinary differential equations at each spatial point. The ILDM method is used to eliminate the stiffness associated with the chemistry by decoupling processes which evolve on fast and slow time scales. The fast time scale processes are systematically equilibrated, thereby reducing the dimension of the phase space required to describe the reactive system. The WAMR captures the detailed spatial structures automatically with a small number of basis functions thereby further reducing the number of variables required to describe the system. Using a maximum of only 300 collocation points and 15 scale levels allows results with striking resolution of fine scale viscous and induction zones to be obtained. Additionally, the resolution of physical diffusion processes minimizes the effects of potentially reaction-inducing artificial entropy layers associated with numerical diffusion.
Cloud Fuzzy Inference and Classification based on Double-Spectrum Satellite Images

Based on the observed facts and actual experience as well as the qualitative analysis and diag-noses on the cloud structure characters of satellite images,some judgement factors and fuzzy inference rulesfor classifying cloud were picked-up by using fuzzy inference method with fuzzy/defuzzy treatment on thejudgement factors and optimization adjustment on the membership functions,a quantitative fuzzy inferencemodel for classifying cloud of satellite images was established. The results of 4 kinds of common cloud'sfuzzy inference classification experiments show that the fuzzy inference method is superior to traditionaldiscriminance in the aspect of quantification, objectivity and automatization,which promises to be appliedin the fields of satellite remote sensing data treatment and weather forecast.
Analysis of Corona Discharge in 500kV Insulator String with Zero Insulators

Insulator string containing zero value insulator may result in lightning trip-out accidents of transmission lines. Based on finite element method, the electric field distribution of insulator strings containing zero value insulator is studied. With the corona discharge data observed by the UV detector, corona discharge of the insulator string is also studied. With 3D model of the insulator string built and the insulator string with zero value insulator considered, the electric field distribution of the model is simulated. The corona discharge of the insulator string with zero value insulator has been observed using UV detection. The electric field analysis result agrees with the measured data, where the electric field near the zero value insulator is distorted and the corona discharge observed by ultraviolet detector occurs near the zero value insulator. Therefore, field distortion caused by zero value insulator is one of the important reasons for corona discharge near zero value insulator. The result can be used for external insulation diagnosis and assessment of high voltage power transmission equipment with UV detection.
An Approach to the Management of Obesity in Childhood

In the management of the obese child, the physician must first eliminate an endogenous etiology for the condition. Then, he must proceed with a multifaceted treatment program that will take into consideration the emotional and physical risks of exogenous obesity, the benefits of early intervention, and the efficacy of current modes of therapy.
Reversible and irreversible effects of nitric oxide on the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

The effects of NO on the H2-oxidizing and diaphorase activities of the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 were investigated. With fully activated enzyme, NO (8-150 nM in solution) inhibited H2 oxidation in a time- and NO-concentration-dependent process. Neither H2 nor NAD+ appeared to protect the enzyme against the inhibition. Loss of activity in the absence of an electron acceptor was about 10 times slower than under turnover conditions. The inhibition was partially reversible; approx. 50% of full activity was recoverable after removal of the NO. Recovery was slower in the absence of an electron acceptor than in the presence of H2 plus an electron acceptor. The diaphorase activity of the unactivated hydrogenase was not affected by NO concentrations of up to 200 microM in solution. Exposure of the unactivated hydrogenase to NO irreversibly inhibited the ability of the enzyme to be fully activated for H2-oxidizing activity. The enzyme also lost its ability to respond to H2 during activation in the presence of NADH. The results are interpreted in terms of a complex inhibition that displays elements of (1) a reversible slow-binding inhibition of H2-oxidizing activity, (2) an irreversible effect on H2-oxidizing activity and (30 an irreversible inhibition of a regulatory component of the enzyme. Possible sites of action for NO are discussed.
A Procedure for Facilitating Physical Therapy Research

A procedure for facilitating research by physical therapists in a multidimensional practice setting is presented. The article addresses the need for physical therapists to be aware of research opportunities, and provides them with a means for action when such opportunities occur. The developmental sequence of events is described starting with conceptualization and moving through current utilization of the procedure.
The Conventional Wisdom: The Standard Interpretation of Keynes

