cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of chondroitin in metabolically engineered E. coli

Chondroitin sulfates, widely used in the treatment of arthritis, are glycosaminoglycans extracted from food animal tissues. As part of our ongoing efforts to separate the food chain from the drug chain, we are examining the possibility of using metabolic engineering to produce chondroitin sulfate in Escherichia coli. Chondroitin is a valuable precursor in the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate. This study proposes a safer and more feasible approach to metabolically engineer chondroitin production by expressing genes from the pathogenic E. coli K4 strain, which natively produces a capsular polysaccharide that shares the similar structure with chondroitin, into the non-pathogenic E. coli BL21 Star™ (DE3) strain. The ePathBrick vectors, allowing for multiple gene addition and expression regulatory signal control, are used for metabolic balancing needed to obtain the maximum potential yield. The resulting engineered strain produced chondroitin, as demonstrated by (1)H NMR and disaccharide analysis, relying on chondrotinase treatment followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The highest yield from shake flask experiment was 213mg/L and further increased to 2.4g/L in dissolved oxygen-stat fed batch bioreactor.
Legal Ethics and Human Dignity: The torture lawyers of Washington

Preface I wrote this chapter for my book Legal Ethics and Human Dignity , a book about the ethics of the legal profession. It provided an extended case study of one of the main themes of that book, the central role that lawyers providing legal advice to clients play in maintaining the rule of law – or, in this case, subverting the rule of law. The chapter had a second purpose as well, pulling together in a single place a substantive history and critique of all the main torture memos available at the time. Its critique of the Bybee and Levin memos overlaps with, but also extends, the arguments detailed in Chapter 3 of this volume, which I also presented in longer form in Karen J. Greenberg’s The Torture Debate in America . At the time I wrote this chapter, however, not all the torture memos were known. The Bybee memo referred to another secret memo applying its arguments to specific CIA interrogation techniques, which was not made public. In addition, though, the Office of Legal Counsel’s head Steven G. Bradbury wrote three more torture memos in 2005, and these were unknown when I wrote this chapter. One of these memos revisited the secret Bybee–Yoo “techniques” memo, and once again declared that none of the CIA’s “enhanced” interrogation techniques amount to torture. The second found that the same would be true even if the techniques were used in combination. And the third found that the techniques, singly or in combination, would not constitute cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment other than torture. These three memoranda – revoked by the Obama administration and then released to the public in 2009 – reach conclusions just as radical as the Bybee–Yoo memoranda, but drew far less criticism. In part that is because the Bradbury memoranda did not include discussions of the commander-in-chief power or of criminal defenses, which were among the most inflammatory portions of the Bybee–Yoo memoranda. But also, the Bradbury memoranda were less obviously tendentious in their handling of legal materials.
Mission applications for advanced photovoltaic solar arrays

The suitability of the advanced photovoltaic solar array (APSA) for future space missions was examined by considering the impact on the spacecraft system in general. The lightweight flexible blanket array system (>130 W/kG) was compared to rigid arrays and a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) static power source for a wide range of assumed future Earth orbiting and interplanetary mission applications. The study approach was to establish assessment criteria and a rating scheme, identify a reference mission set, perform the power system assessment for each mission, and develop conclusions and recommendations to guide future APSA technology development. The authors discuss the three selected power sources, the assessment criteria and rating definitions. and the reference missions. They present the assessment results in a convenient tabular format. It is concluded that the three power sources examined, APSA, conventional solar arrays, and RTGs, can be considered to complement each other. Each power technology has its own range of preferred applications. >
Effects of Morphine Infusion in Maternal Rats at Near‐term on Ribosome Size Distribution in Foetal and Maternal Rat Brain

: Timed-pregnant (day 21–22) Sprague-Dawley rats were administered morphine, 5 mg/kg/hr, or saline in equivalent volumes, by continuous intravenous infusion for periods up to 4 hrs. The brain of maternal and foetal rats was collected and analyzed for ribosome size distribution and morphine content. A marked increase of the disome component of the free ribosome fraction of foetal and maternal brain, and a corresponding diminution of the monosome and polysome components, was observed after infusion of morphine. Ratios of disomes to monosomes and of disomes to polysomes were maximal after 3 hrs of infusion. At the same time, the morphine concentration in the brain of foetal and maternal rats was maximal and nearly equivalent when expressed on DNA basis. The changes in morphine concentration and disome formation occurred virtually in parallel in both the foetal and maternal brain. The results indicate that morphine administration may in a dose-dependent way cause a derangement of cerebral protein synthesis, possibly by interfering with the availability of mRNA.
The Patient Who Has Undergone Lung Transplantation: Implications for Respiratory Care

