cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3322: Estrogen and nuclear respiratory factor 1 act as joint mediators of redox modulation and stem cell aging that contribute in the pathogenesis of breast cancer

Deterioration of adult stem cell function with increasing age is a risk factor of breast cancer. Metastasis of breast cancer seems to be also influenced by aging or senescent cells overexpressing mitophagy/autophagy genes. Recently, estrogen, ROS, mitochondria and NRF1 activity have been implicated with stem cell aging, health and longevity. The exact underlying mechanisms of how aging of stem cells may increase the susceptibility to estrogen-induced carcinogenicity remain unknown. The main objective of this study was to examine whether estrogen, through activation of NRF1-mediated redox modulation and autophagic genes involved in senescence of stem cells, contributes in the development of breast cancer. To test this hypothesis, first we investigated the role of NRF1 to induce stemness by re-programming of breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB231). We found that NRF1 promoted pluripotency markers: Oct4, Sox 2, and Nanog compare to MCF10A, MCF-7 or MDAMB 231 control cells. Loss of E-cadherin expression and gain of N-cadherin and vimentin expression in NRF1 overexpressing cells suggested that NRF1 promotes epithelial- mesenchymal transition. NRF1 promoted the ability to differentiate in vitro into a variety of cells (e.g chondrocytes, neurons, and smooth muscle cells). This suggested that NRF1 promotes multilineage differentiation potentials. Our data also showed that higher expression of NRF1 increased sizes of spheroids and ROS levels compared to controls. Mitophagy/Autophagy that regulates clearance of damaged mitochondria/apoptotic cells has important functions in regulating stem cell aging and tumorigenesis. Therefore, we examined the effect of estrogen on aging-associated diseases-related genes in NRF1 overexpressing as well as NRF1 silenced cells. Autophagy/Mitophagy/Apoptosis-related genes - BNIP3, PINK1, DJ-1 and LKB1 were altered in response to exposure of a carcinogenic concentration of estrogen. This effect of estrogen on these genes was further amplified by NRF1 overexpression and was inhibited by loss of NRF1. In summary, estrogen and NRF1 act as joint mediators of stem cell fate and reprogramming through a panel of critical stem cell proteins involved in modulating senescence and cell death. NRF1 seems to function as a rheostat to coordinate various cellular processes, such as resistance to apoptosis, autophagy and mitophagy of stem cells required for the stem cell aging as well as for the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Citation Format: Juan Vazquez, Deodutta Roy, Jayant Das. Estrogen and nuclear respiratory factor 1 act as joint mediators of redox modulation and stem cell aging that contribute in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3322.
The Usefulness of Aggregated Data in the Analysis of Farm Income Variability and Resource Allocation

ITH the steady increase in commercialization and size of the economical farm unit, the question of financing farm transfer also increases in importance. Further, with larger and larger amounts of operating capital required, shortand intermediate-term loans to farmers gain significance. While farm size and the importance of outside capital to the farm firm are growing, there is also a trend toward enterprise specialization. The latter may lead to year-to-year farm income fluctuations of considerably larger magnitude than is expected on highly diversified farms. As a consequence, it is possible that highly commercialized, large and specialized farms decrease their ability to meet loan commitments while their need for outside capital increases. Studies which address themselves to this question' are largely based on aggregated (county, economic area, state) data. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that the use of aggregated data in such studies is likely to lead to wrong conclusions. This will be done 1) by first sketching the procedure for variance estimation and the statistical theory involved; 2) by presenting empirical estimates of enterprise variation; and 3) by comparing variance estimates derived from aggregated (county) data with estimates derived from individual farm data. These variance estimates will then be employed in computing variances of differing enterprise combinations in order to demonstrate the difference in results obtained from the aggregated versus the individual farm data.
Job Collapse on the Way to New Athens

The case that America will not be able to replace jobs lost to technological advances is gaining adherents. Indeed, it is becoming one of the central issues of our time. This chapter assesses the economic issues around job loss and provides practical assessments of proposals like retraining, income security, and education reform. To address the quandary that the chapter outlines, the author then tests the core assumption that underlies the fear of a so-called Job Armageddon—that is, the assumption that income and materialism lie at the heart of one’s well-being. The author argues that society could improve itself through a shift in values that would discard the notion that wealth and consumerism are surefire sources of happiness. In proposing a realignment of values (and thus, economics), the chapter ultimately asks: can we find in community involvement, social bonding, and costless transcendental pursuits the answer to a fuller life?
Elevated HbA1c in Donor Organs from Patients without a Diagnosis of Diabetes Portends Worse Liver Allograft Survival