In order to make precise the way in which the promise of The General Theory, to radically change economic theory, has not been realized, we need to identify those concepts in The General Theory which are and those which are not a part of today’s mainstream macroeconomics. We need to make clear how the neglected ideas of Keynes lead to views about both the economy’s behavior and the possibilities and limitations of economic policy that are quite different from current conventional macroeconomics. This means that we will have to sharpen some of the clumsy presentations and fill in some gaps in the argument of The General Theory. This is necessary, for the neglected ideas have neither been made as precise nor been as fully worked out in academic debates as have the formulations which have been integrated into mainstream macroeconomics. However, before we turn to a presentation of an alternative interpretation of The General Theory, we need to survey the current standard interpretations of Keynes’s work, so that what we deviate from is clear.
Three months of weekly rifapentine plus isoniazid for latent tuberculosis treatment in solid organ transplant candidates

Isoniazid daily for 9 months is the recommended regimen for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates, but its use is controversial, due to reports of hepatotoxicity and low treatment completion rates. A 12-week course of once weekly directly observed therapy (DOT) with isoniazid plus rifapentine (3HP) is a new LTBI treatment regimen. Tolerability and safety data of 3HP LTBI treatment in SOT candidates are limited. Twelve consecutive SOT candidates who underwent DOT with 3HP for LTBI at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA, between January 2013 and August 2016 were prospectively evaluated for tolerability and safety of 3HP. The diagnosis of LTBI was made in a person with a positive interferon-gamma release test, without a history of previously treated active or latent tuberculosis infection, and without signs, symptoms, or radiographic evidence of active tuberculosis. Patients were followed up 1 month after treatment completion and at routine follow-up visits with their transplant providers. Eleven patients were men, and the median age was 60 years (range 44–72). Eight patients were liver, and four kidney transplant candidates. The median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD score) was 17 (range 10–31). All patients completed treatment. Only a single patient developed transaminitis greater than twice the baseline value. Three patients underwent liver transplantation. None of them developed tuberculosis at 9, 22, or 40 months following transplantation. Directly observed 3HP LTBI treatment was not associated with hepatotoxicity, even in patients with higher MELD scores. Further studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of this LTBI treatment regimen in the SOT population.
Activity Restriction Recommendations and Outcomes After Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the relationship between prescribed postoperative activity recommendations (liberal compared with restricted) after reconstructive prolapse surgery and patient satisfaction and pelvic floor symptoms.METHODS:In our multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial, women underg
INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS IN PATIENTS WITH BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE: PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF OCCURENCE

Background: There are limited data regarding intracranial aneurysm (IA) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Methods: Retrospective review of patients with BAV who underwent brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at Mayo Clinic, 1994-2013. Study objective was to determine the
Phosphate Homeostasis in Cimetidine Treated Uremic Dogs

More than a decade ago, a secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH) was postulated to be directed at the maintenance of phosphate homeostasis in chronic uremia (1). Each decrement in glomerular filtration rate would be associated with transient hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and an increase in PTH secretion. Secondary HPTH would cause phosphaturia and restore phosphate balance, thereby normalizing serum phosphate and calcium levels. As renal function deteriorates, phosphate balance would be maintained at the expense of increasingly severe HPTH.
Concave Cubes as Experimental Models of Catalytic Active Sites for the Oxygen-Assisted Coupling of Alcohols by Dilute (Ag)Au Alloys

A major challenge in understanding structure–function relationships in heterogeneous catalysis is bridging the materials complexity gap between the well-ordered surfaces used in fundamental experimental and computational studies and the more complex and dynamic materials that exist under catalytic operating conditions. In this work, we utilized (Ag)Au concave cube nanoparticles as experimental models to test a prediction made by theory regarding a potential bimetallic active site for the dissociation of molecular oxygen, which is a key initiating step in the selective oxygen-assisted coupling of alcohols. As a consequence of their method of synthesis, the concave cubes have surfaces that are rich in Ag-stabilized Au step edges, which is the active site proposed by theory, and thus we predicted that they would have high activity for the methanol coupling reaction. Indeed, in addition to 99% selectivity toward the desired coupling product, methyl formate, the concave cubes show a major increase in activity compared to ozone-activated nanoporous gold, a comparable dilute (Ag)Au alloy catalyst for the same reaction, even without an activating ozone pretreament. Further, the well-defined surfaces of these concave cubes open up opportunities for in-situ microscopy and spectroscopy experiments that can provide a better understanding of (Ag)Au active sites. More broadly, this work highlights how nanoparticles with controlled shapes and well-defined surfaces can be rationally tailored to experimentally validate predictions from theory.
Operative versus nonoperative treatment for the management of full-thickness rotator cuff tears: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Rotator cuff disease is the most common pathology of the shoulder, responsible for approximately 70% of clinic visits for shoulder pain. However, no consensus exists on the optimal treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze level I and II research comparing operative versus nonoperative management of full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods A literature search was performed, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, to identify level I and II studies comparing operative versus nonoperative treatment of rotator cuff tears. Two independent researchers reviewed a total of 1013 articles. Three studies qualified for inclusion. These included 269 patients with 1-year follow-up. The mean age ranged from 59 to 65 years. Clinical outcome measures included the Constant score and visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain. Meta-analysis, using both fixed- and random-effects models, was performed on pooled results to determine overall significance. Results Statistically significant differences favoring surgery were found in both Constant and VAS scores after 1 year, with mean differences of 5.64 (95% confidence interval, 2.06 to 9.21; P = .002) and −1.08 (95% confidence interval, −1.56 to −0.59; P Conclusion There was a statistically significant improvement in outcomes for patients managed operatively compared with those managed nonoperatively. The differences in both Constant and VAS scores were small and did not meet the minimal difference considered clinically significant. Larger studies with longer follow-up are required to determine whether clinical differences between these treatments become evident over time.
Effect of orientation on the plastic deformation of aluminum single crystals and bicrystals

