cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Recent Glacial Recession on Summer Streamflow in the Skagit River

Abstract Skagit River watershed is the largest draining into Puget Sound and has the most extensive glacial cover of any basin > 5,000 km2 in the US outside of Alaska. We examined the importance of these glaciers to the basin's summer water balance using an empirical approach. In 1959 approximately 396 glaciers covered 170.23 ± 8.50 km2 of the basin. Since then, combined glacier area has decreased by 32.02 ± 1.60 km2 (- 19%), with most of the loss between elevations of 1600 m and 2100 m. Fifty years ago surface melting of snow, firn, and ice from Skagit glaciers provided from 0.440 ± 0.055 to 0.742 ± 0.093 km3 of water in summer (May through September) to the Skagit River at Concrete. Today, the surface melt component has decreased (- 24% ± 9%) and now ranges from 0.333 ± 0.042 km3 of water in cool-wet years to 0.559 ± 0.070 km3 in warm-dry years. Surface melt from the remaining glaciers continues to provide 6–12% of the river's total summer runoff, and roughly twice that fraction during August and Septem...
Polygraph: system for dynamic reduction of false alerts in large-scale it service delivery environments

In order to avoid critical SLA violations, service providers use monitoring technology to automate the identification of relevant events in the performance of managed components and forward them as incident tickets to be resolved by system administrators (SAs) before a critical failure occurs. For optimal cost and performance, monitoring policies must be finely tuned to the behavior of the managed components, such that SAs are not engaged for investigation of false alerts. Existing approaches to tuning monitoring policy rely heavily on high skilled SA work, with high costs and long completion times. Polygraph is a novel architecture for automated tuning of monitoring policies towards reducing false alerts. Polygragh integrates multiple types of service management data into an active-learning approach to automated generation of new monitoring policies. SAs can only be involved in the verification of policies with low projected scores. Experiments with a trace of 60K monitoring events from a large IT service delivery infrastructure compare methods for threshold adjustment in alert policy predicates with respect to potential for false alert reduction. Select methods reduce false alerts by up to 50% compared to baseline methods.
Aspirin-Triggered Resolvin D1 Versus Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome-Like NOD/ShiLtJ Mice - A Pilot Study.

Resolvin D1 (RvD1) and its aspirin-triggered epimeric form (AT-RvD1) are endogenous lipid mediators (derived from docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) that control the duration and magnitude of inflammation in models of complex diseases. Our previous studies demonstrated that RvD1-mediated signaling pathways are expressed and active in salivary glands from rodents and humans. Furthermore, treatment of salivary cells with RvD1 blocked TNF-α-mediated inflammatory signals and improved epithelial integrity. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of treatment with AT-RvD1 versus dexamethasone (DEX) on inflammation (i.e., lymphocytic infiltration, cytokine expression and apoptosis) observed in submandibular glands (SMG) from the NOD/ShiLtJ Sjogren's syndrome (SS) mouse model before experimenting with a larger population. NOD/ShiLtJ mice were treated intravenously with NaCl (0.9%, negative control), AT-RvD1 (0.01-0.1 mg/kg) or DEX (4.125-8.25 mg/kg) twice a week for 14 weeks beginning at 4 weeks of age. At 18 weeks of age, SMG were collected for pathological analysis and detection of SS-associated inflammatory genes. The AT-RvD1 treatment alone did not affect lymphocytic infiltration seen in NOD/ShiLtJ mice while DEX partially prevented lymphocytic infiltration. Interestingly, both AT-RvD1 and DEX caused downregulation of SS-associated inflammatory genes and reduction of apoptosis. Results from this pilot study suggest that a systemic treatment with AT-RvD1 and DEX alone attenuated inflammatory responses observed in the NOD/ShiLtJ mice; therefore, they may be considered as potential therapeutic tools in treating SS patients when used alone or in combination.
Convolutional sparse representations as an image model for impulse noise restoration

Standard sparse representations, applied independently to a set of overlapping image blocks, are a very effective approach to a wide variety of image reconstruction problems. Convolutional sparse representations, which provide a single-valued representation optimised over an entire image, provide an alternative form of sparse representation that has recently started to attract interest for image reconstruction problems. The present paper provides some insight into the suitability of the convolutional form for this type of application by comparing its performance as an image model with that of the standard model in an impulse noise restoration problem.
MRI apparent diffusion coefficient in a murine orthotopic glioblastoma model as a clinically translatable early readout of efficacy for AMG 595, an antibody drug conjugate targeting EGFRvIII.

