cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Method for Inferring an Individual’s Genetic Ancestry and Degree of Admixture Associated with Six Major Continental Populations

The determination of the ancestry and genetic backgrounds of the subjects in genetic and general epidemiology studies is a crucial component in the analysis of relevant outcomes or associations. Although there are many methods for differentiating ancestral subgroups among individuals based on genetic markers only a few of these methods provide actual estimates of the fraction of an individual’s genome that is likely to be associated with different ancestral populations. We propose a method for assigning ancestry that works in stages to refine estimates of ancestral population contributions to individual genomes. The method leverages genotype data in the public domain obtained from individuals with known ancestries. Although we showcase the method in the assessment of ancestral genome proportions leveraging largely continental populations, the strategy can be used for assessing within-continent or more subtle ancestral origins with the appropriate data.
PYR/PYL/RCAR family members are major in-vivo ABI1 protein phosphatase 2C-interacting proteins in Arabidopsis

Abscisic acid (ABA) mediates resistance to abiotic stress and controls developmental processes in plants. The group-A PP2Cs, of which ABI1 is the prototypical member, are protein phosphatases that play critical roles as negative regulators very early in ABA signal transduction. Because redundancy is thought to limit the genetic dissection of early ABA signalling, to identify redundant and early ABA signalling proteins, we pursued a proteomics approach. We generated YFP-tagged ABI1 Arabidopsis expression lines and identified in vivo ABI1-interacting proteins by mass-spectrometric analyses of ABI1 complexes. Known ABA signalling components were isolated including SnRK2 protein kinases. We confirm previous studies in yeast and now show that ABI1 interacts with the ABA-signalling kinases OST1, SnRK2.2 and SnRK2.3 in plants. Interestingly, the most robust in planta ABI1-interacting proteins in all LC-MS/MS experiments were nine of the 14 PYR/PYL/RCAR proteins, which were recently reported as ABA-binding signal transduction proteins, providing evidence for in vivo PYR/PYL/RCAR interactions with ABI1 in Arabidopsis. ABI1-PYR1 interaction was stimulated within 5 min of ABA treatment in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, in contrast, PYR1 and SnRK2.3 co-immunoprecipitated equally well in the presence and absence of ABA. To investigate the biological relevance of the PYR/PYLs, we analysed pyr1/pyl1/pyl2/pyl4 quadruple mutant plants and found strong insensitivities in ABA-induced stomatal closure and ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening. These findings demonstrate that ABI1 can interact with several PYR/PYL/RCAR family members in Arabidopsis, that PYR1-ABI1 interaction is rapidly stimulated by ABA in Arabidopsis and indicate new SnRK2 kinase-PYR/PYL/RCAR interactions in an emerging model for PYR/PYL/RCAR-mediated ABA signalling.
Discrimination of figural orientation by monkeys and children.

The performance of 6 monkeys and 5 children was compared on a task involving the discrimination of changes in orientation of plane figures. Children made fewer errors than monkeys when figures were rotated 180°. For both groups the sequence of presentation of problems was an important determinant of performance.
Is Goodness without God Good Enough?: A Debate on Faith, Secularism, and Ethics

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Part 3 Part I Chapter 4 Chapter 1: The Kurtz / Craig Debate: Is Goodness without God Good Enough? Part 5 Part II Chapter 6 Chapter 2: A Moral Argument for the Existence of God Chapter 7 Chapter 3: Atheism as Perfect Piety Chapter 8 Chapter 4: Is Moral Goodness without God Rationally Stable? Chapter 9 Chapter 5: Why Traditional Theism Cannot Provide an Adequate Foundation for Morality Chapter 10 Chapter 6: Theism, Atheism, and the Explanation of Moral Value Chapter 11 Chapter 7: Empty and Ultimately Meaningless Gestures? Chapter 12 Chapter 8: What Difference Does God Make to Morality? Part 13 Part III Chapter 14 Chapter 9: This Most Gruesome of Guests (A Response by William Lane Craig) Chapter 15 Chapter 10: Ethics without God: Theism versus Secular Humanism (A Response by Paul Kurtz) Chapter 16 Further Reading Chapter 17 About the Contributors
First-Year Seminars: Supporting Male College Students’ Long-Term Academic Success

Research has revealed a gender gap where male students have higher rates of academic difficulties and lower college enrollment and graduation rates compared with females. This study measured the re...
Environmentalism as Social Control? An Exploration of the Transformation of Pastoral Nomadic Societies in French Colonial North Africa

When the French launched their 130 year rule in Algeria, this country was called the “land of sheep” (pays du mouton). This was appropriate, as nearly all of the local population was pastoralist or agro-pastoralist. This mobile population proved difficult to pacify and control and thus the French fought them, first in Algeria and later in Tunisia and Morocco, for a period spanning more than 100 years. Using many of the techniques developed at that time, contemporary North African regimes continue to execute the French colonial goal of controlling and sedentarizing the nomadic pastoralists. Many aspects of the pacification of North African populations by the French have been well-documented, especially in the military, political, and economic sectors. What has been less well explored, however, is how legislation in the agricultural and environmental sectors played a complementary role in the pacification and control of nomads in the Maghreb. This article, based on archival research, demonstrates how the im...
Measuring the Effects of Reading Assistance Dogs on Reading Ability and Attitudes in Elementary Schoolchildren.

Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) is a reading program that uses therapy dogs to increase a child's desire and ability to read. However, more data is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of such programs. A five-week R.E.A.D. program was implemented to assess feasibility and effectiveness. Participants included 18 children entering the 2nd grade (9 assigned to read to dogs and 9 assigned to read without dogs present). Fifteen children completed the study (9 in the Dog Group and 6 in the Control Group; p = 0.058). To detect changes in reading ability and in attitudes toward reading, a Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) for reading and an Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS) was given at week 0 and week 5. There were no significant differences over the course of the study in ERAS scores for the Dog Group, but the Control Group had significant reductions in the ERAS academic score (p = 0.04) and a trend for a reduction in the ERAS total score (p = 0.06). There was a numerically larger but not statistically different reduction in CBM in the Control Group compared to the Dog Group (p = 0.16). Further studies are warranted to determine if these trends represent statistically significant effects of the R.E.A.D.
Wafer in a Box

An answer would provide a necessary and sufficient condition on the positive reals a, b, c, and p for a disk of radius p to fit in an a x b x c box, in the spirit of Post's 1993 necessary and sufficient condition on the six sides for one triangle to fit into another [8]. Our argument makes use of the "penny in a corner" problem from the 1948 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition [9], for which we give a simple solution.
Using learning contracts

(1988). Using Learning Contracts. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 59, No. 4, pp. 481-484.
EFFECT OF ISOPROTERENOL ON CALCIUM METABOLISM IN RAT SALIVARY GLAND.

Conclusions(1) A single injection of isoproterenol reduces submaxillary gland Ca to one-sixth and parotid gland Ca to one-half of the initial level, or to concentrations comparable to those present in other soft tissues. (2) Repeated twice daily subcutaneous administration of isoproterenol increases the weight of submaxillary and parotid glands by up to 6-fold and the Ca content of submaxillary gland to double the initial concentration. (3) Isoproterenol-stimulated submaxillary gland saliva initially contains about 20 μEq Ca/g in normal rats and approximately twice this amount in rats chronically injected with isoproterenol.
Inversion and the Thatcher Illusion in Recognition of Emotional Expression

The recognition of emotional expression in upright normal, inverted normal, and inverted Thatcher faces was investigated. Results for 18 students are discussed in terms of component processing, i.e., individual, internal features.
Can Dance Reflect the Structural and Expressive Qualities of Music? A Perceptual Experiment on Balanchine's Choreography of Mozart's Divertimento No. 15:

A perceptual experiment investigated the structural and expressive mappings between music and dance. The Stimulus materials were based on the Minuetto from W. A. Mozart's Divertimento No. 15 choreographed by George Balanchine. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: Music Only, Dance Only, and Both Music and Dance. They performed four on-line tasks: indicating the occurrence of section ends and new ideas, and judging the amount of tension and emotion expressed. Each of the tasks showed strong similarity across the three conditions, including the Music Only and the Dance Only conditions which contained none of the same Stimulus materials. Analysis of the music and dance uncovered a large variety of elements that define mappings between music and dance. These operate on different hierarchical levels and suggest non-accidental relationships between music and bodily movement. The Both Music and Dance condition could be predicted as a combination of the Music Only and Dance Only conditions, with...
Hodgkin's disease: a model for interdisciplinary cancer management: 2002 Janeway lecture.

history, but they made it—people like James Ewing as large as a fist. Under x-ray exposures, the swelling rapidly and Edith Quimby. Stimulated by the tradition of the subsided, and in 2 months, the glands were reduced to Janeway Award, I have chosen to look at the historical the size of an almond. At the same time, the general condicontext of a subject that has occupied an important part tion of the boy changed from a cachectic, sluggish child of my professional career, the multidisciplinary manageto a bright lively one. ment of Hodgkin’s disease. I will highlight its evolution
A Semantic Approach to Automate Service Management in the Cloud

Virtualized service models are now emerging and re-defining the way information technology is delivered. Managing these services efficiently over the cloud is an open challenge. In this paper, we describe an integrated methodology for the lifecycle of IT services delivered on the cloud. We have divided the IT service lifecycle into five phases of requirements, discovery, nego-tiation, composition, and consumption. We detail each phase and list the high level ontologies that we have developed for them. We also describe a prototype system that we have developed using Semantic Web technologies to represent and reason about ser-vices and service requirements. This methodology complements previous work on ontologies for service descriptions in that it is focused on supporting negotiation for the particulars of a service and going beyond simple matchmaking.
Solar Radiation Dynamics

