cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of T cell receptor affinity in the efficacy and specificity of adoptive T cell therapies

Over the last several years, there has been considerable progress in the treatment of cancer using gene modified adoptive T cell therapies. Two approaches have been used, one involving the introduction of a conventional alpha-beta T cell receptor (TCR) against a pepMHC cancer antigen, and the second involving introduction of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) consisting of a single-chain antibody as an Fv fragment (scFv) linked to transmembrane and signaling domains. In this review, we focus on one aspect of TCR-mediated adoptive T cell therapies, the impact of the affinity of the alpha-beta TCR for the pepMHC cancer antigen on both efficacy and specificity. We discuss the advantages of higher affinity TCRs in mediating potent activity of CD4 T cells. This is balanced with the potential disadvantage of higher affinity TCRs in mediating greater self-reactivity against a wider range of structurally similar antigenic peptides, especially in synergy with the CD8 co-receptor. Both TCR affinity and target selection will influence potential safety issues. We suggest pre-clinical strategies that might be used to examine each TCR for possible on-target and off-target side effects due to self-reactivities, and to adjust TCR affinities accordingly.
Analysis of affinities between specific biological ligands using atomic force microscopy

In the cell, protein–ligand recognition involves association and dissociation processes controlled by the affinity of the two binding partners and chemical harvesting of adenosine triphosphate energy. Fundamental knowledge of selected recognition events is currently translated in a synthetic environment for biosensors, immunoassays and diagnosis applications, or for pharmaceutical development. However, in order to advance such fields, one needs to determine the lifetime and binding efficiency of the two partners, as well as the complex energy landscape parameters. We employed contact mode atomic force microscopy to evaluate the association and dissociation events between streptavidin protein and its anti-streptavidin antibody ligand currently used for nucleotide array, ELISA, and flow cytometry applications, just to name a few. Using biotin as the control, our analysis helped characterize and differentiate multi- or single bonds of different strengths as well as associated energy landscapes to determine the protein–ligand structural arrangement at nanointerfaces and how these depend on the specificity of the ligand-recognition reaction. Our results suggest that understanding the importance of the rupture forces between a protein and its ligand could serve as the first step to protect on–off switches for biomedical research applications where specificity and selectivity are foremost sought.
Hair loss in psychopharmacology.

Medication-induced alopecia is an occasional side effect of many psychopharmaceuticals. Most of the mood stabilizer and antidepressant drugs can lead to this condition. Some antipsychotic and antianxiety agents induce alopecia. Hair loss is also related to hypothyroidism, which can be induced by lithium and other agents. Alopecia might not be reported by some people, but physicians should be aware of this potential problem which may contribute to noncompliance. Lithium causes hair loss in 12–19% of long-term users. Valproic acid and/or divalproex precipitates alopecia in up to 12% of patients in a dose-dependent relationship. Incidences up to 28% are observed with high valproate concentration exposures. These pharmaceuticals also can change hair color and structure. The occurrence of carbamazepine-induced alopecia is at or below 6%. Hair loss is less common with other mood stabilizers. Tricyclic antidepressants, maprotilene, trazodone, and virtually all the new generation of antidepressants may on rare occasions lead to alopecia. The same applies to haloperidol, olanzepine, risperidone, clonazepam, and buspirone, but not to other neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates, selected antihistamines, and antiparkinsonians. Discontinuation of the medication or dose reduction almost always leads to complete hair regrowth. The therapeutic value of mineral supplements remains unclear.
Generation of orthotopic patient-derived xenografts from gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common sarcoma and its treatment with imatinib has served as the paradigm for developing targeted anti-cancer therapies. Despite this success, imatinib-resistance has emerged as a major problem and therefore, the clinical efficacy of other drugs has been investigated. Unfortunately, most clinical trials have failed to identify efficacious drugs despite promising in vitro data and pathological responses in subcutaneous xenografts. We hypothesized that it was feasible to develop orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from resected GIST that could recapitulate the genetic heterogeneity and biology of the human disease. Fresh tumor tissue from three patients with pathologically confirmed GISTs was obtained immediately following tumor resection. Tumor fragments (4.2-mm3) were surgically xenografted into the liver, gastric wall, renal capsule, and pancreas of immunodeficient mice. Tumor growth was serially assessed with ultrasonography (US) every 3-4 weeks. Tumors were also evaluated with positron emission tomography (PET). Animals were sacrificed when they became moribund or their tumors reached a threshold size of 2500-mm3. Tumors were subsequently passaged, as well as immunohistochemically and histologically analyzed. Herein, we describe the first model for generating orthotopic GIST PDXs. We have successfully xenografted three unique KIT-mutated tumors into a total of 25 mice with an overall success rate of 84% (21/25). We serially followed tumor growth with US to describe the natural history of PDX growth. Successful PDXs resulted in 12 primary xenografts in NOD-scid gamma or NOD-scid mice while subsequent successful passages resulted in 9 tumors. At a median of 7.9 weeks (range 2.9-33.1 weeks), tumor size averaged 473±695-mm3 (median 199-mm3, range 12.6-2682.5-mm3) by US. Furthermore, tumor size on US within 14 days of death correlated with gross tumor size on necropsy. We also demonstrated that these tumors are FDG-avid on PET imaging, while immunohistochemically and histologically the PDXs resembled the primary tumors. We report the first orthotopic model of human GIST using patient-derived tumor tissue. This novel, reproducible in vivo model of human GIST may enhance the study of GIST biology, biomarkers, personalized cancer treatments, and provide a preclinical platform to evaluate new therapeutic agents for GIST.
Molecular Systems Biology and Control: A Qualitative-Quantitative Approach