11095 Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a constitutively active mutant of EGFR present in thirty to fifty percent of glioblastoma (GBM) patients. AMG 595, curre...
Failure to Thrive Hospitalizations and Risk Factors for Readmission to Children’s Hospitals

OBJECTIVES: Risk factors for failure to thrive (FTT) readmissions, including medical complexity, have not been described. We sought to characterize children hospitalized for FTT and identify risk factors associated with FTT-specific readmissions during the current era of increasing medical complexity among hospitalized children. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Pediatric Health Information System database of 43 freestanding children’s hospitals across the United States. The cohort included children RESULTS: There were 10 499 FTT hospitalizations, with 14.1% being readmitted for FTT within 3 years and 4.8% within 30 days. Median time to readmission was 66 days (interquartile range, 19–194 days). Nearly one-half of children (40.8%) had at least 1 complex chronic condition (CCC), with 16.4% having ≥2 CCCs. After multivariable modeling, increasing age at admission, median household income in the lowest quartile (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.44]), and prematurity-related CCC (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.46 [95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.86]) remained significantly associated with readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-half of children hospitalized for FTT had a CCC, and a majority of FTT-specific readmissions occurred after the traditional 30-day window. Children with prematurity-related conditions and low median household income represent unique populations at risk for FTT readmissions.
Christopher St. German and the Law of Custom

Christopher St. German (ca. 1460-1540) has been described as the author of "the first critical discussion of the common law of any substance to be published."' That is saying a great deal. So favorable an estimate must take it as a given that Bracton and Fortescue and Littleton were not critical enough of the common law to count. However, the description cannot possibly have meant 'critical' in the ordinary sense, as in the way that, say, Jeremy Bentham was critical of the common law. Bentham pointed to the many imperfections he saw in the common law and proposed schemes for their reform.2 St. German, by contrast, was no detractor of English law's merits. The description must instead have meant 'critical' in the sense of standing somewhat outside the common law and examining its meanings and its worth. In that sense of the word, St. German may have some claim to the title "first critic." He did purport to examine English law from outside. He did not merely extol its excellence or state its rules. And even if one concludes that he does not take the palm among impartial observers, his work deserves the attention of all students of the history of English common law-not least because he wrote on the dawn of development of the law from its medieval form to the form that emerged from its renaissance during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.' The book upon which St. German's reputation chiefly rests is known as Doctor and Student, although it was by no means his only learned work. Its main part appeared in 1528, and additions to it were
Ethics of the Public Sector: An Austrian Dissection of Government Paternalism

Agree or disagree with the votes or actions of politicians, their jobs are decidedly difficult and controversial, especially considering the local and ideological demands they have to balance. Unfortunately, they are part of a machine that lends itself to corruption, coercion, and decay from elitism and hubris. This paper looks at paternalism in the public sector and the backlash coercion and the law of unintended consequences wages on the ethics of populist decision-making. Applying this idea to currency integrity, corporate bailouts, and the business of war will help create a mechanism to evaluate the consequences of public policy and decision-making.
Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Membrane Interactions: Effects of Membrane Composition

Amyloid formation by islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) contributes to β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Perturbation of the β-cell membrane may contribute to IAPP-induced toxicity. We examine the effects of lipid composition, salt, and buffer on IAPP amyloid formation and on the ability of IAPP to induce leakage of model membranes. Even low levels of anionic lipids promote amyloid formation and membrane permeabilization. Increasing the percentage of the anionic lipids, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (POPS) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho(1′-rac-glycerol), enhances the rate of amyloid formation and increases the level of membrane permeabilization. The choice of zwitterionic lipid has no noticeable effect on membrane-catalyzed amyloid formation but in most cases affects leakage, which tends to decrease in the following order: 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine > 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine > sphingomyelin. Uncharged lipids that increase the level of me...
Human-derived gut microbiota modulates colonic secretion in mice by regulating 5-HT3 receptor expression via acetate production.

We found that gut microbiota alters serotonin (5-HT)-evoked intestinal secretion in a 5-HT3 receptor-dependent mechanism and gut microbiota metabolite acetate alters 5-HT3 receptor expression in co...
Cancer, Body, and Mastery at the Intersection of Gender and Race:

Using the 2006-2014 data from the Health and Retirement Study, the author compares changes in personal mastery after a new cancer diagnosis among white men, white women, black men, and black women....
Oncology Section EDGE Task Force on Urogenital Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Measures for Incontinence

