cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inference for Causal Interactions for Continuous Exposures under Dichotomization

Dichotomization of continuous exposure variables is a common practice in medical and epidemiological research. The practice has been cautioned against on the grounds of efficiency and bias. Here we consider the consequences of dichotomization of a continuous covariate for the study of interactions. We show that when a continuous exposure has been dichotomized certain inferences concerning causal interactions can be drawn with regard to the original continuous exposure scale. Within the context of interaction analyses, dichotomization and the use of the results in this article can furthermore help prevent incorrect conclusions about the presence of interactions that result simply from erroneous modeling of the exposure variables. By considering different dichotomization points one can gain considerable insight concerning the presence of causal interaction between exposures at different levels. The results in this article are applied to a study of the interactive effects between smoking and arsenic exposure from well water in producing skin lesions.
The role of topical agents in the healing of full-thickness wounds.

. Eight topical agents in current use were studied for their effects on wound contraction and rate of reepithelialization of full-thickness excisions using a porcine animal model. The following agents were applied daily for a period of 27 days: scarlet red ointment, benzoyl peroxide lotion, bacitracin ointment, silver sulfadiazine cream, aloe vera gel, tretinoin cream, capsaicin cream, and mupirocin ointment. The rate of reepithelialization was significantly enhanced by treatment with capsaicin, bacitracin, silver sulfadiazine, and scarlet red, and was markedly retarded by treatment with tretinoin. Wound contraction was significantly retarded by mupirocin, bacitracin, and silver sulfadizine. Knowledge of the effects of topical agents on various aspects of healing allows the clinician to choose the most appropriate material to use in a given clinical situation to optimize the healing process and produce the best final result.
Inhibition of p70S6K1 Activation by Pdcd4 Overcomes the Resistance to an IGF-1R/IR Inhibitor in Colon Carcinoma Cells

Agents targeting insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) are being actively examined in clinical trials. Although there has been some initial success of single-agent targeting IGF-1R, attempts in later studies failed because of resistance. This study aimed to understand the effects of programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) on the chemosensitivity of the IGF-1R inhibitor OSI-906 in colorectal cancer cells and the mechanism underlying this impact. Using OSI-906-resistant and -sensitive colorectal cancer cells, we found that the Pdcd4 level directly correlates with cell chemosensitivity to OSI-906. In addition, tumors derived from Pdcd4 knockdown cells resist the growth inhibitory effect of OSI-906 in a colorectal cancer xenograft mouse model. Moreover, Pdcd4 enhances the antiproliferative effect of OSI-906 in resistant cells through suppression of p70S6K1 activation. Knockdown of p70S6K1, but not p70S6K2, significantly increases the chemosensitivity of OSI-906 in cultured colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, the combination of OSI-906 and PF-4708671, a p70S6K1 inhibitor, efficiently suppresses the growth of OSI-906-resistant colon tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, activation of p70S6K1 that is inhibited by Pdcd4 is essential for resistance to the IGF-1R inhibitor in colon tumor cells, and the combinational treatment of OSI-906 and PF-4708671 results in enhanced antiproliferation effects in colorectal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, providing a novel venue to overcome the resistance to the IGF-1R inhibitor in treating colorectal cancer.
Epidemiology of Infant Salmonellosis in the United States, 1996-2008: A Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network Study.

[CI], 152.7–202.8) in blacks, 129.7 (95% CI, 94.8–164.7) in Asians, and 81.1 (95% CI, 70.2–92.0) in whites. Our analysis of ethnicity independent of race showed salmonellosis incidence of 86.7 (95% CI, 74.6—98.9) in Hispanics and 69.4 (95% CI, 54.8—84.1) in non-Hispanics. Salmonellosis was invasive more often in blacks (9.4%) and Asians (6.4%) than whites (3.6%, P <.001 and P= .01, respectively). Asian infants with salmonellosis were older (median, 31 weeks [range, 0–52]) than black (24 weeks [range, 0–52], P< .001) or white infants (23 weeks [range, 0–52], P < .001). Incidence of all salmonellosis remained stable for whites from 1996–1998 through 2008, but blacks had a sustained decrease, with relative risk of 0.48 (95% CI, .37–.63) in 2008 compared with 1996–1998. However, 2008 incidence remained highest among blacks (141.0 of 100 000 vs 113.5 of 100 000 among whites and 109.9 of 100 000 among Asians). Conclusion. Black infants had a greater risk of salmonellosis and invasive disease than other racial groups, and despite the greatest decrease in incidence over the study period, they continued to have the highest incidence of salmonellosis. The decrease in salmonellosis in black infants suggests that future improvements may be possible for other population subgroups.
The acute effect of exercise modality and nutrition manipulations on post-exercise resting energy expenditure and respiratory exchange ratio in women: a randomized trial