This paper is a complement to the author's presentation at the session Molecular Systems Biology & Control. it focuses specifically on an approach to biological network analysis which combines qualitative with quantitative data in order to characterize global dynamics.
Ligand-based carbon-nitrogen bond forming reactions of metal dinitrosyl complexes with alkenes and their application to C-H bond functionalization.

Over the past few decades, researchers have made substantial progress in the development of transition metal complexes that activate and functionalize C–H bonds. For the most part, chemists have fo...
MEASURING TRAFFIC AWARENESS IN AN INTEGRATED HAZARD DISPLAY

Amy L. Alexander & Christopher D. Wickens University of Illinois, Aviation Human Factors Division Savoy, Illinois The ability for pilots to estimate traffic location, and how such estimations should be measured, was examined within an Integrated Hazard Display context. Twelve pilots viewed static images of traffic scenarios and then estimated the outside world locations of queried traffic represented in one of three display types (2D coplanar, 3D exocentric, and split-screen) and in one of four conditions (display present/blank crossed with outside world present/blank). Overall, the 2D coplanar display best supported both vertical (compared to 3D) and lateral (compared to split-screen) traffic position estimation performance. Furthermore, although pilots were faster in estimating traffic locations when the display was blank, accuracy was greatest when both the display and outside world were available.
Uniform growth of a-Si / μc-Si Tandem junction solar cells over 5.7m 2 substrates

The cost of photovoltaic (PV) energy generation has been steadily reduced with the increase of solar cell power conversion efficiency and the drop of manufacturing cost. An effective way of lowering the cost of Si thin film solar cells is to increase the solar panel size by growing thin films on large area substrates, where it is important to maintain uniform film properties to ensure efficient and consistent PV performance. In this study, we control the thickness and crystalline volume fraction uniformities of Si films grown on 5.7 m2 glass substrates in ratio-frequency (RF) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) chambers by balancing the RF power distribution. Crystalline volume fraction uniformity of 3% was obtained in µc-Si:H films. Tandem junction (TJ) solar cells of the structure glass/SnO 2 :F/a-Si:H/μc- Si:H/ZnO:Al/Ag were grown with the balanced RF feed. With the uniform film deposition, the 5.7 m2 solar panels achieved stabilized aperture efficiency η ≫ 8%.
Successes and Challenges in a Statewide Relationship Education Initiative

Although healthy relationship initiatives are becoming more common, relatively little is known about the processes of these initiatives. This study uses a phenomenological qualitative approach to examine the experiences of Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Extension faculty in the implementation of couple and relationship education in the Utah Healthy Relationship Initiative. Data were collected through quarterly report forms submitted by Extension faculty describing successes and challenges to their work. Successes in the project related to collaborative partnerships, attendance or participation, and positive outcomes for participants. Collaborative partnerships were instrumental in reaching more participants and finding cultural resources. The challenges included constraints for participants and limited faculty resources. The findings underscore the benefits of creating flexible, low-intensity, and low-cost activities that attract participants and reduce some of the barriers to participation, as well as partnering with community organizations.
A Human Papillomavirus Related to Human Papillomavirus MM7/LVX82 Produces Distinct Histological Abnormalities in Human Foreskin Implants Grown as Athymic Mouse Xenografts

Studies of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are hampered by the lack of a conventional culture system because HPV completes its life cycle only in fully differentiated human tissue. To overcome this obstacle, the athymic mouse xenograft system has been used to study the pathogenesis of HPV 11 and to develop neutralizing assays for vaccine development. Recently, HPV 40 has been produced in this system, and HPV 16 has been produced using mice with severe combined immune deficiency. To identify and characterize additional genital HPV types for similar studies, condylomata acuminata lesions containing a high copy number of HPV and detectable L1 major capsid protein were used to prepare infectious virus stocks. Human foreskin fragments were infected with the virus preparations and implanted under the renal capsules of athymic mice. After 5 months of growth, implant tissue was removed and processed for studies to detect HPV infection. Evidence of HPV infection was noted in some of the implants, but in contrast to HPV 11-infected epithelium, the implants derived from the new virus preparations contained a lesser degree of acanthosis, less developed koilocytosis, and a reduced number of preserved nuclei in the hyperkeratotic material within the cyst lining. The L1 consensus region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from implant DNA and sequenced. Alignment of the amplified sequences with those in the HPV sequence database showed that the 452-bp amplimer was closely related but not identical to HPV LVX82 and HPV MM7 (also called Pap 291). The entire 7.9-kb genome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The presence of virions of the new isolate (named HPV IU) in the implants was verified by immunohistochemical detection of L1 major capsid protein and by demonstration of virion particles by electron microscopy. A second extract was made from one of the new implants and used to successfully propagate HPV IU. These experiments demonstrate that experimental infection of human epithelium with the new isolate, HPV IU, is associated with histological abnormalities that differ in potentially important ways from the changes observed in experimental HPV 11 infection.
Differences in snRNP localization between transformed and nontransformed cells