Background Compared to the general population, women and men with urogenital and colorectal cancer experience higher rates of urinary and fecal incontinence. Although a variety of measures exist to assess these areas, currently, there are no guidelines recommending which outcomes rehabilitation professionals should administer to examine these impairments in those with cancer. Purpose To identify outcome measures for assessing urinary and fecal incontinence and evaluate their psychometric data and applicability to the cancer population. Methods Multiple electronic databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsycInfo) were reviewed using specific search terms to locate articles that identify outcome measures assessing urinary and fecal incontinence. As part of a larger effort to identify outcome measures for both incontinence and sexual dysfunction, 1118 articles were initially identified, 228 articles were reviewed, and 37 outcome measures were selected for analysis, 13 of which were related to urinary and fecal incontinence. Each incontinence outcome measure was independently reviewed and rated by two reviewers using the Cancer EDGE Task Force Outcome Measure Rating Form. Any discrepancies between reviewers were discussed and an overall recommendation for each outcome measure was made using the 4-point Cancer EDGE Task Force Rating Scale. Results The Task Force was able to highly recommend 1 measure addressing urinary incontinence (American Urological Association Symptom Index) and 2 measures assessing both urinary and fecal incontinence (Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory - Short Form, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire - Short Form). The Task Force also recommended two measures of urinary incontinence that demonstrated strong psychometric properties, but had not yet been evaluated in the cancer population (Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form). The Task Force was unable to recommend any measures that solely addressed fecal incontinence. Conclusions Five of the 13 outcome measures assessing urinary incontinence and two of the 13 measures assessing both urinary and fecal incontinence demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and application to the urogenital cancer population and are thereby recommended for use by the Task Force.
Machine Learning Improves Risk Stratification After Acute Coronary Syndrome

The accurate assessment of a patient's risk of adverse events remains a mainstay of clinical care. Commonly used risk metrics have been based on logistic regression models that incorporate aspects of the medical history, presenting signs and symptoms, and lab values. More sophisticated methods, such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), form an attractive platform to build risk metrics because they can easily incorporate disparate pieces of data, yielding classifiers with improved performance. Using two cohorts consisting of patients admitted with a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, we constructed an ANN that identifies patients at high risk of cardiovascular death (CVD). The ANN was trained and tested using patient subsets derived from a cohort containing 4395 patients (Area Under the Curve (AUC) 0.743) and validated on an independent holdout set containing 861 patients (AUC 0.767). The ANN 1-year Hazard Ratio for CVD was 3.72 (95% confidence interval 1.04-14.3) after adjusting for the TIMI Risk Score, left ventricular ejection fraction, and B-type natriuretic peptide. A unique feature of our approach is that it captures small changes in the ST segment over time that cannot be detected by visual inspection. These findings highlight the important role that ANNs can play in risk stratification.
Position: Marcel Mauss and Pierre Bourdieu on Gift, Interest, and the Mobilisation of Actors

The debates on a relational perspective in French sociology remained dormant until Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, which took advantage of Marcel Mauss’ work on the gift. Chapter 4 compares both authors on the gift, which led to their relational conception of social positions. Bourdieu and Mauss shared common insights regarding how the mobilisation of actors contributes to maximising and to classifying their social positions in hierarchical social structures. But they did not agree on the relation. Bourdieu’s relation is a given fact which freezes equal actors in rivalry. Mauss’ relation is a cycle embedding various activities which contribute to changing the social positions of actors within social hierarchies.
Requisites for the Establishment, Implementation, and Evaluation of Social Work Treatment Programs for Anti-Social Children

Requisites for the establishment, implementation and evaluation of social work treatment programs for anti-social children are reviewed. Specific items discussed are: how does one ascertain the level at which change efforts should be directed, i.e., individual, group, organizational, or societal; what is the appropriate context for behavioral change; who should act as the change agent; what characteristics should the worker possess; what are the rationale for service provided; how long should the treatment continue; how does one prepare for the termination of treatment and maintenance of behavior; what organizational factors of treatment contexts are pertinent to the constructive delivery of services; what are the requisites for the adequate evaluation of treatment programs, and what are the characteristics of efficacious therapeutic programs for anti-social children. Throughout the manuscript relevant future research issues are reviewed. iPaper presented at the Annual Program Meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, San Francisco, August 1975. Preparation of this manuscript was facilitated through funding from U.S.P.H.S. research grant NH 18813, and MH 21905 awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health, Center for Studies of Crime and Delinquency.
Heterogeneity in Outcomes of Pathologic T1-2N1 Breast Cancer After Mastectomy: Looking Beyond Locoregional Failure Rates.

A meta-analysis of 22 randomized trials accrued from 1964 to 1986 demonstrated significantly higher rates of locoregional failure (LRF) and breast-cancer mortality in women with 1–3 positive nodes without postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) after mastectomy (mast.). Recent data demonstrate that PMRT reduces distant metastases (DM) in women with pN1 disease. The challenge today is whether all patients with pathologic T1-2pN1 disease have similar substantial LRF/DM risk that routinely warrants PMRT. We reviewed patients with pT1-2N1 breast cancer treated with mast. ± adjuvant systemic therapy without PMRT from 2000 to 2013. The endpoints were LRF and DM rates, estimated by cumulative incidence method. We identified 468 patients with median follow-up of 6.3 years. Most (71%) were estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor + human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). There were 269 patients with 1+ node, 140 patients with 2+ nodes, and 59 patients with 3+ nodes. The 6-year LRF/DM rates were 4.1%/8.4%. Patients with 1+, 2+, and 3+ nodes had 6-year LRF of 2.3, 5.1 and 8.9%, respectively (p = 0.13). The 6-year DM rate was higher in patients with 3+ nodes versus 1–2+ nodes: 15.7% versus 7.4% (p = 0.02). Several subgroups had low 6-year LRF and DM rates, including T1/1+ node (0.8%/4.1% LRF/DM) and micrometastases (0%/5.8% LRF/DM). Patients with pT1-2pN1 represent a heterogeneous group with a wide range of LRF/DM rates. In particular, patients with pT1 tumors and 1 + LN, and patients with micrometastases, had low event rates. These groups would derive small absolute reductions in LRF and DM with addition of PMRT, underscoring the importance of patient selection for PMRT in pT1-2pN1 breast cancer.
Measuring Community Consensus in Facial Characterization Using Spatial Databases and Fuzzy Logic