Lung transplantation is now performed in patients with end-stage pulmonary parenchymal or vascular lung disease. The process of evaluating a patient for transplantation, managing the patient during the peri-operative period, and caring for the patient following transplantation is complex. Lung-transplant recipients are prone to unique complications of lung transplantation, as well as general complications of an immunosuppressed host. This article reviews the indications for, expected outcomes of, and management of complications that can develop following lung transplantation. Respiratory therapists play an instrumental role in assisting in the management of this group of patients in the pretransplant and post-transplant periods, and in their long-term management.
Lower plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with irregular menstrual cycles in a cross-sectional study

Background In animals, low levels of vitamin D are associated with estrus cycle disturbances, but there are virtually no human data. We examined the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (a biomarker for vitamin D status) with menstrual cycle characteristics.
Intelligent robotic manipulation with hybrid position/force control in an uncalibrated workspace

This paper discusses the planning and control problems of a robot manipulator for a class of constrained motions. The task under consideration is to control a robot such that a tool grasped by the end-effector of the robot follows a path on an unknown surface with the aid of a single camera vision system. To accomplish the task, we propose a new planning and control strategy based on multisensor fusion. Three different sensors-joint encoders, a wrist force-torque sensor and a vision system with a single camera fixed above a workspace-are employed. We decouple control variables into two sub-spaces: one is for force control and the other for control of constrained motion. We also develop a new scheme by means of sensor fusion to handle the uncertainties in an uncalibrated workspace. The contact surface is assumed to be unknown and the precise position and orientation of the camera with respect to the robot is also unknown.
MELANOPHORE BANDS AND AREAS DUE TO NERVE CUTTING, IN RELATION TO THE PROTRACTED ACTIVITY OF NERVES.

1. When appropriate chromatic nerves are cut caudal bands, cephalic areas, and the pelvic fins of the catfish Ameiurus darken. In pale fishes all these areas will sooner or later blanch. By recutting their nerves all such blanched areas will darken again. 2. These observations show that the darkening of caudal bands, areas, and fins on cutting their nerves is not due to paralysis (Brucke), to the obstruction of central influences such as inhibition (Zoond and Eyre), nor to vasomotor disturbances (Hogben), but to activities emanating from the cut itself. 3. The chief agents concerned with the color changes in Ameiurus are three: intermedin from the pituitary gland, acetylcholine from the dispersing nerves (cholinergic fibers), and adrenalin from the concentrating nerves (adrenergic fibers). The first two darken the fish; the third blanches it. In darkening the dispersing nerves appear to initiate the process and to be followed and substantially supplemented by intermedin. 4. Caudal bands blanch by lateral invasion, cephalic areas by lateral invasion and internal disintegration, and pelvic fins by a uniform process of general loss of tint equivalent to internal disintegration. 5. Adrenalin may be carried in such an oil as olive oil and may therefore act as a lipohumor; it is soluble in water and hence may act as a hydrohumor. In lateral invasion (caudal bands, cephalic areas) it probably acts as a lipohumor and in internal disintegration (cephalic areas, pelvic fins) it probably plays the part of a hydrohumor. 6. The duration of the activity of dispersing nerves after they had been cut was tested by means of the oscillograph, by anesthetizing blocks, and by cold-blocks. The nerves of Ameiurus proved to be unsatisfactory for oscillograph tests. An anesthetizing block, magnesium sulfate, is only partly satisfactory. A cold-block, 0°C., is successful to a limited degree. 7. By means of a cold-block it can be shown that dispersing autonomic nerve fibers in Ameiurus can continue in activity for at least 6½ hours. It is not known how much longer they may remain active. So far as the duration of their activity is concerned dispersing nerve fibers in this fish are unlike other types of nerve fibers usually studied.
SATO: a spatial data partitioning framework for scalable query processing