Solar radiation (insolation) is the primary driving force for Earth’s atmospheric, biophysical, and hydrologic processes. Knowing the amount of radiation at different geographic locations at different times is therefore necessary in many fields including energy production, agriculture, meteorology, ecology, and urban planning. In this case study we model direct solar radiation and cast shadows in an urban setting to show how different spatial configurations of buildings change the amount of sunlight available throughout the day and the year.
Starting a new conversation: Engaging Veterans with spinal cord injury in discussions of what function means to them, the barriers/facilitators they encounter, and the adaptations they use to optimize function

Abstract Background Assessments of function in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) often utilize pre-defined constructs and measures without consideration of patient context, including how patients define function and what matters to them. Objectives/hypothesis We utilized photovoice to understand how individuals define function, facilitators and barriers to function, and adaptations to support functioning. Methods Veterans with SCI were provided with cameras and guidelines to take photographs of things that: (1) help with functioning, (2) are barriers to function, and (3) represent adaptations used to support functioning. Interviews to discuss photographs followed and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using grounded-thematic coding. Nvivo 8 was used to store and organize data. Results Participants ( n = 9) were male (89%), Caucasian (67%), had paraplegia (75%), averaged 64 years of age, and were injured, on average, for 22 years. Function was described in several ways: the concept of ‘normalcy,’ aspects of daily living, and ability to be independent. Facilitators included: helpful tools, physical therapy/therapists, transportation, and caregivers. Barriers included: wheelchair-related issues and interior/exterior barriers both in the community and in the hospital. Examples of adaptations included: traditional examples like ramps, and also creative examples like the use of rubber bands on a can to help with grip. Conclusion(s) Patient-perspectives elicited in-depth information that expanded the common definition of function by highlighting the concept of “normality,” facilitators and barriers to function, and adaptations to optimize function. These insights emphasize function within a patient-context, emphasizing a holistic definition of function that can be used to develop personalized, patient-driven care plans.
This Antacid Is Making Me Sick

This case discusses a pharmacokinetic interaction between cimetidine and phenytoin. Phenytoin is a cytochrome P450 2C9 and 2C19 substrate and cimetidine is a cytochrome P450 2C9 and 2C19 inhibitor. Coadministration results in phenytoin toxicity.
The physics of multi-kev emissions from Z-pinches at the Z accelerator

The Z Accelerator is the world's most powerful x-ray source, producing >300 TW from a z-pinch load. A z pinch is produced when current from Z (up to 26 MA) is delivered to a wire array or gas puff load. Early in the current pulse, the wire array or gas puff begins to ionize and current flows through the resulting plasma (ablation phase). This flow of current produces a magnetic field, which, via the J×B force, drives the plasma to the axis (implosion phase). When the plasma reaches the axis, x-rays are emitted from the high energy density plasma (stagnation phase). Varying the design load allows for a broad range of experiments relevant for astrophysics, inertial confinement fusion studies, and z-pinch physics experiments.
Cognitive Analytics: Going Beyond Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning

Abstract This chapter defines analytics and traces its evolution from its origin in 1988 to its current stage—cognitive analytics. We discuss types of learning and describe classes of machine learning algorithms. Given this backdrop, we propose a reference architecture for cognitive analytics and indicate ways to implement the architecture. A few cognitive analytics applications are briefly described. The chapter concludes by indicating current trends and future research direction.
Dexmedetomidine protects against glucocorticoid induced progenitor cell apoptosis in neonatal mouse cerebellum.

AbstractObjectives: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used to improve respiratory mechanics in preterm infants despite clinical evidence linking neonatal GC therapy to cerebellar pathology. In developing mouse cerebellum, the GC dexamethasone (DEX) causes rapid GC-induced neural progenitor cell apoptosis (GINA). Focusing on pharmacological neuroprotection strategies, we investigated whether dexmedetomidine (DMT) protects against GINA.Methods: Neonatal mice were pretreated with DMT prior to DEX challenge. Additionally, we tested clonidine and yohimbine in vivo to determine mechanism of DMT neuroprotection. For in vitro studies, cerebellar neural progenitor cells were pretreated with DMT before DEX challenge.Results: In vivo, DMT attenuated GINA at 1 μg/kg and above, p < 0.0001. Clonidine significantly attenuated GINA, p < 0.0001, while yohimbine reversed DMT neuroprotection, p < 0.0001, suggesting DMT neuroprotection is likely mediated via adrenergic signaling. In vitro, DMT neuroprotection was achieved at 10 μM a...
Sickle Cell Disease and Acute Chest Syndrome: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Management, Outcomes