Recipients of liver allografts from diabetic donors have decreased graft survival. However, limited data exist on the effects of donor HbA1c. We hypothesized that allografts from non-diabetic donors with elevated HbA1c would be associated with decreased survival. Liver transplant recipients from the UNOS database from non-diabetic donors were stratified into two groups: euglycemic (HbA1c < 6.5) and hyperglycemic (HbA1c ≥ 6.5). Propensity score matching (10:1) was used to adjust for donor and recipient characteristics. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess survival. Donors of hyperglycemic allografts were older (49 vs. 36, p < 0.001), were more likely to be non-white, had a higher BMI (29.8 vs. 26.2, p < 0.001), were more likely to engage in heavy cigarette use (1.5 vs. 1.3%, p = 0.004), had higher serum creatinine levels (1.3 vs. 1.0, p = 0.002), and were more likely to be an expanded-criteria donor (35.8 vs. 14.4%, p < 0.001). After propensity matching to account for these differences, allograft survival was significantly decreased in the recipients of hyperglycemic allografts (p = 0.049), and patient survival showed a trend towards reduction (p = 0.082). These findings suggest that HbA1c may be a simple and inexpensive test with potential utility for better organ risk stratification.
The Psychophysics of Pain and Analgesia in Animals

The technique that we called the “titration schedule” (Weiss and Laties, 1958) grew out of a problem in pharmacology. At the time, we were located in a laboratory (the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at Johns Hopkins) devoted to studies of the effects of drugs in humans. One focus of this laboratory was the study of analgesia.
Immunotherapy with Alutard SQ reduced symptoms and need for medication in severe summer hay fever

Source Citation Varney VA, Gaga M, Frew AJ, et al. Usefulness of immunotherapy in patients with severe summer hay fever uncontrolled by antiallergic drugs. BMJ. 1991;302:265-9.1998791
Sufijos de transitividad en la lengua yaqui: un estudio de interfaz entre la morfología y la sintaxis

This article presents a typological/descriptive approach to the phenomenon of syntactic valency alternations, in order to explore the relationship between morphology and syntax observed in agglutinating languages such as Yaqui (Uto-Aztecan). In particular, this article deals with cases in which valency changes are simultaneously exhibited in the syntax (i.e., by means of alternations in the number of verb arguments), and in morphology (i.e., marked by changes in verbal suffixes). This article studies valency increasing operations, such as the causative alternation, as well as valency reduction operations, such as noun incorporation, and concludes that verbal morphology is a good diagnostic to identify the valency of Yaqui verbs. Original received: 2017/01/23Review sent to author: 2017/04/06Accepted: 2017/05/08
The Theater of Baptism

Dating the timing of the heir’s baptism was the zero point of juror’s memories and more memories related to this, in its many aspects and chapters, than to any other event. As the memories unroll the tale, the whole story of baptism embraces memories about fetching the midwife and the godparents and the wet nurse and sometimes even the priest. The church had to be prepared, the various players assembled and a range of props made ready, and the ceremony itself—a public event for the villagers—performed. This could go smoothly and many jurors had been spectators; others had played various roles that they were still happy to talk about. After the baptism had been performed there were memories from and about men who had carried the good news, often in return for a handsome reward, and finally—to close the drama—we have memories of the feast with accompanying gifts held to celebrate the churching of the mother and her return to society.
Good deeds gone bad: Lay theories of altruism and selfishness

Abstract When people help others, they often benefit themselves as well. Do these benefits disqualify prosocial acts from being truly altruistic? Scientists and philosophers have long debated this question, but few have considered laypeople's beliefs about altruism. Here, we examine such lay theories surrounding altruism. Across two studies, observers read about agents who behaved prosocially. In some cases, agents benefitted materially, socially, or emotionally from their actions (self-oriented consequences ); in other cases, they acted in order to accrue these benefits (self-oriented motives ). Observers “penalized” actions that produced self-oriented consequences – rating them as less altruistic than actions involving no such benefit – unless these benefits were emotional. When agents' actions involved self-oriented motives, observers penalized them more harshly, viewing their behavior as more selfish than even clearly non-prosocial acts. These data suggest that lay theories distinguish between motives for, and “side effects” of, prosocial actions, converging with recent psychological theories of altruism.
Approaching Human Hand Dexterity Through Highly Biomimetic Design