Scalable spatial query processing relies on effective spatial data partitioning for query parallelization, data pruning, and load balancing. These are often challenged by the intrinsic characteristics of spatial data, such as high skew in data distribution and high complexity of irregular multi-dimensional objects. In this demo, we present SATO, a spatial data partitioning framework that can quickly analyze and partition spatial data with an optimal spatial partitioning strategy for scalable query processing. SATO works in following steps: 1) Sample, which samples a small fraction of input data for analysis, 2) Analyze, which quickly analyzes sampled data to find an optimal partition strategy, 3) Tear, which provides data skew aware partitioning and supports MapReduce based scalable partitioning, and 4) Optimize, which collects succinct partition statistics for potential query optimization. SATO also provides multiple level partitioning, which can be used to significantly improve window based queries in cloud based spatial query processing systems. SATO comes with a visualization component that provides heat maps and histograms for qualitative evaluation. SATO has been implemented within the Hadoop-GIS, a high performance spatial data warehousing system over MapReduce. SATO is also released as an independent software package to support various scalable spatial query processing systems. Our experiments have demonstrated that SATO can generate much balanced partitioning that can significantly improve spatial query performance with MapReduce comparing to traditional spatial partitioning approaches.
Applications of hydrothermal time to quantifying and modeling seed germination and dormancy

Knowledge and prediction of seasonal weed seedling emergence patterns is useful in weed management programs. Seed dormancy is a major factor influencing the timing of seedling emergence, and once dormancy is broken, environmental conditions determine the rate of germination and seedling emergence. Seed dormancy is a population-based phenomenon, because individual seeds are independently sensing their environment and responding physiologically to the signals they perceive. Mathematical models based on characterizing the variation that occurs in germination times among individual seeds in a population can describe and quantify environmental and after-ripening effects on seed dormancy. In particular, the hydrothermal time model can describe and quantify the effects of temperature and water potential on seed germination. This model states that the time to germination of a given seed fraction is inversely proportional to the amount by which a given germination factor (e.g., temperature or water potential) exceeds a threshold level for that factor. The hydrothermal time model provides a robust method for understanding how environmental factors interact to result in the germination phenotype (i.e., germination pattern over time) of a seed population. In addition, other factors that influence seed dormancy and germination act by causing the water potential thresholds of the seed population to shift to higher or lower values. This relatively simple model can describe and quantify the germination behavior of seeds across a wide array of environmental conditions and dormancy states, and can be used as an input to more general models of seed germination and seedling emergence in the field.
Dramatic volcanic instability revealed by InSAR

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) was used to measure ground deformation during explosive eruptions on 27 and 28 May 2010 at Pacaya volcano, Guatemala. Interferograms produced using spaceborne and airborne synthetic aperture radar data reveal ∼3 m of along-slope movement of the southwest sector of the edifice during these eruptions. This is the largest measured slope instability witnessed in a single event at a volcano that did not result in a catastrophic landslide. This rapid and extreme movement is particularly concerning given the history of sector collapse and persistent activity at this volcano. These findings emphasize the utility of high-resolution InSAR measurements for monitoring deformation and potential catastrophic slope instability at volcanoes.
Implementing a MATLAB-Based Self-configurable Software Defined Radio Transceiver

Software defined radio (SDR) transitions the communication signal processing chain from a rigid hardware platform to a user-controlled paradigm, allowing unprecedented levels of flexibility in parameter settings. However, programming and operating such SDRs have typically required deep knowledge of the operating environment and intricate tuning of existing code, which adds delay and overhead to the network design. In this work, we describe a bi-directional transceiver implemented in MATLAB that runs on the USRP platform and allows automated, optimal selection of the parameters of the various processing blocks associated with a DBPSK physical layer. Further, we provide detailed information on how to create a real-time multi-threaded design wherein the same SDR switches between transmitter and receiver functions, using standard tools like the MATLAB Coder and MEX to speed up the processing steps. Our results reveal that link latency and packet reception accuracy are greatly improved through our approach, making it a viable first step towards protocol design within an easily accessible MATLAB environment.
Injector research for Shuttle OMS upgrade using LOX/ethanol propellants

The combustion performance, heat transfer, and stability characteristics of bi-propellant swirl coaxial, and pintle injectors using LOX and ethanol propellants were investigated at representative thrust chamber conditions. The injectors were designed for sub-scale uni-element operation based on the target geometry and operating characteristics of an upgraded non-toxic orbital maneuvering system (OMS) engine. Several different versions of the Russian heritage swirl injector were tested. Combustion efficiency, injector face temperature, high frequency pressure, and shadowgraph spray imaging results are reported for hot-fire conditions. The results exhibit a wide range of C* efficiency values. Pulsed shadowgraph images reveal the effect of several flow phenomena, such as LOX flashing and spray self-pulsation, on combustion efficiency.
Analysis of emergent public health events in Dandong city in 2006-2012