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common monogenetic diseases worldwide and is attributable to significant morbidity and mortality. Mutations causing abnormal hemoglobin formation in this disease lead to structural abnormalities and cumulative damage to the cellular membrane of sickled erythrocytes. Polymerization and aggregation of these cells within the microvasculature results in severe vaso-occlusive pain crisis, chronic hemolytic anemia, and multiorgan pathology in patients. Pulmonary manifestations of SCD, including the acute chest syndrome (ACS), are a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality. ACS is a severe type of acute lung injury, defined as the development of a new pulmonary infiltrate, involving at least one complete lung segment, that is accompanied by fever, chest pain, tachypnea, wheezing, or cough in a patient with SCD. The etiology of ACS is multifactorial, with the most common mechanisms including infection, fat and bone marrow embolism, and direct microvascular vaso-occlusion. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical management of ACS in SCD, patient outcomes remain unacceptably poor. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of ACS in SCD. Proper screening, a high index of clinical suspicion, and immediate clinical care for this condition are pivotal for improving patient outcomes.
Development of the OSTRC Conference Evaluation Toolkit

Research demonstrates that staff quality directly impacts student achievement in out-of-school time (OST) settings, and that effective staff development contributes to a skilled workforce. Evaluating OST professional development is therefore attracting increased attention from researchers, practitioners, and funding agencies. In the spring of 2004, the Out-of-School Time Resource Center (OSTRC) began searching for professional development evaluation instruments designed specifically for the OST field. Since the OSTRC could not locate research-based surveys for this genre, it implemented a pilot study to create and test such instruments. These surveys were designed to evaluate professional conferences, which are critical (but not exclusive) components of OST professional development opportunities. The overarching goal of this study was to operationalize the pathway between professional development conferences and increased student learning.
Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease: Can Novel Measures of Vitamin D Status Improve Risk Prediction and Address the Vitamin D Racial Paradox?

The major focus of this review article is to provide a state-of-the-art update on some emerging measures of vitamin D status and discuss how assessment of these key vitamin D metabolites might improve prognostication of risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent condition and relatively easy to treat with supplementation and/or modest sunlight exposure. A substantial body of experimental and epidemiological evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for CVD. Most epidemiologic studies to date have focused on total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, which is the established marker of vitamin D stores. However, there is emerging evidence that other novel markers of vitamin D metabolism may better characterize “true” vitamin D status. Some key novel measures include bioavailable 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3], and ratio of 24,25(OH)2D3 to 25(OH)D [the vitamin D metabolic ratio]. Utilization of these biomarkers may enhance understanding of the association between vitamin D and CVD risk and may provide explanation for the observation that 25(OH)D is a stronger CVD risk factor in Whites than Blacks. Novel measures of vitamin D status could potentially change clinical practice regarding how patients are currently screened for vitamin D status and defined as vitamin D deficient or not. However, whether measuring any of these alternate markers of vitamin D status can provide further insight regarding CVD risk beyond the traditionally measured 25(OH)D concentrations is uncertain at this time. This is an area where further research is strongly needed.
ϒ Production in Heavy-Ion Collisions from the STAR Experiment

Abstract In these proceedings, we present recent results of ϒ measurements in heavy-ion collisions from the STAR experiment at RHIC. Nuclear modification factors (RAA) for ϒ ( 1 S ) and ϒ ( 1 S + 2 S + 3 S ) in U+U collisions at s NN = 193 GeV are measured through the di-electron channel and compared to those in Au+Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV and Pb+Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV . The ratio between the ϒ ( 2 S + 3 S ) and ϒ ( 1 S ) yields in Au+Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV is measured in the di-muon channel and compared to those in p+p collisions and in Pb+Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV . Prospects for future ϒ measurements with the STAR experiment are also discussed.
Impact of pore compressibility and connectivity loss on shale permeability