Tensile stress-strain curves are reported for aluminum single and bicrystal specimens. Isoaxial bicrystal specimens were used with one crystal rotated 45° about the stress axis with respect to the other. The axial orientations were chosen so that one, two, four, six, or eight slip systems were initially equally favored. The 45° grain boundary did not raise the stress-strain curve of the bicrystal above that of the corresponding single crystal if two or more slip planes were initially equally favored.
The LiiNK Project®: Effects of Multiple Recesses and Character Curriculum on Classroom Behaviors and Listening Skills in Grades K–2 Children

Unstructured, outdoor play combined with character development instruction has shown preliminary associations with improved cognitive functioning and classroom behaviors. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate these components of the LiiNK Project (Let’s inspire innovation ‘N Kids) when including intervention and comparison school children. The intervention consists of four-15 minute recesses, scheduled throughout the day in combination with four-15 minute character development lessons taught weekly to improve the elementary classroom learning environment. The 2nd year of this longitudinal study included grades kindergarten through second grade students (N=405) from two demographically comparable private schools in the southwest region of the U.S. One school implemented the intervention while the other school maintained current protocols. The intervention teachers adhered to the four play breaks at a rate of 92% over the course of the intervention. Transitions from classroom to playground and back dropped from four minutes each way to less than one minute each way. The results of comparing the two schools showed classroom off-task behaviors such as fidgeting and moving around the room decreased significantly, while attentional focus improved significantly as a result of the intervention. LiiNK Project® results from grades kindergarten and 1 in the same schools last year are congruent with the results of this study. Next steps will include public school expansion to explore student diversity among rural, urban, and suburban environments with the play and character intervention.
The Politics of National Theatre: The Example of Kenya

The celebration of the 250th anniversary of Poland’s national theatre, Teatr Narodowy, inspired reflections on the National Theatre of Kenya, the debate over what constitutes a national theatre, an...
Construction of spatiotemporal neonatal cortical surface atlases using a large-scale dataset

The cortical surface atlases constructed from a large representative population of neonates are highly needed in the neonatal neuroimaging studies. However, existing neonatal cortical surface atlases are typically constructed from small datasets, e.g., tens of subjects, which are inherently biased and thus are not representative to the neonatal population. In this paper, we construct neonatal cortical surface atlases based on a large-scale dataset with 764 subjects. To better characterize the dynamic cortical development during the first postnatal weeks, instead of constructing just a single atlas, we construct a set of spatiotemporal atlases at each week from 39 to 44 gestational weeks. The central idea is that, for all cortical surfaces, we first group-wisely register them into the common space to ensure the unbiasedness. Then, rather than simply averaging over the co-registered cortical surfaces, which generally leads to over-smoothed cortical folding patterns, we adopt a spherical patch-based sparse representation using an augmented dictionary to overcome the noises and potential registration errors. Through the group-wise sparsity constraint, we obtain consistent geometric cortical folding attributes on the atlases. Our atlases preserve the sharp cortical folding patterns, thus leading to better registration accuracy when aligning new subjects onto the atlases.
Evolutionary Perspective on Collective Decision Making