Objective To analyze the local public health emergencies happened in Dandong City of Liaoning Province during 2006～2012 and provide more scientific measurement for the prevention and control of the emergent public health events. Methods All data of public health events reported by Liaoning provincial emergent public health events management system were gathered and analyzed with the descriptive epidemiology method. Results There were 23 public health emergencies reported in recent 7 years in Dandong City. A total of 438 cases and 6 deaths were reported. The infectious diseases and food poisioning were the main events occupied 52.17%and 39.13%,respectively.General public health emergencies were the main events occupied 43.48% of the total events. The 6 events(26.09%)occurred in schools and kindergartens. Conclusions A sound emergency response system,rapid information transferring and a good early warning may help actively cope with the public health emergencies.
Effect of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure on Blood Routine,Liver and Renal Functions of Rabbits

We experimentally investigated the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields(ELF-MF) exposure on blood routine and the liver/renal functions of rabbits to verify the validity of current limitation on electromagnetic fields.In the experiment,80 Japanese rabbits(half male and half female) were exposed in 50 Hz magnetic field of different intensities(30 μT,100 μT,200 μT) for 4 months.Weight,blood routine,and the liver/renal functions of the rabbits were determined before and monthly during the magnetic field exposure.The results show that the body weights increase,but no obvious difference appears among groups;compared with the sham group(0 μT),no obvious difference(probability,P0.05)is found in the liver and renal functions either.These results indicate that,with the presented parameters,the ELE-MF does not influence the weight,the blood routine,and the liver/renal functions of Japanese rabbits.
Epidemiology of and stroke-preventive strategies for atherothromboembolic brain infarction in the elderly.

Age is the most important risk factor for ischemic stroke. The most common cause of ischemic stroke in the elderly is atherosclerosis. Patients who have had a recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at high risk for subsequent stroke. Thus far only aspirin and ticlo-pidine have proven to be effective in preventing stroke. At present, all elderly patients who have had an atherothromboembolic TIA or stroke should receive therapy as well as either aspirin or ticlopidine for control of atherosclerotic risk factors.
Characterization of a distinct Na+-H+ exchanger in basolateral membranes of human jejunum

Kinetically distinct Na(+)-H+ exchangers exist on the apical and basolateral membranes of rabbit ileal enterocytes. The apical Na(+)-H+ exchanger appears to function in electroneutral NaCl transport, whereas the basolateral Na(+)-H+ exchanger may function in homeostatic intravesicular pH (pHi) regulation and volume regulation. This study is designed to determine the presence and characteristics of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger in basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) prepared from jejunal tissues of human organ donors. A well-validated Percoll-gradient technique was used to prepare BLMV. An outwardly directed H+ gradient [pHi/extravesicular pH (pHo) = 5.2/7.5] resulted in a Na+ uptake overshoot (1.45 +/- 0.21 nmol/mg protein) 2.5-fold above equilibrium values (0.59 +/- 0.13 nmol/mg protein). Na+ uptake at equilibrium represented transport into an osmotically sensitive intravesicular space as validated by an osmolality study. Na+ uptake represented an electroneutral process, as shown by studies in which negative membrane potentials were induced by K+ and the ionophore valinomycin. Na+ uptake was linear for the first 15 s of transport as depicted by y = 0.042x + 0.002, r2 = 0.98. Dixon plot analysis of amiloride sensitivity revealed an ID50 value for amiloride of 29 microM (fourfold lower than ID50 for brush-border Na(+)-H+ exchanger). Kinetic studies of amiloride-sensitive Na+ uptake revealed a maximal velocity = 1.53 +/- 0.19 nmol.mg protein-1.5 s-1 and Michaelis constant = 9.83 +/- 3.5 mM. By varying pHi a sigmoidal effect of internal H+ on Na+ uptake was noted consistent with an internal modifier site for protons. To confirm this finding, the effect of pHi on Na+ efflux and Na(+)-Na+ exchange was studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
From elite consumption to popular opinion: framing of the US drone program in Pakistani newspapers

AbstractThe United States has conducted armed drone strikes in Pakistan since 2004. While there has been some recent work on Pakistani public opinion about drones, there is very little research on how Pakistan’s media characterize the US drone program. This is an important gap in understanding the determinants of Pakistani popular perceptions of this program. Decades of research has shown that “news framing”, a process by which certain aspects of a complex concept are emphasized in political communications with others played down, influences individual cognition while forming political opinions. In this essay, we address this lacuna by assembling an unprecedented sample of editorials about the drone program from three English newspapers and one Urdu newspaper and analyzing the news frames within them. We next compare the trends in these news frames to public opinion data collected by Pew between the spring of 2009 and 2014. Initially, most Pakistanis were unaware of the drone program, media coverage of th...
Land-Based Environmental Services