Abstract A wide range of research areas, from telemanipulation in robotics to limb regeneration in tissue engineering, could benefit from an anthropomorphic robotic hand that mimics the salient features of the human hand. The challenges of designing such a robotic hand are mainly resulted from our limited understanding of the human hand from an engineering point of view and the ability to replicate important biomechanical features with conventional mechanical design. We believe that the biomechanics of human hand is an essential component of hand dexterity and can be replicated with a highly biomimetic design. To this end, we reinterpret the important biomechanical advantages of the human hand from a roboticist's perspective and design a biomimetic robotic hand that closely mimics its human counterpart with artificial joint capsules, crocheted ligaments and tendons, laser-cut extensor hood, and elastic pulley mechanisms. We experimentally identify the workspaces of the fingertips and successfully demonstrate that our proof-of-concept design can be teleoperated to grasp and manipulate daily objects with a variety of natural hand postures based on hand taxonomy.
Acute coronary syndromes: a practical review for primary care physicians

Abstract Cardiac complaints are very common in office practice. Eliciting a history of chest pain, shortness of breath, or jaw/arm pain during a routine visit should prompt the physician to investigate these symptoms, and in some cases initiate appropriate management. The variety of therapeutic modalities available to physicians today, both invasive and non-invasive, should be well understood by all primary care physicians. In 1996, the National Center for Health Statistics reported over 1.4 million hospitalizations for unstable angina/non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the U.S., 1 while nearly 500,000 patients are hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction each year. Advancements in the acute coronary syndrome definitions and management change rapidly; this article will serve as a review and update for the Obstetrician-Gynecologist, who may be providing care for these women.
Differential Associations between Rumination and Intelligence Subtypes

Although prior theory suggests that rumination contributes to cognitive impairments associated with depression, recent work suggests that rumination is associated with higher levels of intelligence. The present study examined the relations between two ruminative subtypes (brooding and reflective pondering) and multiple measures and types of intelligence (verbal and performance) after controlling for rumination's overlapping variance with depression. Participants were 751 individuals from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study who completed the Ruminative Response Scale; the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and a fully structured clinical interview as measures of depression; and verbal and performance intelligence tasks at age 16 and the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices at age 23. Reflective pondering was positively associated with all measures of intelligence, whereas brooding was not associated with intelligence. Our findings indicate that any negative associations between rumination and intelligence are attributable to shared variance with depression, and that examination of rumination as a multifaceted construct may provide new insights into the relations between rumination and cognition.
On Becoming a Surgical Intern: Navigating the Lurch from Medical School to Internship.

There are three major transitions in the educational trajectory of those heading into a career in surgery. The first transition is from the first year or two of medical school to the clerkships of the third year. The second is the transition from medical school into the first postgraduate year of residency training. The third, which is widely held to be the toughest transition of all, is from residency into independent practice. This review, which could be called ‘a rookie’s survival guide,’ will address the second of those ‘lurches,’ that of the transition from medical school into a surgical internship.
PeQASO: Perceptual Quality Assessment of Streamed Videos Using Optical Flow Features

In this paper, we introduce PeQASO, a perceptual quality assessment framework for streamed videos using optical flow features. This approach is a reduced-reference pixel-based and relies only on the deviation of the optical flow of the corrupted frames. This technique compares an optical flow descriptor from the received frame against the descriptor obtained from the anchor frame. This approach is suitable for videos with complex motion patterns. Our technique does not make any assumptions on the coding conditions, network loss patterns or error concealment techniques. In this paper, we consider both sources of artifacts and distortions in streaming, including compression artifacts. We validate our proposed metric by testing it on a variety of distorted sequences from three proposed and commonly utilized video quality assessment databases. Our results show that our metric estimates the perceptual quality at the sequence level accurately. We report the correlation coefficients with the differential mean opinion scores reported in the database. For compression artifacts, the results show Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlations of 0.96 and 0.94 for all the tested sequences, respectively. For channel-induced distortion, the results show Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlations of 0.88 and 0.89, respectively. For all other distortions, the average Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlations are 0.82 and 0.79, respectively.
Bounds on the efficiency of unbalanced ranked-set sampling

Takahasi and Wakimoto (1968) derived a sharp upper bound on the efficiency of the balanced ranked-set sampling (RSS) sample mean relative to the simple random sampling (SRS) sample mean under perfe...
Conformational flexibility and inhibitor binding to unphosphorylated interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4).

Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) is a key player in innate immune and inflammatory responses, performing a critical role in signal transduction downstream of Toll-like receptors and interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptors. Upon ligand binding and via its N-terminal death domain, IRAK4 is recruited to an oligomeric receptor that is proximal to the Myddosome signaling complex, inducing IRAK4 kinase domain dimerization, autophosphorylation, and activation. To date, all known IRAK4 structures are in the active conformation, precluding a good understanding of IRAK4's conformational dynamics. To address this issue, here we first solved three crystal structures of the IRAK4 kinase domain (at ≤2.6 A resolution), in its unphosphorylated, inactive state bound to either the ATP analog AMP-PNP or to one of the two small-molecule inhibitors JH-I-25 and JH-I-17. The structures disclosed that although the structure in complex with AMP-PNP is in an "αC-out" inactive conformation, those in complex with type I inhibitors assume an active "Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG)-in" and "αC-in" conformation. The ability of unphosphorylated IRAK4 to take on variable conformations prompted us to screen for small-molecule inhibitors that bind preferentially to unphosphorylated IRAK4, leading to the identification of ponatinib and HG-12-6. Solving the structures of unphosphorylated IRAK4 in complex with these two inhibitors, we found that they both bind as type II inhibitors with IRAK4 in a "DFG-out" conformation. Collectively, these structures reveal conformational flexibility of unphosphorylated IRAK4 and provide unexpected insights into the potential use of small molecules to modulate IRAK4 activity in cancer, autoimmunity, and inflammation.
Acceleration strategies for explicit finite element analysis of metal powder-based additive manufacturing processes using graphical processing units

Metal powder-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes are increasingly used in industry and science due to their unique capability of building complex geometries. However, the immense computational cost associated with AM predictive models hinders the further industrial adoption of these technologies for time-sensitive applications, process design with uncertainties or real-time process control. In this work, a novel approach to accelerate the explicit finite element analysis of the transient heat transfer of AM processes is proposed using Graphical Processing Units. The challenges associated with this approach are enumerated and multiple strategies to overcome each challenge are discussed. The performance of the proposed algorithms is evaluated on multiple test cases. Speed-ups of about 100 ×–150 × compared to an optimized single CPU core implementation for the best strategy were achieved.
Evaluation of Transportation and Acceptance Strategies Associated with the Potential Yucca Mountain Waste Management System

This paper describes the development and use of an integrated model to explore the impact of design parameters and operational decisions on storage and transportation aspects of the preclosure activity period for the potential repository at Yucca Mountain (YM), Nevada. The model provides an opportunity to perform analyses of various YM preclosure "scenarios. " Storage and transportation aspects of the preclosure system are evaluated with the goal of identifying important design parameters and understanding system interactions, thereby providing a tool to recognize trade-offs and dependencies between storage demands at the waste generation sites and the repository. This application of the model explores changes in assumptions regarding the following parameters: (a) year the transportation, aging, and disposal (TAD) canister becomes available; (b) year that YM opens; (c) thermal limit for emplacement; (d) thermal limit for transportation; and (e) utility strategies for selecting assemblies for dry storage loading. The response variables measured are (a) dry storage containers loaded because of lack of capacity in the spent nuclear fuel pools, (b) TAD canisters that could potentially be loaded before YM opens (assuming utilities begin using the TAD canister as soon as it is commercially available), (c) pools from which shipments to YM originate each year, (d) years aboveground aging is required at YM, and (e) containers in the aging facility at YM each year. Results indicate that allowing utilities to trade allocations, prioritizing the trading based on least remaining capacity in the spent nuclear fuel pools, could reduce dry storage demands at the utility sites, decrease the number of pools making shipments each year, and increase the efficiency of the transportation system. This type of prioritization for allocations can provide these improvements without adversely impacting the required aboveground aging at YM in the case that younger fuel is sent first. Consequently, there may be incentive for utilities to negotiate the trading of allocations if they wish to reduce their expected dry storage demands after shipments commence to YM.
School Bullying, Body Size, and Gender: An Intersectionality Approach to Understanding US Children's Bullying Victimization.

We examine separate and combined effects of children's body size and gender on school bullying victimization in the US. Second-grade data from the 2012-2013 school year from the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2011 were analyzed, hierarchical generalized logistic modeling was used, and three forms of school bullying were studied. Girls were less likely than boys to be verbally or physically bullied and obese children were more likely to be verbally and relationally bullied than non-obese children. The protective effect of gender extends to obese girls when obesity is not a risk factor (physical bullying). When obesity is a risk factor, gender is not protective (verbal bullying) or is a risk factor (relational bullying) for girls. These findings suggest an intersectional body size-gender lens is crucial to understanding how inequality is produced through school bullying. Future interventions should incorporate an intersectional understanding of school bullying.
A phase II Brown University Oncology Group study of docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine (DOC) for metastatic esophagogastric cancer

e15541^ Background: We previously reported results of a phase I study of oxaliplatin, docetaxel, and capecitabine for advanced esophagogastric cancer (Evans et al, Am J C Onc 2007). In this phase I...
Direct replication of task‐dependent neural activation patterns during sadness introspection in two independent adolescent samples