MEASURING COMMUNITY CONSENSUS IN FACIAL CHARACTERIZATION USING SPATIAL DATABASES AND FUZZY LOGIC By James Lee Mastros, B.S Biology A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Computer Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2005 Major Director: Dr. Lorraine M. Parker Associate Professor of Computer Science Spatial databases store geometric objects and capture spatial relationships that can be used to represent key features of the human face. One can search spatial databases for these objects, and seek the relationships between them, using fuzzy logic to provide a natural way to describe the human face for the purposes of facial characterization. This study focuses on community perception of short, average, or long nose length. Three algorithms were used to update community opinion of nose length. All three methods showed similar trends in nose length classification which could indicate that the effort to viii extract spatial data from images to classify nose length is not as crucial as previously thought since community consensus will ultimately give similar results. However, additional testing with larger groups is needed to further validate any conclusion that spatial data can be eliminated. CHAPTER
Induction Therapy for Lupus Nephritis: the Highlights

Lupus nephritis is a frequent complication of systemic lupus erythematosus and is more common and severe in children. This is a disease of the immune system characterized by T cell, B cell, and complement activation, as well as immune complex formation and deposition. The introduction of steroids and later cyclophosphamide transformed lupus nephritis from a fatal to a treatable condition. However, the standard therapies currently used for treatment carry significant toxicity and chronic kidney disease still remains a far too frequent outcome. To address these issues, we will review current and emerging induction therapies in LN. Several clinical trials have been undertaken to test more effective and safer drugs, often targeting mechanistic disease pathways. At present, it is difficult to identify an induction regimen that is more effective and less toxic than the standard of care; however, we believe continuing efforts in drug development will bring breakthrough agents to clinics.
Core/Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract Core/shell magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can be synthesized using chemical or physical methods such as wet chemistry and chemical or physical vapor deposition. As mentioned in Chapter 1 , the magnetic properties of any magnetic materials are strongly tailored by size reduction. At the nanoscale regime, the magnetic materials show large surface to volume ratio lead to possibility of oxidation of the nanoparticles in the ambient atmosphere causing unstable chemical state. Such instability destroys the biocompatibility properties of the materials at nanoscale regime. For that reason, coating the surface of the MNPs with biocompatible shell is necessary for all unstable MNPs. Hereby, this chapter is reporting the synthesis of different types of core/shell MNPs and their potential for medical applications such as drug delivery and hyperthermia treatment for cancer therapy.
Power, production, and land use in German East Africa through the photographs of Walther Dobbertin, c. 1910

The essay analyses a set of the landscape photographs of Walther Dobbertin that were taken in the German East Africa highlands before the First World War. The concept of locality binds the discussi...
Treatment patterns among patients with psoriasis using a large national payer database in the United States: a retrospective study

Aim: To characterize treatment patterns of psoriasis patients in a large US managed care database.Materials and methods: Adults with newly-diagnosed psoriasis were identified from July 3, 2006–Augu...
Electromagnetic waves' effect on airflow during air sparging

Air sparging is a popular, yet slow, remediation technology for soil and groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This paper theoretically and experimentally studies the effect of electromagnetic (EM) waves on air-channel formation within a glass-bead medium-used as an analogy to soil-during air-sparging experiments. The impact of EM waves on cleanup is not the focus of this paper, and the impact on airflow may or may not positively impact resulting cleanup process using air sparging to remove VOCs through volatilization. The hypothesis is that dielectrophoretic forces by EM waves can be used to alter airflow. Air injection was performed at different pressures, in the presence of EM waves (referred to as EM-stimulated) of various power and frequencies and the absence of EM waves (referred to as unstimulated). Digital images of the airflow patterns were collected, processed, and analyzed for all tests. The shape of the zone of influence (ZOI) was observed, and the radius of the zone of influence (ROI) was measured, which showed a 16% increase in ROI due to EM stimulation. An experimentally validated numerical simulation of the electric-field component of EM waves was developed. The correlation between EM-wave and air sparging characteristics were then studied using the numerical simulation and acquired digital images of the airflow to investigate and validate that the dielectrophoretic mechanism is behind the EM effect on airflow.
The Use of Inflection Points