Abstract We present a novel approach to describe how micro-fracture closure, pore volume compressibility, and connectivity loss change intrinsic permeability of shale formations as a function of effective stress. Shale resources illustrate distinct characteristics, such as micro-scale pores (IUPAC definition), ultra-low permeability, and complex pore network system. Moreover, experimental results indicate that permeability reduction owing to increased effective stress in shale samples might be as large as two orders of magnitude. This significant reduction is often explained by micro-fracture closure while impact of pore connectivity loss is often neglected. Thus, we propose a novel model through which permeability reduction is described owing to combination of three main mechanisms: (1) micro crack closure (2) pore shrinkage and (3) connectivity loss due to bond breakage between interconnected pores. We use fractal and percolation theories and formulate a permeability model as a function of pore throat radius, porosity, pore size distribution, and average coordination number (average number of available/connected neighbor pores). The proposed model is validated using experimental data for 10 sandstone samples. Additionally, for selected shale samples, results of proposed model are compared with Katz-Thompson and Swanson methods. Furthermore, experimental data for two sandstone and two shale samples are utilized to evaluate connectivity reduction with effective stress. Using Walsh model, first we identified and isolated crack/fracture-dominated permeability region for shale samples and studied impact of pore shrinkage and connectivity loss as a function of effective stress for the remainder of the datasets. Results indicate that permeability values obtained from proposed model are consistent with experimental data for sandstone samples as well as predictions obtained from Katz-Thompson and Swanson methods for shale samples. Moreover, when effects of both pore shrinkage and connectivity loss are simultaneously analyzed, the results proved that connectivity loss (as expected) is insignificant in sandstone samples and that permeability reduction can be explained only by pore volume compressibility effects. However, in shale formations, impact of bond breakage and connectivity loss on permeability reduction is dominant. The results suggest that average coordination number can decrease as lower as 50% of the original value when effective stress exceeds 17,000 psi. The result of this study suggests that in shale formations permeability reduction should be corrected to account for micro-crack closure at early stage and for both pore compressibility and connectivity loss at late stage of production. This may well change the industry's predictions of the reservoir performance in unconventional shale plays.
Alpha-Fetoprotein Slope >7.5 ng/mL per Month Predicts Microvascular Invasion and Tumor Recurrence After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background Rising alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a potential marker of worse prognosis after liver transplant (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but prior studies relied on only 2 data points and were imprecise in assessing AFP slope. The aim of this study was to examine the association between AFP slope and post-LT HCC recurrence, with AFP slope estimated from multiple data points over time. Methods Our cohort included 336 patients undergoing LT with Model for End Stage Liver Disease exception for HCC within Milan criteria from 2003 to 2013. Most (98%) had pre-LT locoregional therapy. AFP slope was estimated by fitting a regression line to the AFP levels over time. Results The 1- and 5-year post-LT survivals were 94% and 77% and 1- and 5-year recurrence-free probabilities were 95% and 86%, respectively. In univariate analysis, HCC recurrence was significantly associated with microvascular invasion (hazard ratio [HR], 13.1; P Milan criteria (HR, 8.9; P 7.5 (HR, 3.0; P=0.03) were significantly associated with HCC recurrence. AFP slope greater than 7.5 was also associated with microvascular invasion (odds ratio, 6.8; P=0.008). Conclusions AFP slope increasing greater than 7.5 ng/mL per month despite locoregional therapy is associated with post-LT HCC recurrence and may serve as a surrogate for microvascular invasion. These findings support incorporating changes in the AFP into candidate selection for LT.
Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Extractable by Multiple Methods from Commercially Available Crumb Rubber Mulch

Recycled tires are often shredded for use in a variety of consumer-related products. The rubber so used may contain a number of compounds known to be deleterious to human and environmental health. We obtained nine samples of shredded tire material sold over the counter to the general public for home use, as well as six samples used for infill in synthetic turf athletic fields. After thorough cleaning and grinding, samples were extracted with either organic solvent (dichloromethane), strong acid, or simulated acid rain, or allowed to degas passively. Compounds released by these multiple methods were then identified, and in some cases quantified. Solvent extraction yielded 92 separate compounds, of which only about half have been tested for human health effects. Of these, nine are known carcinogens and another 20 are recognized irritants, including respiratory irritants that may complicate asthma. Strong acid extraction released measurable amounts of Pb and Cd and relatively large amounts of Zn. These three metals were specifically targeted for analysis, and others may be present as well, but were unmeasured. Simulated acid rain extracted only Zn in significant quantities. Passive volatilization yielded detectable amounts of 11 compounds. Results demonstrate that recycled tire materials contain and can release a wide variety of substances known to be toxic, and caution would argue against their use where human exposure is likely.
Stereotype Threat Reduces the Positivity of Older Adults' Recall.

Objectives As people get older, they show a relative preference to remember positive information over negative information. In two experiments, we tested whether the positivity of older adults' memory is affected by stereotype threat about age-related cognitive declines. We also tested whether highlighting a positive aging stereotype (older adults are wise) would inoculate older adults from stereotype threat's adverse effects. Method In Experiments 1 and 2, we manipulated whether stereotypes about age-related cognitive decline were highlighted (stereotype threat) or mitigated (stereotype alleviation). In Experiment 2, we included a third condition (intervention + stereotype threat), which highlighted positive and negative aging stereotypes. Participants then saw emotionally evocative pictures and completed a memory test. Results In both experiments, stereotype threat selectively reduced older adults' memory for positive pictures but did not affect their memory for negative pictures. This eliminated the positivity effect (i.e., the Age × Valence interaction; Experiment 1). Our positive stereotype intervention did not reduce stereotype threat's adverse effect (Experiment 2). Discussion Our findings show that the positivity effect is more robust when testing situations minimize stereotype threat. They also suggest that health interventions designed to capitalize on the positivity effect should ensure that ageist stereotypes are mitigated in the environment.
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) Astrocytopathy underlies Autoimmune Epilepsy in the setting of Multi-Organ Failure (P4.288)