As the world becomes richer, competing priorities for land use are emerging. Developing countries are increasingly following the lead set by rich countries and they are setting aside reserves to preserve biodiversity as well as create opportunities for eco-tourism. Initiatives to reduce deforestation and forest degradation have also gained momentum over the past decade, with ambitious REDD+ initiatives associated with climate mitigation getting added attention. This chapter reviews the environmental demands for land, how they have evolved historically, their likely paths in the future, and the implications for global cropland availability. Particular attention will be paid to the potential for land-based carbon sequestration as a path to climate change mitigation. Recent research has shown that such initiatives could have a very significant impact on global cropland supplies and also on food prices and food security. We review this evidence and use it as the basis for SIMPLE model simulations in which the supply of land to agriculture is altered in light of projected carbon sequestration initiatives. Results highlight the impacts on food prices and food security from these competing uses of land.
It Is All About Assumptions: The Critical Role of an Applied Epistemologist

Through examining three extremely important cases—Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb—this chapter illustrates the general kinds of assumptions one has to make in starting new businesses and keeping existing ones successful. Uber and Airbnb are especially noteworthy since they are the quintessence of organizations that have produced disruptive change.
Cutting: unraveling the mystery behind the marks.

Self-mutilation or cutting is not uncommon and may be detected in the workplace. It stems from an underlying psychological illness, specifically borderline personality disorder (BPD). Individuals diagnosed with BPD are usually attempting to handle negative childhood experiences and feelings of abandonment. They often overreact to social stress and engage in cutting to alleviate uncomfortable feelings. A small percentage go on to attempt suicide. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is the preferred treatment modality for individuals with BPD. Occupational health nurses are in a pivotal position to identify workers who cut and to refer them to appropriate treatment options. In addition, occupational health nurses can learn to reinforce the social skills learned in DBT. Language: en
Origins of the secondary dielectric losses in polycarbonate

In considering engineering plastics for use as load-bearing materials, it is often necessary that they possess both high tensile properties and impact strength. A perusal of these properties for pure polymers indicates that, with few exceptions, both properties are not found together. Thus, manufacturers, in seeking to obtain both of these desirable properties in the same material, generally blend, graft or fill, using components having one of the desired properties. The resultant composite polymer has a combination of the properties of its components, reduced in magnitude through dilution.
Use of Ondansetron for Vomiting After Head Trauma: Does It Mask Clinically Significant Traumatic Brain Injury?

Objectives We describe ondansetron use in children with head injury evaluated in pediatric emergency departments and its association with return visits and late diagnoses of intracranial injuries requiring intervention. Methods Children ages 6 months to 18 years discharged without neuroimaging from 35 pediatric emergency departments with a diagnosis of head injury from 2009 to 2013 were identified retrospectively from the Pediatric Health Information System. We evaluated the rates of ondansetron use during the study period and of the association of ondansetron treatment with the diagnosis of intracranial injury, skull fracture, and return visits within 72 hours requiring admission or operative intervention. Results We identified 218,904 encounters during the study period. Of these, 5894 patients (2.8%) were given ondansetron. There was significant variation in the use of ondansetron during the index visit between hospitals (0.1%-5.7%), and ondansetron use significantly increased over the study period. Return visits within 72 hours were more likely for patients treated with ondansetron during the index visit (3.7% vs 1.9%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-2.4). These patients were more likely to be admitted than those not treated initially with ondansetron (7% vs 4%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.55). There were no significant differences in rates of skull fractures, intracranial injury, intensive care unit admission, or operative intervention between groups. Conclusions Ondansetron use during an initial emergency department visit for head trauma in children not requiring neuroimaging is associated with a higher likelihood of return within 72 hours and subsequent admission. There were no differences in rates of missed skull fractures, intracranial injury, intensive care admission, or operative intervention for groups who were and were not treated with ondansetron; however, this study was underpowered to detect significant differences in these categories. Future investigations with greater numbers would be required to confidently assess these critical differences.
Diversity, Effort, and Cooperation in Team-Based Learning.