We have examined the localization of snRNPs in a variety of mammalian cells and have observed differences in the organization of these factors in transformed cells, immortal cells, and cells of defined passage number. Cells of defined passage number exhibit a speckled staining pattern after immunolabeling with anti-Sm, anti-B'', or anti-m3G antibodies. Furthermore, 2-3% of the cells, in a given population, exhibit labeling of 1 or 2 round coiled bodies in addition to the speckled-labeling pattern. However, transformed cells exhibited 1-4 intensely stained coiled bodies, in 81-99% of the cells, in addition to the speckled-labeling pattern. Immortal cells exhibited 1-4 intensely stained smaller coiled bodies in 4-40% of the cells, in addition to the speckled-labeling pattern. When immortal cells (REF-52) that had been transformed by adenovirus (REF-52Ad5.4) were examined, these cells exhibited an increase in the percentage of cells containing 1 or 2 intensely stained coiled bodies, in addition to the speckled labeling, from 24 to 99%. On the basis of this study, we conclude that the organization of snRNPs within the mammalian cell nucleus is a reflection of the physiology of the cell that may change upon transformation or immortalization.
Thymic epithelial neoplasms: a review of current concepts using an evidence-based pathology approach.

Evidence-based pathology promotes the critical evaluation of current clinical information and the development of evidence-based diagnostic and prognostic guidelines. No randomized clinical trials of patients who have thymomas or thymic carcinomas are available to evaluate the validity of the current World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification or the widely used Masaoka staging system. A meta-analysis of over 2000 thymoma patients estimated that only three WHO histologic types of thymomas are associated with significant survival differences. Prospective randomized clinical trials and aninternational registry of patients who have Thymic epithelial neoplasms are needed to stratify patients who may benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, postoperative radiation therapy, and other nonsurgical modalities.
Presidential address to the 1998 American Venous Forum: Where are we now? Where are we going? Inching forward☆☆☆★

One of the primary goals of the American Venous Forum is education. The forum should bring the latest information in the field to the medical community interested in acute and chronic venous disease. The success of this effort is best measured by the scientific content of the annual meetings and the dissemination of information that follows. Is this effort successful? Does the educational effort achieve its goal of improving the care of patients and health care delivery? Does the information reach the right audience? These are important questions. Although no one argues about the mission, I am, at times, uncertain about the forum’s effectiveness in changing the way we think and how we carry out our business. Those of us in academic life are fortunate to be challenged every day of our lives by students, residents, and fellows. However, even here one senses considerable resistance to change. Habits are very difficult to break, and new concepts are often difficult to accept. EDUCATIONAL FAILURE
Prominence of IgG4 Antibodies in the Human Responses to Strongyloides stercoralis Infection

The participation of the four subclasses of IgG in the humoral response to Strongyloides stercoralis was assessed by analyzing total and parasite-specific responses of each IgG subclass in 20 patients with uncomplicated strongyloidiasis and 21 immunocompromised patients with extraintestinal disease. The total component of each subclass was normal in most patients. IgG4 antibodies (measured by ELISA) were the most prominent parasite-specific response in both groups. Specific IgG2 and IgG4 responses were significantly more elevated in immunocompetent than in immunosuppressed patients. When the reactivity of each IgG subclass was analyzed by immunoblotting on SDS-PAGE-separated larval antigens, IgG4 recognized more antigens than did any other subclass. No parasite antigens were selectively recognized by either clinical group. Thus the continuous antigenic stimulation of chronic strongyloidiasis may result in an enhanced IgG4 subclass response. However, no presence or absence of humoral responses specific for filariform larval antigens was associated with the extraintestinal dissemination of the parasite.
Acid inhibition by intestinal nutrients mediated by CCK-A receptors but not plasma CCK