Team decision making dynamics are investigated from a novel perspective by shifting agency from decision makers to representations of potential solutions. We provide a new way to navigate social dynamics of collective decision making by interpreting decision makers as constituents of an evolutionary environment of an ecology of evolving solutions. We demonstrate distinct patterns of evolution with respect to three forms of variation: (1) Results with random variations in utility functions of individuals indicate that groups demonstrating minimal internal variation produce higher true utility values of group solutions and display better convergence; (2) analysis of variations in behavioral patterns within a group shows that a proper balance between selective and creative evolutionary forces is crucial to producing adaptive solutions; and (3) biased variations of the utility functions diminish the range of variation for potential solution utility, leaving only the differential of convergence performance static. We generally find that group cohesion (low random variation within a group) and composition (appropriate variation of behavioral patterns within a group) are necessary for a successful navigation of the solution space, but performance in both cases is susceptible to group level biases.
Percutaneous Mitral and Aortic Balloon Valvuloplasty

Before 1982, cardiac surgery was the conventional form of treatment for symptomatic stenotic valvular heart disease lesions. Today, percutaneous balloon dilatation of stenotic cardiac valves is being used in many centers for the treatment of patients with pulmonic, mitral, aortic, and tricuspid stenosis. Since its introduction in 1984 by Inoue et al. percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy (PMV) has been used successfully as an alternative to open or closed surgical mitral commissurotomy in the treatment of patients with symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis. PMV produces good immediate hemodynamic outcome, low complication rate, and clinical improvement in the majority of patients with mitral stenosis. PMV is safe and effective and provides sustained clinical and hemodynamic improvement in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. The immediate and long-term results appear to be similar to those of surgical mitral commissurotomy. Today, PMV is the preferred form of therapy for relief of mitral stenosis for a selected group of patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis.
Translation of the National Institutes of Health Diabetes Prevention Program in African American churches.

Objective To translate the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for delivery in African American churches.
Intravesical Formalin for Hemorrhagic Cystitis: Analysis of Therapy

In an extensive search of the literature 235 cases of intractable hemorrhagic cystitis treated with intravesical formalin were identified. Effectiveness of therapy, rate of recurrence of hematuria, morbidity and mortality were analyzed with respect to concentration of formalin and to the etiology of hematuria. Increasing concentrations of formalin slightly improved effectiveness of therapy and reduced the rate of recurrence of hematuria. However, this often resulted in an increase in morbidity. When patients were categorized according to the etiology of intractable hematuria it was noted that lower concentrations of formalin were effective in controlling hematuria caused by either cyclophosphamide cystitis or unresectable carcinoma of the bladder. In contrast, higher formalin concentrations were required to control bleeding due to radiation cystitis.
Autonomic concomitants of discriminative avoidance and punishment training in the monkey.

TwoCebus albifrons monkeys were trained to press a back-lighted panel to postpone a brief electric shock to the tail using a Sidman avoidance schedule (SS = 40 sec, RS = 40 sec). After 25 training sessions, a discriminative schedule was introduced, with the Sidman avoidance continuing in the presence of one discriminative stimulus and punishment introduced in the presence of the other. The discriminative stimuli were colors on the panel. Discriminative training also involved 25 sessions, each with a random sequence of 6 avoidance and 6 punishment segments, with 30 sec intervals between the segments. Plantar skin conductance and heart rate were recorded along with the panel-pressing behavior. The two monkeys adjusted to the discriminative schedule quite differently from one another. One animal responded at a high level and avoided very well (during avoidance) but was punished frequently (during punishment). The other animal responded less frequently and received many shocks during avoidance but almost none during punishment. The animal that showed less ability to inhibit responding (and received about four times as many shocks overall) appeared to have discriminated better temporally in spacing its responses during avoidance training. The monkey whose panel-pressing behavior resulted in more shocks also tended to show a higher tonic level of autonomic arousal. However, within-animal differences in shock frequency (between avoidance and punishment) were not similarly related to autonomie arousal. The animal that received fewer shocks overall (but more during avoidance) showed greater arousal during punishment. The animal that received more shocks overall (but fewer during avoidance) showed no arousal differences between avoidance and punishment.
β-Carbonic Anhydrases: General Features and Medical Implications