Student and team performance in 17 sections of an introductory microeco-nomic theory course taught using team-based learning are analyzed to determine what measurable characteristics of teams influence team and individual outcomes. Results suggest that team performance is positively influenced by the grade point average of the top individual on the team as well as the percentage of females on the team. While the level of cooperation within a team does not significantly influence team outcomes, it positively influences individual performance by females while having no statistically significant influence on male performance. Individual success also is positively and significantly influenced by gender diversity and individual effort in team activities, as measured by peer evaluations. These results are robust to a variety of measures of gender diversity.
Abstract 16294: A Theory Based Pedometer App Intervention to Promote Physical Activity Among African American Women: The ChangeMySteps Project

Background: Improving physical activity (PA) levels among all Americans is a national priority. National surveys indicate that African American (AA) women have low levels of PA. Smartphone applicat...
From Intense Teaching to Neglect: The Decline of Astrology at the University of Valencia and the Role of the Spanish Novatores

This article examines the specific traits of the decline of astrology in a scholarly context at the end of the seventeenth century, specifically considering the case of the University of Valencia as a robust center of astrological learning during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The tradition of these university professors of astrology is compared to the attitude of the ‘novatores,’ significant scholars at the beginning of the eighteenth century known for their insistence on introducing the ‘new science’ to Spain. This article ultimately analyzes to what extent there is evidence that the hostile attitude of the novatores of Valencia towards astrology could have led to its decline in the University.
Application and technology forecast

The electronics industry has made spectacular progress in the last 30 years. Discrete devices have been merged into integrated circuits. Integrated circuits have been made steadily larger, incorporating more and more functions on each chip, until now it is essentially possible to put an entire mainframe computer on a single piece of silicon, excluding perhaps the memory. This progress has steadily created new applications for electronics, and in recent years many of these new application have been battery-powered and portable. This has necessitated new design techniques especially oriented toward low power electronics. These design techniques, coupled with further advances in Si technology, will in turn enable the creation of still more powerful portable electronic applications. This chapter is intended to give some insight into the shape some of these application and technology advances may take.
Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Propensity Matched Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives To examine patient acuity and perioperative outcomes in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing either transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Design A retrospective propensity-matched cohort study with univariable logistic regression to assess postoperative outcomes. Setting Hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Participants The study comprised 2,043 patients who underwent either TAVR or SAVR that was reported in the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Interventions None. Measurement and Main Results Age greater than 65 years, patients with dyspnea with moderate exertion or dependence in activities of daily living, high American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated with TAVR, whereas body mass index greater than 25 was associated with SAVR. After propensity matching, no differences in 30-day mortality, length of stay, or most postoperative outcomes were observed between the 2 cohorts. Patients undergoing TAVR were less likely to require a perioperative blood transfusion and on an individual patient basis had a lower number of complications than patients in the SAVR group. Conclusions Patients undergoing TAVR have similar mortality, length of stay, and risk for postoperative complications as do patients undergoing SAVR, but patients undergoing TAVR are less likely to have blood transfused.
Neurosecretion and Its Role in Neuroendocrine Regulation

The leitmotiv of this retrospective survey is the phenomenon of neurosecretion. The gradual evolution of our current views on its place in neuroendocrinology will be discussed in terms not of one research career but of two, a husband-and-wife team that ended, after 30 years, with the death of Ernst Scharrer in 1965. As happens so often, the foundations for this investigative work were laid during student days, and its course was shaped by many events unforeseen at the time.
More Than Just Class: School Mobility Among Black Children in the Great Recession:

The United States experienced the Great Recession between 2007 and 2009 and many cities, suburbs, and communities are still suffering from its legacy. Yet, little is known about whether or not the ...
The Impact of History on Firms’ Governance Choices

Abstract How does national animosity among nations affect the transaction costs treatment of firm governance choices in entry modes? We show that prior conflict between country dyads increases the ...
Activating the Growth of High Surface Area Alumina Using a Liquid Galinstan Alloy.

The growth of high surface area alumina has been investigated with the use of a liquid Galinstan alloy [66.5% (wt %) Ga, 20.5% In and 13.0% Sn] as an activator for aluminum. In this process, the al...
Patient-reported auditory handicap measures following mild traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Few studies have specifically addressed auditory complaints in patients with nonblast mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Herein, we aimed to investigate auditory symptoms in patients following mTBI using patient-reported outcome measures. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a tertiary-care hospital. METHODS The patients included those with mTBI (cases) and those without mTBI (controls). Individuals (≥18 years old) with and without mTBI were screened. Exclusion criteria included history of otologic disorders, blast injury, or occupational noise exposure. Primary outcomes included the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ). Secondary outcomes included subjective auditory complaints. RESULTS From September 2017 to September 2018, 52 patients with mTBI and 55 controls met inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean time between mTBI and survey intake was 70.6 months. The mean age and gender were 51.5 years old and 73% female in the mTBI group, and 46.1 years old and 56.3% female in the control group (P = .112 and P = .105, respectively). Patients with mTBI reported hyperacusis (67.3% of all mTBI patients), hearing loss (61.5%), and tinnitus (61.5%), compared to 8.3%, 12.7%, and 16.4%, respectively, for control subjects (P < .0001). The mean HHIA score in the mTBI group was 38.3 versus 8.5 in controls (P = .002). The mean THI score was 27.4 in the mTBI group and 3.1 in controls (P < .0001). The mean HQ score was 26.5 in mTBI group and 7.3 in controls (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS Auditory symptoms and associated handicap were common in patients with nonblast mTBI compared to age-matched controls. Findings have implications for the pathophysiology and management of symptoms in this patient population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 130:761-767, 2020.
Integrating Work and Family Responsibilities: Experiences of Fathers of Children with Special Health Care Needs