We examined the role of CCK-A receptors in acid inhibition by intestinal nutrients. Gastric acid and plasma CCK and gastrin levels were measured in rats with gastric and duodenal fistulas during intragastric 8% peptone and duodenal perfusion with saline, complete liquid diet (CLD; 20% carbohydrate, 6% fat, and 5% protein), and the individual components of CLD. Acid output was significantly inhibited (50–60%) by CLD, lipid, and dextrose. Plasma CCK was significantly increased by CLD (from 2.6 ± 0.3 to 4.8 ± 0.5 pM) and lipid (4.6 ± 0.5 pM). CCK levels 50-fold higher (218 ± 33 pM) were required to achieve similar acid inhibition by exogenous CCK-8 (10 nmol · kg−1 · h−1 iv). Intestinal soybean trypsin inhibitor elevated CCK (10.9 ± 2.5 pM) without inhibiting acid secretion. The CCK-A antagonist MK-329 (1 mg/kg iv) reversed acid inhibition caused by CLD, lipid, and dextrose. Peptone-stimulated gastrin (21.7 ± 1.9 pM) was significantly inhibited by CLD (14.5 ± 3.6 pM), lipid (12.3 ± 2.2 pM), and dextrose (11.9...
Isotype InGaN/GaN heterobarrier diodes by ammonia molecular beam epitaxy

The design of isotype InGaN/GaN heterobarrier diode structures grown by ammonia molecular beam epitaxy is presented. On the (0001) Ga-polar plane, a structure consisting of a surface n+ GaN contact layer, followed by a thin InGaN layer, followed by a thick unintentionally doped (UID) GaN layer, and atop a buried n+ GaN contact layer induces a large conduction band barrier via a depleted UID GaN layer. Suppression of reverse and subthreshold current in such isotype barrier devices under applied bias depends on the quality of this composite layer polarization. Sample series were grown under fixed InGaN growth conditions that varied either the UID GaN NH3 flow rate or the UID GaN thickness, and under fixed UID GaN growth conditions that varied InGaN growth conditions. Decreases in subthreshold current and reverse bias current were measured for thicker UID GaN layers and increasing InGaN growth rates. Temperature-dependent analysis indicated that although extracted barrier heights were lower than those predic...
Blutuntersuchung bei Kleinsäugern – Parameter und Interpretation

Wenn Kleinsauger mit unspezifischen Symptomen in der tierarztlichen Praxis vorgestellt werden und Anamnese, klinische Untersuchung, Urinuntersuchung und bildgebende Diagnostik keine klare Diagnose liefern, hilft oft nur die Blutuntersuchung weiter. Ist das „wo“, „was“, „wie viel“ und „wie“ der Blutentnahme geklart (s. „Blutentnahme und Verweilvenenkatheter beim Kaninchen“) und ausreichend Blut entnommen, geht das Blut zur Analyse. Und nun? Welche Parameter sind wichtig? Welche Faktoren konnen sie beeinflussen? Und welche Besonderheiten sind bei der Interpretation zu berucksichtigen?
"What Stories the Wind Would Tell": Representation and Appropriation in Maxine Hong Kingston's China Men

At the end of The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston tells the story of Ts'ai Yen, a poetess born in 175 A.D., who was captured by barbarians and lived among them for twelve years. Ts'ai Yen made the yearning notes of the barbarian flutes the basis of her own songs. The words of these songs seemed to be Chinese, but the barbarians understood their anger and sadness and thought they could catch barbarian phrases. One song that she eventually brought back to her own people was "Eighteen Stanzas for a Barbarian Reed Pipe," a song that the Chinese now sing to their own instruments. The novel ends with the comment "It translated well" (209). But whose song is it? Ts'ai Yen made the barbarian music her own. The barbarians thought they heard, in an alien language, snatches of their own experience. The Chinese have adapted to their own instruments music composed for a barbarian pipe. The song is the product of alienation and exile; it is to some extent the song of the Other. Yet each culture takes it (mistakes it, appropriates it) for its own. The story with which Kingston ends The Woman Warrior is a model for the process of appropriation, which becomes both theme and method in China Men. At the core of the book (which, like The Woman Warrior, is a mix of autobiography, fiction, history, and myth) is the fact of alienation and an effort at reclamation that takes place on two levels, the individual and the social. The female narrator of China Men wants to reclaim her father, whose habitual silence is punctuated with violent curses, directed against women:
Evaluating the environment as a global public good

Global public goods are defined as non-excludable and non-rivalrous. Global environmental challenges, such as biodiversity conservation or climate change mitigation, fall squarely into this categor...
Quasioptical imaging system design for THz medical imaging application(Conference Presentation)

In this presentation, a review and quasioptical imaging system and design considerations for an off-axis parabolic mirror based THz imaging systems are presented. It is shown that off-axis parabolic mirrors introduce off-axis intensity and polarization distortion. When a train of OAPs are used to relay THz beam, each distortions rapidly stacks to produce quite ugly beam and polarization profile. We show that the distortion of field distribution and polarization as a function of mirror curvature and focusing parameters. A brief review of design rules are shown to eliminate these distortions by a symmetric configurations of off-axis parabolic mirror train. The detrimental distortion effects were cancelled out by orienting the final two mirrors in a way to that recovers the original source profile. Comparisons of field profiles between compensated and uncompensated design are shown and imaging performance on characterization targets presented. In addition to benefits in field and polarization distribution the improved design facilitates 1D scanning with minimal change to overall optical path length.
Early and late risk of mitral valve replacement: A 12 year concomitant comparison of the porcine bioprosthetic and prosthetic disc mitral valves