Objective: Report a GFAP astrocytopathy causing unexplained seizures in the setting of multi-organ failure. Background: GFAP astrocytopathy is an autoimmune CNS disorder. The predominant clinical presentations are related to meningitis, encephalitis, and myelitis. Encephalopathy, psychiatric symptoms, seizures, and ataxia are among the most common presenting symptoms. In addition to GFAP antibodies in CSF and serum, diagnostic findings include linear perivascular radial post-contrast enhancement on MRI. The condition can be associated with malignancy. Design/Methods: GFAP Antibody was detected in the CSF of a 58-year-old woman who presented with new onset retractable seizures, skin rash and multi-organ failure including chronic pancreatitis, colitis, and heart failure. MRI was negative for acute pathology and seizures were refractory to multiple AED’s, causing concern for an autoimmune process. The patient was treated with IVIG and steroids, with clinical improvement. She developed diffuse maculopapular rash likely secondary to phenytoin and shortly after suffered from acute hepatic and renal failure. Her Dilantin was stopped concerning for hypersensitivity reaction and methylprednisolone was given at 250 mg q6 hours. She continued to have focal status epilepticus, requiring intubation and sedation. PET CT and MRI showed FLAIR hyperintensity in the right temporoparietal lobe, EEG with temporoparietal PLEDS, LP with GFAP antibody positivity in CSF studies. She continued to improve clinically. Results: This case highlights retractable seizures as presenting symptoms for GFAP astrocytopathy. Additionally, this may represent the first reported case to include multi-system organ failure, without underlying malignancy, in the initial presentation. Finally, this case highlights the role for predictive models, such as the antibody prevalence in epilepsy (APE) and Response to Immunotherapy in Epilepsy(RITE) in the evaluation and management of autoimmune epilepsy. Conclusions: Detected GFAP antibody in the CSF was likely causing meningoencephalitis and autoimmune epilepsy. Study Supported by: citations for Fang 2016 and Flanagan 2017 Disclosure: Dr. Dababneh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Notch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kafaie has nothing to disclose.
Techne I. Animal Hands

“Techne” investigates how Levi uses animal representations and references to animality to reflect upon his own writing, initially understood as a specifically human technology. This chapter begins such exploration analyzing one of Levi’s articles, “A Bottle of Sunshine,” in which he positions the human-animal divide along the lines of technological ability. Levi’s own position is first contextualized within the contemporary Italian cultural milieu, and then compared to two thinkers who both dwell upon the issue of human technology and animality, Hannah Arendt and Martin Heidegger. The uncanny similarities between Heidegger and Levi compel a search in his fiction for clues about this ambiguous issue. The chapter ends with a close reading of The Monkey’s Wrench, focused on how Levi represents both human and non-human hands.
Experimental Study of Thermal Oxidation Damage in Ceramic Composites Using Ultrasonic Waves

One major concern about ceramic matrix composites (CMC) is their high temperature stability, especially in an oxidizing environment. In general CMC materials are composed of matrix, fiber, and interphase layers (mainly fiber coatings and/or reaction product layers). It is known [1,2] that the properties of CMC materials are dominated by the interphase. However, this interphase often suffers from oxidation reactions caused by diffusion of oxygen through the matrix [1,3]. As a result desirable properties are not retained.
Perinatal Staff Nurse Medical Device Use and Education.

BACKGROUND How and what RNs working in the perinatal area initially learned about the medical devices they use and the sequelae of device use both for patients and staff were explored. METHOD Eighty-five perinatal staff nurses working at a 500-bed tertiary care hospital in a medium-size midwestern American city were surveyed using a mailed questionnaire comprised of 26 open-ended and closed-ended questions pertaining to device education, consequences of device use, demographic characteristics, and employment situation. RESULTS Most participants (n = 48, 62.3%) initially learned about the most frequently used device by reading the user/instruction manual. At least 90% (n = 77) of participants indicated they initially had learned how to operate the device, its purpose, function, and patient factors indicating use. Inadequate device knowledge was related to nurse stress, and being unsure how to use the device and fear of harming the patient were the two reasons most frequently identified as causing the stress. Six percent (n = 5) of staff nurses had used a device that caused patient harm. CONCLUSION What RNs initially learn about medical devices may be related to how they learn, and the continuing increase in nurse use of medical devices has implications for all aspects of professional nursing: curriculum, teaching clinical nursing, continuing education and staff development, and research.
SAMPLE PREPARATION IN LIQUID SCINTILLATION REMARKS OF THE SESSION CHAIRMAN