Fathers face increasing demands to engage with family responsibilities without changes to workplace expectations. Research about these changes at home and in the workplace for employed fathers of children with special health care needs (SHCN) is limited, leaving fathers without necessary workplace, family, and community resources to better integrate work and family. An online survey collected data from 122 fathers who lived at least part-time with a child with SHCN under the age of 18 and were employed at least part-time. This study investigated the effects of workplace, family, and community resources on positive and negative work family and family work spillover. Linear regression analyses revealed that access to workplace flexibility was positively correlated with negative work family spillover, and that use of workplace flexibility was positively correlated with negative family work spillover. Support from friends/neighbors was a significant predictor of negative family work and work family, and positive family work spillover. The study’s findings illustrate that fathers of children with SHCN struggle to integrate work and family. Resources in the three micro systems of workplace, family, and community, are utilized by fathers to meet work and family demands. The study also highlights the positive spillover effects related to employment and family care for fathers of children with SHCN.
Physiological mechanisms underlying the costs of chemical defence in Junonia coenia Hu¨bner (Nymphalidae): A gravimetric and quantitative genetic analysis

Several recent studies document that specialist insect phytophages may be less subject to predation than generalists and suggest that hostplant-derived chemical defences may be an important explanation for the predominance of specialized feeding among insect herbivores. The evolution of such chemical defences depends upon both their advantages versus natural enemies and their physiological costs, but data on these costs, particularly genetic data, are few. Here I report the results of an ecological genetic investigation of food use efficiency and allelochemical sequestration in Junonia coenia Hu¨bner (Nymphalidae). I used standard gravimetric techniques to estimate the efficiency of dry matter incorporation and iridoid glycoside sequestration in the larvae of 37 full-sib families fed artificial diets containing trace, low (2%) and high (10%) concentrations of iridoid glycosides. I found a significant reduction in the efficiency of dry matter incorporation on a high iridoid diet that is entirely attributable to reduced digestibility rather than post-digestive toxic effects. Larvae fed high-iridoid diets sequestered them less efficiently, but this difference was due largely to post-digestive effects. Analyses of genetic variation and architecture of dry matter and iridoid budgets reveal substantial genetic variation in both suites of traits, but only chemical defence showed a significant genotype×environment interaction which would be conducive to the evolution of specialization. Neither group of traits showed across-diet trade-offs in the form of negative correlations of family means among diets. Family means correlations of sequestration indices with dry matter indices within diets reveals that chemical defence comes at a cost to growth, but only in the high diet. I also found evidence of specialized physiological machinery for iridoid glycoside processing. These data indicate that even adapted specialists are negatively affected by plant toxins, but in this species, dietary specialization is more likely to result from selection from natural enemies than from hostplant toxins.
More Basic Sentence Equations: B 4 and B 5

The 4th basic sentence formula (B4) embodies a standard subject-noun-plus-verb “spark” plus two instances of flow. Like basic sentence B2, the main verb transfers action directly onto a noun object (No) in the predicate (stage one flow). Yet with B4, there is a second line of flow that extends “spark” further (stage two flow). This transfer goes from the noun object (No) to a second noun in the predicate, known as the indirect object noun “Ni.” Figure 6.1 displays B4 in stripped-down, core version form.
Transplanting kidneys from donation after cardiac death donors with acute kidney injury.