A consecutive series of 706 mitral valve replacements was performed from January, 1972, to January, 1984. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 150 months with a mean of 50 and a median of 43 months. Seven percent (50) of the patient were lost to follow-up. There were 243 men and 463 women, whose ages ranged from 17 to 86 years (mean 58). A porcine bioprosthetic valve was implanted in 528 patients (514 Hancock and 14 Carpentier-Edwards valves) and a prosthetic disc valve in 178 patients (102 standard disc Bjork-Shiley, 34 Beall, and 42 Harken disc valves). Seven patients were in Functional Class II, 325 in Class III, and 374 in Class IV. A concomitant operative procedure was performed in 253 of the 706 patients (36%). Mitral regurgitation was the primary hemodynamic lesion in 363 and mitral stenosis in 343. Operative mortality figures were as follows: 77 of 706 (11 %) for the overall group, 34 of 453 (7.5 %) for isolated mitral valve replacement, 30 of 169 (17.5%, p = 0.001) for mitral replacement plus coronary bypass, 49 of 528 (9 %) for the bioprosthetic valve group, and 28 of 178 (16 %) for the prosthetic disc valve group (p = 0.01). After the operation, 262 patients were in Functional Class I, 99 in Class II, and 18 in Class III. The long-term survival rate was significantly lower in patients who had an associated procedure (45% ± 6%), who had mitral regurgitation rather than mitral stenosis (53% ± 5% versus 67% ± 4%) (p = 0.002), who were in Functional Class IV rather than Classes I to III (51 % + 4% versus 70% ± 4%) (p = 0.001), and who received a prosthetic disc valve rather than a bioprosthesis (40% ± 6% versus 67% ± 4%) (p = 0.001). Thromboembolic rates were significantly higher with prosthetic valves than with bioprosthetic valves (4.6% ± 0.22% versus 2.4% ± 0.5% per patient-year of follow-up), and the incidence of anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was significantly higher in the prosthetic valve group (1.65% versus 0.43% per patient-year). Primary valve dysfunction was significantly more common in the bioprostheses (1.23% versus 0.40% per patient-year). The rates of perivalvular leakage and endocarditis were equal in the two groups, as was the rate of reoperation (1.9 % per patient-year for bioprostheses compared with 2.0% per patient-year for prostheses). All valve-related morbidity and mortality were 5.2% ± 0.5% per patient-year for the bioprosthetic valve group and 8.1 % ± 0.26% per patient-year for the prosthetic valve group (p = 0.04). We conclude that long-term survival after mitral valve replacement is primarily dependent on patient variables, particularly preoperative functional classification and the primary hemodynamic valve lesion. Primary valve dysfunction is the main disadvantage of mitral porcine valves, with a probability of dysfunction of about 20% at 10 years. Thromboembolism, thrombosis, and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage are the main risk factors of prosthetic disc valves.
Results of electrophysiologically guided operations for drug-resistant recurrent ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation due to coronary artery disease.

Over a 39 month period, 143 patients with coronary artery disease had programmed stimulation (PES) for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Twenty-two patients underwent operations. Ages ranged from 40 to 71 years; 20 of the 22 were men. All patients had coronary artery disease and 11 had left ventricular aneurysms. The mean ejection fraction was 31% (16% to 50%). Eighteen of the 22 patients underwent operations for drug-resistant ventricular arrhythmias (more than six different drugs plus drug combinations tested per patient). Nineteen patients had intraoperative mapping, endocardial resection, and/or an encircling endocardial ventriculotomy. Three patients with ischemia-related VT had coronary artery bypass (CABG) alone. The 30 day operative mortality was 14%. Thirteen of 19 (68%) operative survivors were effectively controlled with operation alone or a combination of operation and previously ineffective drug therapy. Of the six patients whose VT was inducible postoperatively, three have experienced episodes of sustained VT and one patient died suddenly. Three of these patients have the automatic implantable defibrillator. Operation guided by endocardial mapping is effective alone or in combination with drugs in this select group of patients. If the patients’ VT was uninducible postoperatively with or without the addition of antiarrhythmic therapy, late deaths (3/19) were due to poor myocardial reserve and coronary artery disease, not the reemergence of sustained ventricular arrhythmias during a mean follow-up of 15 months.
Parenting African American Children With Autism: The Influence of Respect and Faith in Mother, Father, Single-, and Two-Parent Care.