From the early days of liquid scintillation, sample preparation has been the primary nemisis of this elegant analytical tool . One is faced with the reciprocal effects of augmenting sample volume to increase the total radioactivity in the vial (hence, to improve sensitivity and precision) while at the same time the quenching effect of the larger sample size reduces counting efficiency. Thus, workers have adopted sample figure of merit as a means of optimizing sample preparation conditions.
Effects of low oral doses of melatonin, given 2-4 hours before habitual bedtime, on sleep in normal young humans

Low oral doses of melatonin raise serum melatonin concentrations to those normally occurring nocturnally and facilitate polysomnographically assessed sleep onset when given at different time points throughout the day, without altering mood or performance on the morning following treatment. In the present study, 12 young healthy volunteers, free of sleep disturbances, received 0.3 or 1.0 mg of melatonin or placebo at 2100 hours, 2-4 hours prior to their habitual bedtime. Polysomnographic recording of overnight sleep began at 2200 hours and continued until 0700 hours the following morning, when subjects were awakened. Sleep onset latency and latency to stage 2 sleep were significantly decreased as a result of melatonin treatment. Neither dose of melatonin significantly altered sleep architecture. Administration of the lower dose of melatonin (0.3 mg) at 2100 hours elevated serum melatonin to levels within the normal nocturnal range (113 +/- 13.5 pg/ml) at the time the sleep test was initiated. Neither melatonin dose caused "hangover effects", as assessed by self-reports or by mood and performance tests administered on the morning following treatment. These observations provide additional evidence that nocturnal melatonin secretion has a sleep-promoting function. They also indicate that an increase in serum melatonin concentrations, within the normal physiologic range, does not significantly alter sleep architecture in subjects with normal sleep who receive the treatment several hours prior to their habitual bedtime.
Children's evaluation and categorization of transgender children.

Despite extant evidence of negative peer treatment of transgender adolescents and adults, little is known about how young children perceive transgender peers, particularly those who have socially t...
Heritage characteristics reported by a group of African-Americans who exhibit the pigment dispersion syndrome: a case-control study.

Purpose: To investigate the racial heritage of a group of African-Americans who exhibit the pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS). Subjects and Methods: Ten unrelated African-American PDS patients (age range 13–59) from a primary eye care population in Chicago, Illinois, USA, were interviewed to determine their racial heritage. Since Caucasian and Native American heritage were commonly reported, 101 unaffected African-American control subjects (age range 18–55) were also interviewed to determine the reported frequency of these specific racial heritage characteristics. Results: Some degree of Caucasian heritage was reported by 100% of the PDS subjects and by 46.5% of controls. Native American heritage was reported by 90% of the PDS subjects and by 71.3% of controls. Based on these data, the PDS subjects were significantly more likely to report Caucasian heritage (Fisher's exact test, P=0.001) but they were not significantly more likely to report Native American heritage (P=0.282). In addition, the PDS subjects were significantly more likely to report Caucasian heritage from both parents (P=0.024) and more likely to report a combination of both Caucasian and Native American heritage (P=0.0006) than corresponding controls. In general, the PDS subjects had `light' or `medium' complexions. Conclusion: Results from this analysis are consistent with the hypothesis that non-African heritage, particularly Caucasian, is likely to be prevalent in the background of African-Americans who exhibit PDS. It is suggested that non-African heritage may not only be important for the transference of PDS causing genes, but it may also influence factors such as degree of iris pigmentation and rigidity which could influence iris contour and the subsequent expression of PDS in those who are genetically predisposed. Further investigation is needed to study the factors that influence the expression and severity of PDS among African-Americans, a population which traditionally has been considered to be rarely affected by this condition.
FINITELY GENERATED NIL BUT NOT NILPOTENT EVOLUTION ALGEBRAS