Functional neuroimaging results need to replicate to inform sound models of human social cognition and its neural correlates. Introspection, the capacity to reflect on one's thoughts and feelings, is one process required for normative social cognition and emotional functioning. Engaging in introspection draws on a network of brain regions including medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), middle temporal gyri (MTG), and temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Maturation of these regions during adolescence mirrors the behavioral advances seen in adolescent social cognition, but the neural correlates of introspection in adolescence need to replicate to confirm their generalizability and role as a possible mechanism. The current study investigated whether reflecting upon one's own feelings of sadness would activate and replicate similar brain regions in two independent samples of adolescents. Participants included 156 adolescents (50% female) from the California Families Project and 119 adolescent girls from the Pittsburgh Girls Study of Emotion. All participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan while completing the same facial emotion-processing task at age 16-17 years. Both samples showed similar whole-brain activation patterns when engaged in sadness introspection and when judging a nonemotional facial feature. Whole-brain activation was unrelated to ERQ scores in both samples. Neural responsivity to task manipulations replicated in regions recruited for socio-emotional (mPFC, PCC, MTG, TPJ) and attention (dorsolateral PFC, precentral gyri, superior occipital gyrus, superior parietal lobule) processing. These findings demonstrate robust replication of neural engagement during sadness introspection in two independent adolescent samples.
Perturbations of the A′1Π and C1Σ+ states of CaO

Abstract Laser induced fluorescence spectra for jet-cooled CaO have been used to examine the higher vibrational levels of the A′1Π(Xσπ−1) state (v = 10–17) and the v = 6–8 vibrational levels of the C1Σ+(Bσσ−1) state. A perturbation of v = 17 of the A′ state was evident, caused by a spin-orbit mediated interaction with the b3Σ+(Ω = 1)(Xσσ−1) v = 14 level. Ro-vibrational constants for the A′ state were obtained by fitting to the data for nominally unperturbed levels. The average radiative lifetime for the A′1Π(Xσπ−1) state v = 10–17 levels was 2.6 μs, with no measurable dependence on v. This was consistent with the theoretical prediction of a relatively small transition dipole moment for the A′1Π–X1Σ+ band system. A homogeneous perturbation of the C1Σ+(Bσσ−1) v = 7 level was examined by means of dispersed laser induced fluorescence (DLIF) and radiative lifetime measurements. The DLIF spectra clearly demonstrate that the perturbing Ω = 0+ state is a component of a triplet state. Intense transitions from this state to the a3Π(0+)(Xσπ−1) state were observed. Configurational arguments are presented that support assignment of the perturbing state as the v = 12 vibrational level of the previously unobserved g3Π(0+)(Bσπ−1) state.
Beyond the corrective action hierarchy: A systems approach to organizational change.

Background Many patient safety organizations recommend the use of the action hierarchy (AH) to identify strong corrective actions following an investigative analysis of patient harm events. Strong corrective actions, such as forcing functions and equipment standardization, improve patient safety by either preventing the occurrence of active failures (i.e. errors or violations) or reducing their consequences if they do occur. Problem We propose that the emphasis on implementing strong fixes that incrementally improve safety one event at a time is necessary, yet insufficient, for improving safety. This singular focus has detracted from the pursuit of major changes that transform systems safety by targeting the latent conditions which consistently underlie active failures. To date, however, there are no standardized models or methods that enable patient safety professionals to assess, develop and implement systems changes to improve patient safety. Approach We propose a multifaceted definition of 'systems change'. Based on this definition, various types and levels of systems change are described. A rubric for determining the extent to which a specific corrective action reflects a 'systems change' is provided. This rubric incorporates four fundamental dimensions of systems change: scope, breadth, depth and degree. Scores along these dimensions can then be used to classify corrective actions within our proposed systems change hierarchy (SCH). Conclusion Additional research is needed to validate the proposed rubric and SCH. However, when used in conjunction with the AH, the SCH perspective will serve to foster a more holistic and transformative approach to patient safety.
Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Eyelid: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) of the eyelid is a rare, aggressive malignancy associated with high rates of recurrence, metastasis, and tumor-related mortality. Objective Provide a collective analysis of clinical presentations, management techniques, and outcomes, and compare outcomes of common treatment methods. Methods and materials Observational studies reporting management and outcomes of SC of the eyelid were included. Patient and clinical data were extracted, and meta-analysis of proportions was performed. Results One thousand three hundred thirty-three subjects were included with a mean age of 65.2 years and 803 (60.2%) women. Of 647 initial diagnoses reported, 277 (42.8%) were correct, and the mean diagnostic delay was 14.7 months (range 8.5-34.8). The tumor location was reported in 1,246 subjects and involved the upper eyelid in 780 (62.6%), lower eyelid in 409 (32.8%), and 57 (4.8%) involved both. Overall rates of recurrence, metastasis, and tumor-related mortality were 15.9%, 12.1%, and 6.2%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in wide local excision (WLE) versus Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) outcomes. Conclusion Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid is more common in women, on the upper eyelid, and is frequently misdiagnosed initially. Rate of recurrence, metastasis, and tumor-related mortality were similar in subjects managed with WLE versus MMS.
Perioperative fatal pulmonary embolism in a pediatric liver transplant recipient