Purpose: Parents are the most significant contributor to care of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and as such research on African American parenting in ASD is conspicuously absent. Findings relevant to parenting are discussed from a study with urban African American families caring for children with ASD. Design: An ethnonursing study was conducted with 24 African American family members of children with ASD and 28 professionals. Data were analyzed and reported as themes. Findings: Two universal themes of were found of respect and faith in God and family that influenced parental care. Two diverse themes of mother’s watchful care and father’s protective care, along with differences in feelings of isolation and dependence on supports were found among single- and two-parent families. Discussion and Practice Implications: When health care professionals increase their knowledge and understanding of cultural practices in the parental care of children with ASD, they provide health care that is cultur...
Age and emplacement of the Permian–Jurassic Menghai batholith, Western Yunnan, China

ABSTRACTThe Menghai batholith (Yunnan Province, China) is the southern extension of the ~370 km long Lincang granite body that syntectonically intruded the collisional zone between Gondwana (Baoshan block) and Laurasia (Simao block) terranes during closure of the Palaeo-Tethyan Ocean. Eight Menghai granodiorites were analysed across an ~45 km E–W transect from the pluton’s central region to eastern perimeter. Each rock was imaged in cathodoluminescence and geochemically analysed for major and trace elements. A minimum 30 zircons per sample were dated using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Samples are peraluminous to strongly peraluminous, magnesian, calcic or calc-alkalic granodiorites. Trace element suggest a high pressure (12–15 kbar) low clay source with >20–30% volume interaction with basalt. Crustal anatexis was likely related to post-collisional lithosphere delamination and upwelling of hot asthenosphere, forming large-volume melts. Zircon ages (207Pb–206Pb and 238U–206Pb...
Liver Transplantation and Hepatic Encephalopathy

Liver transplantation (LT) is the definitive treatment for liver failure and its associated complications including hepatic encephalopathy (HE). LT is known to improve survival, quality of life (QOL), and cognitive functioning in patients with HE. Some authors have reported resolution of severe forms of neurodegeneration such as acquired hepatocerebral degeneration after LT. Overt HE is known to resolve after LT, whereas the improvement in minimal HE appears to be dynamic, nonhomogenous, and at times incomplete. There are a range of possible reasons for persistent cognitive deficits after LT. Possible lasting effect of overt HE on brain is one of them. Overt HE is also known to affect the post-LT survival, QOL, and modulate early calcineurin inhibitor-induced neurotoxicity. As detrimental effects of overt HE on transplant outcomes become more apparent, more emphasis might need to be given for early transplantation in these patients.
Introduction to Passing the Certified Bariatric Nurse Exam

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States of America. This may not be news to most but even the experienced healthcare practitioner must find the following statistics startling:
A framework for developing leading indicators for offshore drillwell blowout incidents

Abstract Offshore operations have always been very challenging due to technological and operational complexities in combination with harsh environmental conditions. Geological uncertainties, high pressure flammable fluids in the presence of ignition sources, complicated structural layouts, limited response time allowance, difficulty of control and communication are some of the critical factors that pose clear threats toward safe operations and may result in high consequence events, e.g., blowouts . Developing well specified risk indicators is difficult due to such highly correlated factors and multifaceted operations. Leading indicators, which are able to identify critical events that could lead to high consequence events, have proven to be an effective tool that can help the operators in their decision making to react earlier to an event and to reduce the risk of an incident. Most of the research dedicated to leading and lagging indicators are applicable to the petrochemical industry, and there is not yet an agreement on a definition and classification of leading indicators for drilling related blowouts. This paper discusses the approaches of different organizations and institutes on leading indicators characterization and development. The drilling industry is compared with the aviation industry to identify potential elements for developing a comprehensive leading indicators framework. A workable definition of leading indicators is proposed considering the intricacy of offshore operations. Leading indicators are broadly categorized into two classes which are further segmented into different groups. Proposed categorization is analyzed with a blowout case study and simple decision support algorithms are proposed for predicting kick which is a major precursor to blowouts.
Teachers’ Integration of Scientific and Engineering Practices in Primary Classrooms

The Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) challenge primary teachers and students to work and think like scientists and engineers as they strive to understand complex concepts. Teachers and teacher educators can leverage what is already known about inquiry teaching as they plan instruction to help students meet the new standards. This cross-case analysis of a multiple case study examined teacher practices in the context of a semester-long professional development course for elementary teachers. We reviewed lessons and teacher reflections, examining how kindergarten and first grade teachers incorporated NGSS scientific and engineering practices during inquiry-based instruction. We found that most of the teachers worked with their students on asking questions; planning and carrying out investigations; analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematics and computational thinking; and obtaining, evaluating and communicating information. Teachers faced challenges in supporting students in developing their own questions that could be investigated and using data collection strategies that aligned with students’ development of number sense concepts. Also, some teachers overemphasized the scientific method and lacked clarity in how they elicited and responded to student predictions. Discussion focuses on teacher supports that will be needed as states transition to NGSS.
“The 400-Pound Gorilla”: The Role of the Research University in City Development