In brief, inflection point [1.0]—representing the Philosophy of Ageing as a technique for coping with the shortness of life, or the finiteness of time—has been superseded by several new inflection points, with [5.0]—representing Post Ageing, or ageing as an artifact, with an array of bio-technological advancements and interventions in the ageing process as our current temporal setting. Between these two diametrical poles, one quite philosophical and one quite technological, there have been three other inflection points ([2.0], [3.0], and [4.0]). Each inflection point represents a change in direction in the flow of purpose and praxis for what constitutes a dominant theme in conducting inquiry relating to ageing. Many readers will find the heuristic of inflection points to be closely related to other terms that have been used in the history and philosophy of science, such as paradigms, conjectures, exemplars, disciplinary matrix, and the cognitive apparatus of a given scientific community (Conant and Haugeland 2000; Kuhn 1970, 1977; Popper 1963; Suppe 1977). Similarly related has been the use of terms like research programme, research tradition, representational spaces, critical transitions and threshold of epistemologization (Agamben 2009; Hung 2001; Lakatos 1970; Laudan 1984; Scheffer 2009).
A Direct Algebraic Approach to Design State Feedback and Observers for Singular Systems

This paper considers the stabilization problem of singular systems represented by an equivalent system involving input derivatives. Stabilization is achieved by eigenvalue assignment after a subsequent elimination process of input derivatives. First, the connection between the class of systems with derivative inputs and singular systems is analyzed. Then an elimination procedure for input derivatives is given, which transfers the derivative terms from the state equation to the output equation allowing stabilization by state feedback to be performed under a modified controllability condition. The design of observer for the transformed system with input derivatives appearing in the output equation is also considered. It is shown that a similar elimination process can be performed directly in the design procedure of the observer. An immediate benefit of the new approach is the fact that it can be employed to systems that naturally admit input derivatives in their state space models. This is further elaborated in the paper and illustrated as part of design examples.
Synthesis and Ethylene Reactivity of Dinuclear Ironand Cobalt Complexes Supported by Macrocyclic Bis(pyridine-diimine) Ligands Containing o ‑Terphenyl Linkers

The synthesis and ethylene reactivity of a new family of dinuclear Co2Br4 and Fe2Br4 complexes supported by binucleating macrocyclic bis(pyridine-diimine) (PDI) ligands that contain 4,4″-R2-3,3″-o-...
Above- and belowground responses to nutrient enrichment within a marsh-mangrove ecotone

Abstract Coastal wetlands, such as marshes and mangroves, provide many valuable ecosystem services and are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Marshes are dominant in temperate regions and mangroves within the tropics; both plant types co-occur in subtropical ecotones. Dynamics within marsh-mangrove ecotones may be linked in part to local environmental drivers like nutrient enrichment. Previous studies within monospecific marsh and mangrove stands have reported increases in productivity in response to fertilization; however, the allocation of excess nutrient resources within co-occurring stands of mature plants is not well understood. To investigate nutrient dynamics within the marsh-mangrove ecotone, we fertilized naturally co-occurring Spartina alterniflora and Avicennia germinans stands (the dominant marsh and mangrove species, respectively) within the Gulf of Mexico. After four growing seasons of continuous enrichment, above- and belowground biomass were 2.5 and 1.5 times greater, respectfully, in enriched plots for A. germinans; S. alterniflora biomass did not differ between enrichment treatments. Mangrove leaves indicated a large nutrient response with altered leaf stoichiometry, larger surface area, and greater SPAD (proxy for chlorophyll a) in enriched plots. The fertilization effects may suggest A. germinans has a greater ability to acquire and allocate excess nutrients into productivity and biomass, relative to S. alterniflora, and may therefore be the superior competitor for nutrient resources. In monospecific stands, both marsh and mangroves species have a high potential for nutrient uptake, but when they are co-occurring in the marsh-mangrove ecotone, nutrient retention may be more linked to mangrove ability to partition nutrient resources into various above- and belowground components. Global climate changes are driving mangrove coverage poleward into temperate salt marshes, expanding the areal extent of marsh-mangrove ecotones. At a local scale, these findings reveal that this mangrove expansion may be accelerated by anthropogenic nutrient input.
Left atrial decompression devices

Abstract Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, despite a proliferation of drug and device-based therapeutics. Elevated left atrial pressure is a uniform finding in the heart failure population and confers exertional dyspnea, independent of ejection fraction. Although pharmacotherapies can reduce left atrial pressure and alleviate dyspnea, these effects are usually transient and may become less effective over time. The concept of direct left atrial decompression with medical devices has received interest as a potential therapy in heart failure patients, and a number of preclinical and clinical trials are ongoing to determine the safety and efficacy of these devices.
People of Russian Heritage