Patients with cirrhotic liver disease are in a state of fluctuating hemostatic balance. Hepatic synthetic dysfunction is commonly complicated by coagulation disorders that constitute an important parameter of most prognostic scores. The dominant feature of this dysfunction is bleeding tendencies, but cirrhotic patients may also exhibit inappropriate clotting and pro-coagulation placing them at risk for thromboembolism. We present a case of perioperative fatal pulmonary embolism in an 8-year-old patient with biliary cirrhosis secondary to drug-induced vanishing bile duct syndrome undergoing a deceased donor liver transplant. The massive pulmonary embolism occurred intra-operatively after reperfusion of the donor liver. Despite the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the postoperative course was complicated by bleeding and the patient expired. This unique case highlights the need for venous thromboembolism prevention by screening and prophylaxis prior to liver transplant in at least a subpopulation of pediatric patients. While the risk of thrombosis postoperatively in pediatrics patients is well known, the preoperative risk is less frequently described and deserves attention and practice changing action.
Simplification of Small Bowel and Colon Transit Analysis Using A Single Time Point Measurement of Total Abdominal Counts

1721 Objectives The current SNMMI EANM Procedure Guide on Gastrointestinal Transit indicates that the mean of total abdominal counts (TAC) from 7 time points from 0 to 360 min should be used to define the TAC available to fill the terminal ileum and colon when quantifying bowel transit studies. This recommendation was based on studies using older gamma cameras with concern that there could be significant variability in TAC due to varying geometry and potential non uniform count rates . The purpose of this study was to investigate the variability of geometric mean TAC during the initial six hours of bowel transit and to determine if a single time point measurement can be used. Methods Thirty consecutive small bowel and colon transit studies were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received an oral dose of 125 µCi In-111 DTPA in 300 cc of water together with the standard egg white solid phase meal to measure small bowel and colon transit. In-111 DTPA geometric mean and decay corrected counts obtained at times (t) = 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 min post meal ingestion were analyzed. The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to determine the variability of the mean of the counts. Slope of the regression line, Student’s t-test and a Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PCC) were also calculated to determine the correlation of the counts at each time point compared to the mean of all time points. Results Table 1 summarizes the data. The mean CV of the counts of each patient was 3.3% with a range of 1.1% to 6.3%. The mean of the slope of the regression line of the measured counts of the patients was -0.001±.003. There was no significant difference between the measured slope of the regression line compared to a line with a slope of 0 (p>0.05). Comparing the counts at each interval to the mean counts, there was no significant difference(p>0.05). The PCC of each of the counts showed a significant and strong correlation between each interval and the mean counts (p Conclusions There is no significant variability in measured geometric mean TAC during the initial 6 hours of small bowel and colon transit studies. This will permit a significant decrease in the time required for image analysis by obtaining TAC only from a single time point. Because it is necessary to still visually analyze the small bowel and colon transit patterns, imaging at all the recommended seven time points will still need to be performed. We propose that any single time point can be utilized for image analysis in the place of the mean of all the time points.
Speed-Up Methods for Simulations of Traveling Waves in Large-Scale Integrate-and-Fire Neural Networks

We consider single and multiple spike traveling waves solutions in an integrate-and-fire neural network. Due to the special properties of this system it is possible to deduce the dynamical state of each neuron in the full network from a small subset, using recurrence relationships. Since the dimension of the subset is equal to the number of the traveling waves, this greatly reduces the computational time required for numerical simulations. These ideas are specific to the class of integrate-and-fire neural network models presented here.
Enterococcus faecalis colonizes and forms persistent biofilm microcolonies on undamaged endothelial surfaces in a rabbit endovascular infection model