In cities across the United States higher education institutions exist in tandem with a range of other socio-cultural and economic organizations, such as businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. The role of colleges and universities in city development is important, and empirical examination of universities’ role in and relationship with cities provides an avenue for higher education researchers to explore interactions that are potentially key to a thriving knowledge economy. Using data collected from a case study of a large American city and a university within that city, we sought to better understand the university’s role in and relationship with its surrounding city.
Pathways to U.S. Higher Education: Capital, Citizenship, and Indian Women MBA Students

Using in-depth interviews with 20 Indian women pursuing MBA degrees from U.S. universities, this article asks the following questions: Why do Indian women choose to study in the United States and what enables them to do so? What pathways do these women take to studying in the United States? Analysis reveals that Indian women choose to pursue an MBA as a way to advance their career, make a career change, or assert their autonomy. They choose to study in the United States because of the availability of financial aid, the presence of family and friend networks, and the belief that studying in the United States would enable the cultivation of cosmopolitan capital in the form of knowledge about global business trends and access to colleagues and alumni from across the globe. They intend to use cosmopolitan capital to exercise flexible citizenship. To facilitate their studies in the United States, women use inherited and cultivated forms of economic, cultural, and social capital. Given the uneven distribution of economic, cultural, and social capital, this article demonstrates how access to flexible citizenship remains the purview of the relatively affluent members of India’s middle, upper middle, and upper classes.
Eating Disorders and Abuse

The literature on physical and sexual abuse and its relationship to anorexia nervosa and bulimic nervosa is reviewed. Studies have often been methodologically flawed and results appear contradictory. At best, sexual and physical abuse may be considered risk factors in a multidimensional approach to the etiology of eating disorders. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.
Relations Between Cortical and Basal Ganglia Compartments

Insights into the functional organization of the prefrontal cortex are provided by its relationship to target structures. One of the major targets of prefrontal cortical output is the striatum, which is the main component of the basal ganglia. At first glance the cerebral cortex and the striatum appear to be at two ends of a spectrum of neural system organization. Whereas the cerebral cortex is characterized by functional areas that are defined by their distinct cytoarchitectural laminar organization, the striatum is a singularly homogeneous structure, made up principally of one neuronal cell type, the medium spiny projection neuron. Nonetheless, neuroanatomical tracing techniques have revealed that, despite its homogeneous appearance, the striatum displays a complex mosaic organization that is related to the organization of the cerebral cortex. To provide a conceptual framework of the mosaic compartmental organization of the striatum that might be related to its functions, the following concept is presented. First, compartmental organization in the striatum is defined on the basis of morphologic structure: the neurons of the striatum, their axonal projections and afferent inputs. Second, hierarchical levels of compartmental organization are defined. Individual striatal neurons contribute to more than one level of organization, which necessitates an explicit definition of both the hierarchy and the specific compartmental level.
Assessment of Medication and Recreational Drugs Associated with Fatigue

Fatigue is a prevalent condition that increases the risk of errors, contributes to accidents, and impairs quality of life. Causes of fatigue include various medications and recreational agents. With the ever-increasing list of medications approved for managing chronic medical conditions, it can be difficult to ascertain the role of the agents in provoking or exacerbating fatigue. This is especially true when the medical condition for which the agent is prescribed is itself associated with fatigue. A detailed history is a crucial process for establishing the causal relationship between a psychoactive substance and fatigue. The temporal relationship between initiation and/or administration of a medicine and the onset of fatigue represents the most important clue. Sometimes, removal of the presumed agent and close follow-up of a patient is needed to ascertain such a role. With that in mind, there are certain groups of agents that may cause fatigue. In this chapter, we review pharmacological and recreational agents associated with fatigue.
Immigration Attitudes Among American Religious Groups

In this chapter, we utilize data from scholarly sources like the American National Election Studies, the General Social Surveys, the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, as well as important survey organizations that specialize in religion research, the Pew Research Center and the Public Religion Research Institute, to compare and contrast lay opinion across religious groups. We show that white evangelicals are the most opposed to evangelical reform of any religious group, while their Hispanic co-religionists are in the camp that most favors reform, with black evangelicals more or less in the middle. Although white evangelicals lead the mass opposition to progressive immigration policies among religious groups, white mainline Protestants and Anglo-Catholics are not far behind. This suggests that race and political factors may be more important than religion in forming immigration attitudes.
Animated Sprites and Collisions: A Game Pong

The game components that animated continuously and independently are termed as sprites in the game field. The animated sprits collide each other and collide with other objects. These collisions trigger embedded collision detection and collision handlers for dynamically changing the game states and output scenes. The collision detection and collision handlers actually are collision-event-update-repaint chains, which have the similar functions as the action-event-update-repaint chains. The player of the game just follows the game rules to control the animated sprites in order to avoid the collisions or to engage the collisions. The simple video game Pong is our first game example to start the introduction of sprites and their collisions for illustrating these new concepts and new techniques.
Quality of life among dermatology patients: a systematic review of investigations using qualitative methods.