This chapter on Russians focuses on the cultural beliefs, values and practices of people of Russian heritage. An extensive Russian history is presented to educate the reader about the complexity of the Russian revolution, challenges of the Soviet era, and the current formation of independent countries. Even though, there are many ethnic groups who have emigrated from Russia and other Russian independent countries, the emphasis is given to the Russian population living in the United States and other countries. This chapter follows the dominant values and beliefs according to the 12 domains of the Purnell Model of Cultural Competence: overview/heritage, communication, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy, death rituals, spirituality, health-care practices, and health-care practitioners.
14-3-3s reduce propagation and toxicity of pathologic alpha-synuclein in the in vivo preformed fibril model

Alpha-synuclein (syn) is the key component of proteinaceous aggregates termed Lewy Bodies (LBs) that pathologically define a group of disorders known as synucleinopathies, including Parkinsons Disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Syn is hypothesized to misfold and spread throughout the brain in a prion-like fashion. Transmission of syn necessitates the release of misfolded syn from one cell and the uptake of that syn by another, in which it can template the misfolding of endogenous syn upon cell internalization. 14-3-3 proteins are a family of highly expressed brain proteins that are neuroprotective in multiple PD models. We have previously shown that 14-3-3{theta} acts as a chaperone to reduce syn aggregation, cell-to-cell transmission, and neurotoxicity in the in vitro pre-formed fibril (PFF) model. In this study, we expanded our studies to test the impact of 14-3-3s on syn toxicity in the in vivo syn PFF model. We used both transgenic expression models and adenovirus associated virus (AAV)-mediated expression to examine whether 14-3-3 manipulation impacts behavioral deficits, syn aggregation, and neuronal loss in the PFF model. 14-3-3{theta} transgene overexpression in cortical and amygdala regions rescued social dominance deficits induced by PFFs at 6 months post injection, whereas 14-3-3 inhibition by transgene expression of the competitive 14-3-3 peptide inhibitor difopein in the cortex and amygdala accelerated social dominance deficits. The behavioral rescue by 14-3-3{theta} overexpression was associated with delayed syn aggregation induced by PFFs in these brain regions. Conversely, 14-3-3 inhibition by difopein in the cortex and amygdala accelerated syn aggregation and cortical pyramidal neuron loss induced by PFFs. 14-3-3{theta} overexpression by AAV in the substantia nigra (SN) also delayed syn aggregation in the SN and partially rescued PFF-induced dopaminergic cell loss in the SN. 14-3-3 inhibition in the SN accelerated nigral syn aggregation and increased PFF-induced dopaminergic cell loss. These data indicate a neuroprotective role for 14-3-3{theta} against syn toxicity in vivo.
EXTH-19. EVALUATING THE ANTI-TUMOR EFFECT OF A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC AGENT, MAGMAS INHIBITOR, IN MALIGNANT GLIOMA

Abstract BACKGROUNDS Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive infiltrative brain tumor, and has an extremely poor prognosis despite the use of multiple treatment modalities, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Meanwhile, mitochondrial changes represent a significant part of cancer cell biology since cancer cells must survive and adapt to challenging microenvironments, specifically in conditions where tumor growth makes oxygen and glucose scarce. As GBM is characterized by extensive hypoxia-induced phenotypic changes such as abnormal vascular proliferation and necrosis, regulation of mitochondrial function could be a novel approach for treating GBM that currently lacks effective therapies. Magmas (mitochondria-associated protein involved in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor signal transduction) is a nuclear gene that encodes for the mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit Tim16. We previously demonstrated that a novel Magmas inhibitor, BT#9, significantly exerted anti-tumor effect in glioma in vitro, and may cross the blood brain barrier in vivo, indicating that Magmas inhibitor may be a new chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of GBM. METHODS In this study, the antitumor effect of Magmas inhibitor BT#9 was tested in an orthotopic xenograft model of human GBM. The molecular mechanism of BT#9 was investigated using glioma cell lines. RESULTS The mice were tolerated to BT#9, and there was no statistical difference in the weight of animals between the control and MTD (Maximum-tolerated Dose, 50mg/kg) groups. The immunocompromised mice, intracranially implanted with human D-54 GBM xenografts, survived significantly longer than the controls (P< 0.5) when treated with BT#9 at MTD. In vitro study showed that the MAP kinase pathways are involved in BT#9-induced tumor suppression. DISCUSSION This is the first study on the role of Magmas in glioma in vivo. Our findings suggested that Magmas plays a key role in glioma survival and targeting Magmas by Magmas inhibitor has the potential to become a therapeutic strategy in glioma patients.
Written communication by public servants: A case study on responding with the right words amid challenging contexts at the Housing Authority of Baltimore City

Teaching workplace communication is vitally important as we expect public servants to have the skills to draft, review, and revise written communication materials. Less explicitly demanded, and mor...
Sealing Ability of Calcium Silicate-based Materials in the Repair of Furcal Perforations: A Laboratory Comparative Study.