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) donors have historically been considered independent risk factors for delayed graft function (DGF), allograft failure, and inferior outcomes. With growing experience, updated analyses have shown good outcomes. There continues to be limited data, however, on outcomes specific to DCD donors who have AKI. Primary outcomes for this study were post-kidney transplant patient and allograft survival comparing two donor groups: DCD AKIN stage 2-3 and DBD AKIN stage 2-3. In comparing these groups, there were no short- or long-term differences in patient (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54-1.93, P = .83) or allograft survival (HR 1.47, 95% CI 0.64-2.97, P = .32). In multivariate models, the DCD/DBD status had no significant impact on the estimated GFR (eGFR) at 1 (P = .38), 2 (P = .60), and 3 years (P = .52). DGF (57.9% vs 67.9%, P = .09), rejection (12.1% vs 13.9%, P = .12), and progression of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA) on protocol biopsy (P = .16) were similar between the two groups. With careful selection, good outcomes can be achieved utilizing severe AKI DCD kidneys. Historic concerns regarding primary nonfunction, DGF resulting in interstitial fibrosis and rejection, and inferior outcomes were not observed. Given the ongoing organ shortage, increased effort should be undertaken to further utilize these donors.
Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of congenital and acquired corneal opacity.

Purpose Maintenance of a transparent corneal stroma is imperative for proper vision. The corneal stroma is composed of primarily collagen fibrils, small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), as well as sparsely distributed cells called keratocytes. The lattice arrangement and spacing of the collagen fibrils that allows for transparency may be disrupted due to genetic mutations and injuries. The purpose of this study is to examine the therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (UMSCs) in treating congenital and acquired corneal opacity associated with the loss of collagen V. Methods Experimental mice, i.e., wild-type, Col5a1f/f and Kera-Cre/Col5a1f/f (Col5a1∆st/∆st , collagen V null in the corneal stroma) mice in a C57BL/6J genetic background, were subjected to a lamellar keratectomy, and treated with or without UMSC (104 cells/cornea) transplantation via an intrastromal injection or a fibrin plug. In vivo Heidelberg retinal tomograph (HRT II) confocal microscopy, second harmonic generated (SHG) confocal microscopy, histology, and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to assess the corneal transparency of the regenerated corneas. Results Col5a1∆st/∆st mice display a cloudy cornea phenotype that is ameliorated following intrastromal transplantation of UMSCs. Loss of collagen V in Col5a1∆st/∆st corneas augments the formation of cornea scarring following the keratectomy. UMSC transplantation with a fibrin plug improves the healing of injured corneas and regeneration of transparent corneas, as determined with in vivo HRT II confocal microscopy. Second harmonic confocal microscopy revealed the improved collagen fibril lamellar architecture in the UMSC-transplanted cornea in comparison to the control keratectomized corneas. Conclusions UMSC transplantation was successful in recovering some corneal transparency in injured corneas of wild-type, Col5a1f/f and Col5a1∆st/∆st mice. The production of collagen V by transplanted UMSCs may account for the regeneration of corneal transparency, as exemplified by better collagen fiber organization, as revealed with SHG signals.
Early nephrectomy in neonates with symptomatic autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Abstract Introduction Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a rare cause of renal failure with a highly variable clinical course. Patients who are symptomatic early in life frequently require early nephrectomy and peritoneal dialysis. In these patients there are little data to guide clinicians on whether to select unilateral nephrectomy or bilateral nephrectomy at the initial operative intervention. We review our experience with this disease process. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 11 patients at our institution with ARPKD symptomatic within the first month of life. Charts were reviewed for relevant clinical data, and patients were divided into groups based on undergoing either unilateral or bilateral nephrectomy at their initial intervention. The decision for unilateral versus bilateral nephrectomy was decided by the clinical team without any available guidelines. Results Of the 11 patients reviewed, two patients died within the first two weeks from other complications. The remaining 9 all required nephrectomy, with 5 undergoing synchronous bilateral nephrectomy, and 4 undergoing initial unilateral nephrectomy. All four patients required removal of their contralateral kidney, a median of 25.5 days later. There was no difference in mortality, ventilator free days, or time to full feeds between the two groups, although the group undergoing initial unilateral nephrectomy had more TPN days than their counterparts (28 vs 17 days, p = 0.014). Conclusions In our cohort, there were few significant differences between the groups based on choice of initial unilateral or bilateral nephrectomy, and all children ultimately required removal of both kidneys. These data suggest that anesthetic exposures and other clinical outcomes might be optimized by initial bilateral nephrectomy. Level of evidence III.
The role of heat shock factors in stress-induced transcription.

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are rapidly induced after stresses such as heat shock and accumulate at high concentrations in cells. HSP induction involves primarily a family of heat shock transcription factors (HSF) that bind the heat shock elements of the HSP genes and mediate transcription in trans. We discuss methods for the study of HSP binding to HSP promoters and the consequent increases in HSP gene expression in vitro and in vivo.