Introduction Quality of life may be assessed using quantitative or qualitative methods. Quantitative methods are commonly used in research settings; however, they may fail to capture the full range of patient experiences and impact on quality of life. Qualitative methods may be used to address this limitation. In this systematic review, we aim to synthesize data from articles utilizing qualitative methods to assess quality of life in dermatology patients. Evidence acquisition We performed a systematic review search using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases. The search was conducted using the following search criteria: ("Dermatology" [MeSH]) AND ("Quality of Life" [MeSH]), AND ("Qualitative Research" [MeSH]), searching literature spanning from January 1, 1946 to October 5, 2016. Evidence synthesis The systematic review of 15 articles included 533 dermatology patients. Patients expressed frustration over the unpredictability of disease symptoms and having to compensate for the subsequent limitations by altering their daily routines. Patients also reported profound helplessness due to chronic skin disease and social isolation in an effort to hide their disease. Patients noted the patient-provider relationship as a source of support and information exchange, with the goal to form easy to use treatment plans that met both physician and patient expectations. Conclusions Qualitative assessment of patient quality of life can provide new insights into the patient experience and the impact of their skin disease. Qualitative methodology may capture meaningful information that may be overlooked by quantitative methods, and it should be included in quality of life research.
Safety and preliminary efficacy of intranasal insulin for cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease and multiple system atrophy: A double-blinded placebo-controlled pilot study

Parkinson disease (PD) is associated with cognitive impairment. We aimed to determine the effects of intranasal insulin (INI) on cognition and motor performance in PD. This was a proof of concept, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effects of 40 international units (IU) of insulin or saline once daily for four weeks on cognitive and functional performance. Of 16 subjects enrolled, eight in the INI group and six in the placebo group completed verbal fluency (FAS), Unified Parkinson Disease Scale (UPDRS), and modified Hoehn and Yahr scale (HY, PD severity) at baseline and post-treatment and were included in the analyses. After treatment, the INI group had a better total FAS score (p = 0.02) (41 ± 8.2 vs. 30.8 ± 7.1, mean ±SD, p = 0.02) compared to the placebo group. The INI group also had improved HY (p = 0.04) and UPDRS-Motor (Part III) (p = 0.02) scores when compared to baseline. One INI treated patient with multiple system atrophy (MSA) remained stable and did not show disease progression. The placebo group had no change. INI administration was well tolerated and there were no hypoglycemic episodes or serious study related adverse events or medications interactions. INI is safe in PD and MSA patients and may provide clinically relevant functional improvement. Larger studies are warranted to determine the INI effect in treatment of cognitive and motor impairment in Parkinson disease. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT02064166.
Midterm Outcomes for Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Octogenarians

Background An increase in the life expectancy of the general population has led to heightened numbers of elderly patients in need of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Surgical revascularization in octogenarians is becoming more commonplace, and outcomes in this cohort continue to gain relevance. Methods All patients who underwent isolated CABG (n = 7048) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2010 to 2017 were reviewed. A comparative analysis between octogenarians (≥80 years) and septuagenarians (70-79 years) was performed with primary outcomes that included all-cause mortality and readmission at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years. Results The total patient population consisted of 2226 patients who were divided into two age groups, including 1673 septuagenarians (75.2%) and 553 octogenarians (24.8%). Mean age was 74.19 ± 2.80 years versus 82.94 ± 2.57 years (P Conclusions CABG can be performed in octogenarians with acceptable survival although they have an increased risk of readmission for cardiac causes, specifically, higher rates of heart failure.
Residual Lung Injury Following HeartMate 3 Explantation for Heart Transplant

Purpose Left ventricular assist device (LVADs) are commonly used as a bridge to transplantation. The HeartMate 3 (HM 3) is the most recently approved intrathoracic LVAD. Little is known about the impact of HM 3 on adjacent lung tissue, particularly the damage that may occur during HM 3 explantation. Methods We reviewed all HM 3 patients implanted at our center. We identified patients who underwent heart transplant (HT) and investigated post-transplant adverse events, focusing on radiological findings of the left lung (X-ray and / or computed tomography at 1week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months). Results Out of 165 HM 3 patients, 35 patients were transplanted. Mean age was 56(IQR 52, 61), 85.7% male, HT occurred at 289 days (IQR 90, 576), of LVAD support. During follow-up period of 342 days (IQR 242, 686), 33 (94.3%) survived. There were 12 (34.3%) patients who developed pneumonia, and 9 of these occurred within the first 30 days. 57% of the patients had Lt lung consolidation and 83% had left-sided pleural effusion at one week following transplant, and these findings resolved in some but not all of the cohort at 3 months (Table). Conclusion In our cohort of HM 3 patients bridged to transplantation, there was excellent short and intermediate-term survival. However, a high rate of persistent left lung injury was identified following HT. Further study of the impact of these lung findings on patient morbidity is warranted.