Infectious endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon disease with significant morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of IE has historically been described as a cascade of host-specific events beginning with endothelial damage and thrombus formation and followed by bacterial colonization of the nascent thrombus. Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive commensal bacterial member of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota in most terrestrial animals and a leading cause of opportunistic biofilm-associated infections, including endocarditis. Here, we provide evidence that E. faecalis can colonize the endocardial surface without pre-existing damage and in the absence of thrombus formation in a rabbit endovascular infection model. Using previously described light and scanning electron microscopy techniques, we show that inoculation of a well-characterized E. faecalis lab strain in the marginal ear vein of New Zealand White rabbits resulted in rapid colonization of the endocardium throughout the heart within 4 days of administration. Unexpectedly, ultrastructural imaging revealed that the microcolonies were firmly attached directly to the endocardium in areas without morphological evidence of gross tissue damage. Further, the attached bacterial aggregates were not associated with significant cellular components of coagulation or host extracellular matrix damage repair (i.e. platelets). These results suggest that the canonical model of mechanical surface damage as a prerequisite for bacterial attachment to host sub-endothelial components is not required. Furthermore, these findings are consistent with a model of initial establishment of stable, endocarditis-associated E. faecalis biofilm microcolonies that may provide a reservoir for the eventual valvular infection characteristic of clinical endocarditis. The similarities between the E. faecalis colonization and biofilm morphologies seen in this rabbit endovascular infection model and our previously published murine gastrointestinal colonization model indicate that biofilm production and common host cell attachment factors are conserved in disparate mammalian hosts under both commensal and pathogenic contexts.
Resilience among nurses in long term care and rehabilitation settings.

Abstract Background Nurses practicing in long-term care or rehabilitation settings face unique challenges from prolonged or repeated exposure to stressors, given their extended time with patients. This puts them at risk for compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, which can lead to decreased resilience and sleep problems. Aim The aim of this study was to examine relationships among resilience, professional quality of life, sleep, and demographics in nurses working in long-term care or rehabilitation settings, and to investigate whether demographics, professional quality of life, and sleep quality are significant predictors of nurses' resilience. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used the following measures: demographics, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Data were analyzed with SPSS v25. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression. Results Participants (N = 120) were mostly female (85%) and registered nurses (90%). Mean scores were 52.13 for resilience and 7.53 for sleep quality. Mean ProQOL subscale scores were 41.78 for compassion satisfaction, 22.28 for compassion fatigue, and 23.92 for secondary traumatic stress. Multiple regression models showed that compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress significantly predicted resilience (β = 0.69, β = −0.61, and β = −0.34, respectively, all p Conclusions Resilience is important in nurses' personal and professional lives because it helps to protect nurses from the negative consequences of stressors. Strategies, resources, and workplace support can promote self-care and resilience.
Evaluating Risks to Agricultural Production from Acid Deposition

Although it has been established that agricultural yields can be affected adversely by ozone and other air pollutants, effects of existing levels of acid deposition on crops are less well understood. Evaluations of potential effects from growth chamber, greenhouse and field experiments have not identified any single crop as being consistently sensitive to acid deposition. Quantitative analysis of one crop (soybeans), which has demonstrated some sensitivity to acid deposition treatments in field settings, suggest that if current acid deposition levels were reduced by 50%, then U.S. soybean production would increase by approximately 1%. These estimates are based on the fundamental assumption that estimated dose-response functions are homogeneous across biologic, geographic and temporal space; an assumption not supported by recently developed experimental data. As a result, confidence in this conclusion is weak.
The Clause Less Taken: Pleasant Grove City v. Summum and the Establishment Clause of the Utah Constitution

In Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, the Supreme Court unanimously held that a Ten Commandments monument in a small park near the center of Pleasant Grove City, Utah constitutes government speech unbound by the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. Therefore, the Court held that Pleasant Grove was not required to accept a monument donated by the religion of Summum. Everyone anticipated Summum’s next move: a motion for an injunction based on the City’s violation of the Establishment Clause. Summum obliged, and in June 2010 the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah dismissed its claim.This article argues that Summum should focus not on the First Amendment’s ten vague words, but the detailed provisions of Article I § 4 of the Utah Constitution. Part I provides an overview of Pleasant Grove City v. Summum. Part II analyzes Summum’s still-viable claim under the Federal Establishment Clause, pointing out a potentially successful argument that Summum could make but then demonstrating that the Federal Establishment Clause is simply too unpredictable. Part III outlines the history of Utah’s establishment clause, including its importance in the history of Utah and the unique case law governing its interpretation. Part IV analyzes Summum’s claim under the first prong of the test developed for the Utah establishment clause, arguing that the Ten Commandments monument in Pioneer Park constitutes a “religious exercise.” Part V analyzes Summum’s claim under the second prong of the test, arguing that Pleasant Grove City has not acted neutrally towards religion. Finally, the article concludes by reiterating Summum’s higher likelihood of success under Utah’s establishment clause.
Behavioural leads in evolution: evidence from the fossil record