To use evolution algebras to model population dynamics that both allow extinction and introduction of certain gametes in finite generations, nilpotency must be built into the algebraic structures of these algebras with the entire algebras not to be nilpotent if the populations are assumed to evolve for a long period of time. To adequately address this need, evolution algebras over rings with nilpotent elements must be considered instead of evolution algebras over fields. This paper develops some criteria, which are computational in nature, about the nilpotency of these algebras, and shows how to construct finitely generated evolution algebras which are nil but not nilpotent.
An emerging role for endothelial barrier support therapy for congenital disorders of glycosylation.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are clinically heterogeneous disorders defined by a decreased ability to modify biomolecules with oligosaccharides. Critical disruptions in protein recognition, interaction, binding, and anchoring lead to broad physiological effects. Patients present with endocrinopathy, immunodeficiency, hepatopathy, coagulopathy, and neurodevelopmental impairment. Patients may experience mortality/morbidity associated with shock physiology that is frequently culture negative and poorly responsive to standard care. Oedema, pleural and pericardial effusions, ascites, proteinuria, and protein-losing enteropathy are observed with an exaggerated inflammatory response. The negative serum protein steady state results from several mechanisms including reduced hepatic synthesis and secretion, increased consumption, and extravasation. Disruption of the glycocalyx, a layer of glycosylated proteins that lines the endothelium preventing thrombosis and extravasation, is a suspected cause of endothelial dysfunction in CDG patients. We performed a retrospective review of CDG patients admitted to our institution with acute illness over the past 2 years. Longitudinal clinical and laboratory data collected during the sick and well states were assessed for biomarkers of inflammation and efficacy of interventions. Six patients representing 4 CDG subtypes and 14 hospitalisations were identified. Acute D-dimer elevation, proteinuria, decreased serum total protein levels, coagulation proteins, and albumin were observed with acute illness. Infusion of fresh frozen plasma, and in some cases protein C concentrate, was associated with clinical and biomarker improvement. This was notable with intra-patient comparison of treated vs untreated courses. Use of endothelial barrier support therapy may reduce endothelial permeability by restoring both regulatory serum protein homeostasis and supporting the glycocalyx and is likely a critical component of care for this population.
Reading for theory in the Moroccan Marxist-Leninist testimonial literature

In this article, I argue that the testimonial literature of former members of the Moroccan Marxist-Leninist Movement (MMLM) is theoretical. Drawing on Abdelaziz Tribak’s Ilal Amam, autopsie d’un ca...
Perfluorooctanoic acid activates the unfolded protein response in pancreatic acinar cells

Perfluoroalkyl substances, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are widely used in consumer and industrial applications. Human epidemiologic and animal studies suggest that PFOA exposure elicits adverse effects on the pancreas; however, little is known about the biological effects of PFOA in this organ. In this study, we show that PFOA treatment of mouse pancreatic acinar cells results in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of the protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring kinase/endonuclease 1α (IRE1α), and activating transcription factor 6 arms of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. PFOA-stimulated activation of the UPR was blocked by pretreatment with specific PERK and IRE1α inhibitors and the chemical chaperone 4-phenyl butyrate, but not the antioxidants N-acetyl- l-cysteine and Tiron. PFOA treatment led to increased cytosolic Ca+2 levels and induction of the UPR was blocked by an inhibitor of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. These findings indicate that PFOA-induced ER stress may be the mechanistic trigger leading to oxidative stress in the pancreas.
Reply to Critiques of Hippocrates’ Oath and Asclepius’ Snake

In what follows, I reply to critical appraisals of my book entitled Hippocrates’ Oath and Asclepius’ Snake: The Birth of the Medical Profession (Cavanaugh 2018). Professors Tollefsen, McPherson, and Potts separately offer these thoughtful critiques. Professor Tollefsen approaches the work from the standpoint of the physician-patient relationship. Professors McPherson and Potts both address it in terms of virtues. Potts treats the theme of virtue generally while McPherson focuses on the virtue of piety. Since virtues attend relationships, in what follows, I discuss, first, the physician-patient relationship (Tollefsen’s critique); second, virtue generally (Pott’s critique); and third, and finally, the virtue of piety specifically (McPherson’s critique).
Using a resident-led patient safety quality council to educate future QI leaders.

Resident-led councils represent an important initiative to involve trainees in patient safety, but little is known about how to create and sustain one of these councils. We evaluated the impact of ...
A critical analysis of leaching and environmental risk assessment for reclaimed asphalt pavement management

Abstract In the last couple of decades, studies have examined the potential environmental risks associated with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) management through a range of approaches. Variable risk assessment methodologies and uncertainty on RAP behavior in a stockpile or during reuse have led to inconsistent regulatory oversight in many jurisdictions. The objective of this literature review is to provide clarity on the findings pertaining to RAP leaching and assess the potential human and environmental health risks associated with reported constituent mobility from RAP. The reviewed literature focuses on the leaching of metals and organic compounds; direct exposure risk was briefly reviewed and found not to exceed natural soils or aggregates. On occasion, the literature reports elevated leached concentrations of certain metals (e.g., lead) and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a few RAP samples. These elevated RAP leachate concentrations are assessed via fate and transport model (US EPA IWEM) to estimate dilution and attenuation of select metals and PAHs under typical environmental conditions and reuse or storage scenarios (e.g., stockpiling). This analysis suggests that most reported leachate concentrations of potential concern would be effectively attenuated at the most conservative conditions simulated (10 m, 100% infiltration); limitations with modeling are acknowledged. Pavement materials and external sources, along with chosen testing protocols, influence RAP leachate concentrations, affecting conclusions for potential environmental impacts of RAP in the literature. Understanding how these variables impact leaching and risk assessment is necessary to maximize and continue beneficial reuse of RAP while safeguarding human and environmental health.