The β-carbonic anhydrases are a structurally unique class of carbonic anhydrases that is found in a diverse array of microorganisms, algae, plants, and invertebrates. These enzymes are likely associated with other enzymes that consume or produce carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ), and catalyze the interconversion of these species according to the chemical reaction CO 2 + H 2 O ⇆ HCO 3 − + H + . Evolutionary offshoots of β-carbonic anhydrases hydrolyze the related substances carbonyl sulfide (COS) and carbon disulfide (CS 2 ). In many microorganisms, β-carbonic anhydrases are essential for normal growth. Some β-carbonic anhydrases exhibit allostery, a property not observed in any other class of carbonic anhydrases. As a group, β-carbonic anhydrases are relatively weakly inhibited by sulfonamides and anions, classical inhibitors of most other carbonic anhydrases.
An Analog Implementation of FitzHugh-Nagumo Neuron Model for Spiking Neural Networks

A low power analog implementation of FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) neuron model is presented in this paper for large scale spiking neural network and neuromorphic algorithm realization. The FHN neuron model is designed using $\log $-domain low pass filters and translinear multipliers to emulate voltage-like variable with cubic non-linearity and a recovery variable. Various spiking behaviors observed in biological neurons are demonstrated in simulation results. The neuron model was designed in 45 nm CMOS process which has 1.6 nW and 40 nW power consumption at rest and for a single spiking event respectively.
Cross-Linking Stabilizes Electrical Resistance of Reduced Graphene Oxide in Humid Environments

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is an excellent candidate for many sensor applications, since its electrical properties can be tailored to become sensitive to temperature, humidity, strain, and chemicals. However, the wide use of rGO may be limited by its susceptibility to humidity changes. Here, for the first time, we report experimental evidence that (i) the interlayer spacing between rGO sheets can swell upon exposure to humid environments due to the intercalation of water and (ii) the expanded interlayer spacing increases electrical resistance. As a novel means of mitigating this instability, ethylenediamine was used as a covalent cross-linker to anchor rGO sheets to limit interlayer expansion and stabilize electrical resistance under humid environments.
Epigenetic activation and memory at a TGFB2 enhancer in systemic sclerosis

In systemic sclerosis (SSc), previously healthy adults develop an inflammatory prodrome with subsequent progressive fibrosis of the skin and viscera. SSc has a weak signature for genetic contribution, and there are few pathogenic insights or targeted treatments for this condition. Here, chromatin accessibility and transcriptome profiling coupled with targeted epigenetic editing revealed constitutive activation of a previously unannotated transforming growth factor-β2 (TGFB2) enhancer maintained through epigenetic memory in SSc. The resulting autocrine TGFβ2 signaling enforced a profibrotic synthetic state in ex vivo fibroblasts from patients with SSc. Inhibition of NF-κB or BRD4 achieved sustained inhibition of TGFB2 enhancer activity, mitigated profibrotic gene expression, and reversed dermal fibrosis in patient skin explants. These findings suggest a potential epigenetic mechanism of fibrosis in SSc and inform a regulatory mechanism of TGFB2, a major profibrotic cytokine.
Dose-dependent disruptive effects of melatonin, light and temperature on regeneration in the planarian Phagocata gracilis

ABSTRACTMany critical cellular processes, including cell proliferation and tissue repair, exhibit melatonin sensitivity. We examined the effects of exogenous melatonin, photoperiod and temperature ...
Beware a dishonest face?: Updating face-based implicit impressions using diagnostic behavioral information

Abstract People quickly infer trustworthiness from faces and use it to guide judgments and behaviors. Past research has suggested that face information is too powerful to be overridden by behavioral evidence, especially implicitly, suggesting that untrustworthiness in faces might be an insurmountable influence in impressions of others. In 5 studies, however, we found that implicit impressions of untrustworthy faces can be effectively updated by learning new, counterattitudinal behavioral information under certain conditions. We showed that face-based implicit impressions were rapidly updated regardless of the degree of untrustworthiness in the face (Study 1), but only when new, propositional information was extreme and diagnostic (Study 2). Successful updating of untrustworthy faces occurred even under low cognitive capacity (Studies 3A and 3B), suggesting efficient processing of inconsistent information. In addition, expanding the conditions under which updating can emerge, we also found that face-based implicit impressions of trustworthiness can be updated using valenced information (positive, negative) rather than just trustworthy-specific counterevidence (Study 4). We discuss the implications of these findings for whether facial cues of untrustworthiness are surmountable in person perception, how people learn about the trustworthiness of others, and the updating of implicit impressions more generally.
6 – High Tunnels

Extending the growing and marketing season for specialty crops is important for sustainable food production. As global climate becomes more erratic and as growers face increasing risks from diseases, insects, and wildlife, protected culture tools which extend the traditional growing season and protect the growing crop from stress have become invaluable and profitable. High tunnels are the penultimate season-extension tool available to specialty crop growers in the United States.