There has been much discussion of the role of behaviour in evolution, especially its potential to lead morphological evolution by placing the organism in a novel selective environment. Many adaptations of living species can be imagined to have originated in this way, although documented examples are relatively few. A fruitful arena for testing hypotheses about behavioural innovation is the fossil record. Traditionally, the behaviour of fossil species has been deduced from their morphology, precluding the observation of a behavioural lead preceding morphological evolution. This circularity can be broken by examining behavioural proxies independent of the adaptive morphology itself. Examples applicable to fossil remains include dietary information (e.g. wear traces on teeth, stable isotopes) and trace fossils indicating locomotor mode (footprints). The signature of a behavioural lead would be an observed shift in behaviour from one horizon (or taxon) to another, followed later by a functionally-related morphological change. This pattern can be sought either in finely-stratified anagenetic sequences of fossils (stratophenetic approach) or among fossils with well-resolved species-level phylogenies (cladistic approach). An array of case studies from the literature is presented. These include feeding shifts in finely-resolved sequences of vertebrates ranging from freshwater fish to terrestrial ungulates, as well as locomotor changes crucial to major evolutionary transitions in the origin of tetrapods, birds, and humans. The latter examples highlight the role of behaviour in initiating exaptation (the requisitioning of structure for a new function). The case studies also illustrate the challenges of using fossil sequences to elucidate behavioural roles, including insufficient stratigraphic resolution and uncertainty over the adaptive function of observed traits. By the same token, they suggest criteria for choosing promising cases for research, as well as for formulating testable hypotheses about evolutionary modes. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 112, 315–331.
The role of myocarditis in end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract Many patients who undergo cardiac transplantation do so as a result of end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DC). Little is known about the causes of this condition, but long-term follow-up studies reveal a high incidence of DC in patients who have had acute viral myocarditis. The following article examines the role of myocarditis as a precursor of DC and discusses the possible etiology of myocarditis—based on animal experiments and clinical studies—as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment. (Texas Heart Institute Journal 1987; 14:268-275)
Assessing E-learning and student satisfaction in a blended and flexible environment

New advances in technology have enabled teaching and learning in a variety of environments in higher education. One approach that continues to evolve and expand is the blended delivery option. Blended instruction has mainly involved the instructor making decisions regarding the combination of online and in-class learning activities required for the course. Recently, an innovative blended model, hyflex learning, has begun to emerge. Hyflex learning incorporates blended learning characteristics with a more flexible framework. With this model, each student and not the instructor, elects the combination of activities they believe will best meet their learning needs. This study explores the extent to which students' needs and expectations are met in this type of environment. In addition, instructor's perspectives regarding participation and performance in hyflex classes compared to previously taken face-to-face classes will be examined.
Uncertainty as Enforcement Mechanism: The New Expansion of Secondary Copyright Liability to Internet Platforms

This Article examines the role that legal uncertainty plays as a copyright enforcement mechanism against Internet platforms. In recent years, Internet platforms have faced a new wave of copyright enforcement actions arising from their users’ activity. These actions include both civil secondary liability claims and public enforcement actions such as domain name seizures and criminal prosecution. In these enforcement actions, content owners understandably prefer broad secondary liability standards, but these standards remain subject to statutory and doctrinal constraints such as the DMCA safe harbor. Copyright owners, accordingly, are attempting to increase the breadth and expense of secondary copyright liability for Internet platforms by institutionalizing uncertainty within legal doctrine. From this perspective, prevailing in enforcement actions is less important than obtaining statutory and doctrinal constructions that create uncertain standards that raise the potential costs of enforcement proceedings upon Internet platforms. Below, I describe and critique this attempted expansion, and then propose measures to strengthen and clarify Internet platforms’ defenses. In doing so, I reject proposals that liability in this context should be determined primarily through tort principles.
Graph minors. XI.: circuits on a surface

Abstract Let Γ be a graph or hypergraph drawn on a connected surface which is not a sphere, in such a way that every non-null-homotopic curve meets the drawing at least θ times. We show that this defines a "tangle of order θ" in Γ, in the sense of earlier papers of this series. Also, there is a natural distance function defined by the drawing, and we show that for any point c of the surface, and any θ′ > θ, the set of points within distance θ′ of c is simply-connected.
'Flirt[ing] with Death' but' Still Alive': The Sexual Dimension of Surplus Time in Hip Hop Fantasy

This article argues that the tendency in rap music to depict women as accessories and sexual servants is the partial result of a widespread attitude that women have better prospects for earning a legitimate wage than their male counterparts. The effort to devalue women—and, by extension, female labor—leads avowedly heteronormative rappers to displace intimacy onto feminized arenas, like ‘the game’ or ‘the streets’. This is one way of coping with a general sense of disappointedness that inheres in the tortured sense of masculinity whose contours I tentatively sketch here. This article closes by pinpointing one reason for this preoccupation with death, fascination with ‘bling’, and denigration of women: the experience of ‘surplus time’—the sense that, according to perceived life expectancies, these rappers should already be dead. In theorizing this predicament, I explore some social consequences of the belief these rappers have more time available than they had anticipated.