AIM To assess the sealing ability of two calcium silicate-based materials in the treatment of iatrogenic furcal perforations using a dye-penetration leakage model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Furcation perforations were performed using a size 12 round burr on the pulp chamber floor of 20 first mandibular molars. The teeth were then randomly divided into two groups, two additional molars served as negative controls. The defects were then filled with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Angelus in the first group and Biodentine in the second group. Leakage at the repaired sites was then evaluated using the methylene blue dye penetration technique. RESULTS Significant differences in microleakage were found between the two groups at 72 hours (p < 0.001). MTA Angelus had greater dye penetration than Biodentine with a statistically significant difference. Subsequently, the sealing ability of Biodentine was significantly better than MTA Angelus (p < 0.001). However, the mean values of leakage and inadequate adhesion were significantly different from the theoretical value for both the MTA Angelus (p < 0.001) and Biodentine (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The current results suggested that Biodentine possesses higher sealing quality than MTA Angelus. Yet, both materials are not ideal and still need improvement to ensure perfect adhesion in case of furcal perforation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This article aims to compare the sealing ability of one dental repair material over another, after iatrogenically producing a furcal perforation. Leakage resistance and sealing ability are important factors in favoring the outcome of an endodontic treatment of a tooth that could otherwise be condemned for extraction.
Impact of Web-Based Self-Scheduling on Finalization of Well-Child Appointments in a Primary Care Setting: Retrospective Comparison Study.

Background: Web-booking of flights, hotels, and sports events has become commonplace in the travel and entertainment industry, but self-scheduling of health care appointments on the web is not yet widely used. An electronic health record that integrates appointment scheduling and patient web-based access to medical records creates an opportunity for patient self-scheduling. The Mayo Clinic developed and implemented a feature in its Patient Online Services (POS) web and mobile platform that allows software-managed self-scheduling of well-child visits. Objective: This study aims to examine the use of a new self-scheduling appointment feature within POS in both web and mobile formats and determine the use characteristics, outcomes, and efficiency of self-scheduling compared with staff scheduling. Methods: Within a primary care setting, we collected 13 months of all appointment activity for the well-child visit for children aged 2-12 years. As these specific appointment types are for minors, self-scheduling is performed by parents or other proxies. We compared the appointment actions of scheduling and cancelling for both self-scheduled and staff-scheduled appointments. The frequency in which patients were using self-scheduling outside of normal business hours was quantified, and we compared no-show outcomes of finalized appointments. Results: Of the 1099 patients who performed any self-scheduling actions, 73.1% (803/1099) exclusively used self-scheduling and self-cancelling software. For those with access to self-scheduling (patients registered with the Mayo Clinic POS), 4.92% (1201/24,417) of all well-child appointment-scheduling actions were self-scheduled. Staff scheduling required more than a single appointment step (eg, schedule, cancel, reschedule) in 28.32% (3729/13,168) compared with only 6.93% (53/765) of self-scheduled appointments (P<.001). Self-scheduling appointment actions took place outside of regular business hours 29.5% (354/1201) of the time. No-shows accounted for 3.07% (28/912) of the self-scheduled finalized appointments compared with 4.12% (693/16,828) of staff-scheduled appointments, which is a nonsignificant difference (P=.12). Staff-scheduled finalized appointments (that allowed for scheduling appointments for more than 12 weeks in the future) revealed a potential demand of 11.15% (1876/16,828) for appointments with longer lead times. Conclusions: Self-scheduling can generate a significant number of finalized appointments, decreasing the need for staff scheduler time. We found that 29.5% (354/1201) of the self-scheduling activity took place outside of the usual staff scheduler hours, adding convenience value to the scheduling process. For exclusive self-schedulers, 93.1% (712/765) finalized the appointment in a single step. The no-show rates were not adversely affected by the self-scheduling.
Assessing the VMT effect of ridesourcing services in the US

Abstract The net effect of ridesourcing (RS) services on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is ambiguous. With 2017 US National Household Travel Survey data, this study measures and compares the heterogeneous VMT effects of RS across population groups with various levels of household vehicle access and RS usage. A propensity score matching method was implemented to match RS non-users, occasional users, and frequent users based on observable sociodemographic traits. The results suggest that among drivers with household vehicle access, frequent RS users generate the least VMT, but occasional users actually generate more VMT. Those without a driver’s license or a household vehicle generate lower VMT while use more transit, and increasing RS use uniformly increases their overall VMT generation. We estimate that overall, RS generated a net increase of 7.8 million daily VMT in the US, compared with a counterfactual case in which all NHTS 2017 respondents were non-users of RS.
Examining the Role of Physical Activity on Word Learning in School-Aged Children

Purpose Previous studies show that there is increased brain activity after exercise, leading to improved word recall in adults. The aim of this study was to examine whether different types of exercise (i.e., aerobic vs. anaerobic) may also lead to improved performance during vocabulary learning in children. Method A total of 48 participants (24 in Experiment 1 and 24 in Experiment 2) between the ages of 6 and 12 years completed a word learning task. Training of words took place in a resting and in an exercise condition using a within-subject design. In the resting measure, children were taught names of novel objects and then colored for 3 min before being tested on their ability to recognize the words. In the exercise condition, the same steps were followed, but instead of coloring, children engaged in 3 min of either aerobic exercise (i.e., swimming in Experiment 1) or anaerobic exercise (i.e., a CrossFit-like workout in Experiment 2). Results In Experiment 1, accuracy of word recognition was significantly higher for words that were trained in the aerobic exercise compared to the resting condition. In Experiment 2, there was no significant difference in performance between the anaerobic exercise and resting conditions. Conclusions These findings suggest that previously identified benefits of exercise on language abilities in adults also extend to school-aged children. However, not all types of physical activity lead to this boost in performance, as only aerobic (but not anaerobic) exercise improved children's ability to acquire new word-object relations. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14462187.
Exploring digital evidence recognition among front-line law enforcement officers at fatal crash scenes

Abstract Digital forensic evidence has become an essential component of criminal investigations across the United States. The amplified integration of technology with society, however, continues to present new challenges for law enforcement officers. This issue is evident in one of the key responsibilities of police agencies involves the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations on surface streets and highways. It is unclear how well first responders recognize the need to seize digital evidence associated with fatal vehicles accidents in the field. This study addressed this gap in the literature by examining a comparative population of respondents from the state police agencies in a large Midwestern and large Southern state. Using a vignette design, the findings demonstrated that respondents recognized the need to recover mobile devices and telematics from the vehicles involved in fatal crashes. A substantive number of officers remained unsure of the potential digital evidentiary value of other objects on-scene (e.g., fast food, makeup). Further, regional differences were observed in respondents’ responses. The implications for our understanding of police capacity and training needs were explored in detail.
Regional patterning and regulation of melanin pigmentation in insects

Insects display an immense diversity in melanin pigmentation, which is generated by the interplay between the regulatory genes (that provide general patterning information) and effector genes (that provide coloration of the pattern). However, recent studies encompassing several different orders (Hemiptera, Blattodea, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera) have shown that knockdowns of melanin producing genes alone can generate distinct region-specific patterns. This review surveys the most recent studies to further document the regional patterning of effector genes, and highlights the new advances and their implications for future research.
Non-random Survival and Long-Run Performance of IPO Firms

I find IPO firm survival is not random: better-performing IPOs are more likely to survive. Some unlucky IPO firms are delisted early after experiencing negative idiosyncratic shocks. These IPO firms’ average observed performance understates their true performance, creating the reverse survivorship bias. Because of non-random survival, seasoned firms have greater expected returns than IPO firms, creating the survivorship bias. Buy-and-hold abnormal returns relative to matched seasoned firms underestimate IPO firm performance because of the two biases. Alpha of the calendar time portfolio of IPO firms, unaffected by the biases, offers an unbiased measure of the average IPO firm alpha.
What Renders a Witness Trustworthy? Ethical and Curricular Notes on a Mode of Educational Inquiry

Bearing witness is a familiar if diversely employed concept. On the one hand, it concerns the accuracy and validity of practical affairs, for example in a court of law, at a wedding, or in a law office. On the other hand, the term can embody powerful religious, social, and/ or moral meaning, whether in bearing witness to historical trauma and human suffering, or in paying heed to everyday, seemingly ordinary aspects of nature and of human life. In this article, we address the question of what renders a witness trustworthy. We characterize ethical and epistemic constituents of witnessing. We examine the work of several exemplary witnesses: W. G. Sebald, Saidiya Hartman, Jonathan Lear, Etty Hillesum, and John Berger alongside Jean Mohr. These sources help us think about the education of a person who aspires to bear witness, whether it be to traumatic events or to quotidian life in educational or other settings. We present criteria of trustworthiness that can support reflection on what we take to be the important place of bearing witness in educational inquiry and practice.
Slavery and the Politics of Place: Representing the Colonial Caribbean, 1770-1833

Geography played a key role in Britain's long national debate over slavery. Writers on both sides of the question represented the sites of slavery - Africa, the Caribbean, and the British Isles - as fully imagined places and the basis for a pro- or anti-slavery political agenda. With the help of twenty-first-century theories of space and place, Elizabeth A. Bohls examines the writings of planters, slaves, soldiers, sailors, and travellers whose diverse geographical and social locations inflect their representations of slavery. She shows how these writers use discourses of aesthetics, natural history, cultural geography, and gendered domesticity to engage with the slavery debate. Six interlinked case studies, including Scottish mercenary John Stedman and domestic slave Mary Prince, examine the power of these discourses to represent the places of slavery, setting slaves' narratives in dialogue with pro-slavery texts, and highlighting in the latter previously unnoticed traces of the enslaved.