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise modality and pre-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) or protein (PRO) ingestion on post-exercise resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in women. Twenty recreationally active women (mean ± SD; age 24.6 ± 3.9 years; height 164.4 ± 6.6 cm; weight 62.7 ± 6.6 kg) participated in this randomized, crossover, double-blind study. Each participant completed six exercise sessions, consisting of three exercise modalities: aerobic endurance exercise (AEE), high-intensity interval running (HIIT), and high-intensity resistance training (HIRT); and two acute nutritional interventions: CHO and PRO. Salivary samples were collected before each exercise session to determine estradiol-β-17 and before and after to quantify cortisol. Post-exercise REE and RER were analyzed via indirect calorimetry at the following: baseline, immediately post (IP), 30 minutes (30 min) post, and 60 minutes (60 min) post exercise. A mixed effects linear regression model, controlling for estradiol, was used to compare mean longitudinal changes in REE and RER. On average, HIIT produced a greater REE than AEE and HIRT (p < 0.001) post exercise. Effects of AEE and HIRT were not significantly different for post-exercise REE (p = 0.1331). On average, HIIT produced lower RER compared to either AEE or HIRT after 30 min (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0169, respectively) and compared to AEE after 60 min (p = 0.0020). On average, pre-exercise PRO ingestion increased post-exercise REE (p = 0.0076) and decreased post-exercise RER (p < 0.0001) compared to pre-exercise CHO ingestion. HIIT resulted in the largest increase in REE and largest reduction in RER.
Dual-polarized dual-band antenna element for ISM bands

A dual-band element that operates in two separate industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands is presented that provides dual-linear or dual-circular polarization in each band. The element is ideal for wireless communication applications utilizing multiple protocol and/or Bluetooth technology. This design is realizable in cost effective printed circuit board technology making it an attractive design for low cost personal communications devices.
Normalization of peak intensities in bottom-up MS-based proteomics using singular value decomposition

Motivation: LC-MS allows for the identification and quantification of proteins from biological samples. As with any high-throughput technology, systematic biases are often observed in LC-MS data, making normalization an important preprocessing step. Normalization models need to be flexible enough to capture biases of arbitrary complexity, while avoiding overfitting that would invalidate downstream statistical inference. Careful normalization of MS peak intensities would enable greater accuracy and precision in quantitative comparisons of protein abundance levels. Results: We propose an algorithm, called EigenMS, that uses singular value decomposition to capture and remove biases from LC-MS peak intensity measurements. EigenMS is an adaptation of the surrogate variable analysis (SVA) algorithm of Leek and Storey, with the adaptations including (i) the handling of the widespread missing measurements that are typical in LC-MS, and (ii) a novel approach to preventing overfitting that facilitates the incorporation of EigenMS into an existing proteomics analysis pipeline. EigenMS is demonstrated using both large-scale calibration measurements and simulations to perform well relative to existing alternatives. Availability: The software has been made available in the open source proteomics platform DAnTE (Polpitiya et al., 2008)) ( http://omics.pnl.gov/software/), as well as in standalone software available at SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net). Contact: yuliya@stat.tamu.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
BioMEMS enabled drug delivery.

Fig 1. Breakdown of MEMS device categories. Although the enormous potential in nanotechnology and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) has not fully materialized, MEMS devices, with the success they already enjoy in established high volume commercial markets such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, inkjet print heads, and digital micromirrors, will aid in new medical achievements and will lower the costs of existing devices and medical procedures [1,2]. Microfluidic chips represent a fast-growing group among MEMS devices that have already made their way into biomedical and clinical applications. Micropumps and microvalves, a group of important microfluidic management components, have been under intensive investigation for the past 3 decades because they deal with fluidic handling, a practical bottleneck hindering development of microfluidic biochips [2-6]. The study published in the current issue of the Journal [7] proposes a novel micropump design with a circular bossed membrane. The unique design can extend the linear operation range and regulate the flow rate that allows nanoliter drug delivery. Most drugs have an effective concentration range in the body, above which they are too toxic and below which they do not have sufficient therapeutic effects. The design for a micropump must meet medical requirements and provide precise flow rate control, small chip size, and little power consumption to be suitable for medical implantation. Miniaturized MEMS devices, enabled by the latest nanotechnology, can result in improved drug delivery techniques because they allow precise dosage patterns tailored to individual needs, induce less pain, and increase compliance. Compared with traditional polymer-based controlled drug release systems, the application of MEMS techniques can allow researchers to
Mammalian Sirtuins and Energy Metabolism

Sirtuins are highly conserved NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases and/or ADP-ribosyltransferases that can extend the lifespan of several lower model organisms including yeast, worms and flies. The seven mammalian sirtuins, SIRT1 to SIRT7, have emerged as key metabolic sensors that directly link environmental signals to mammalian metabolic homeostasis and stress response. Recent studies have shed light on the critical roles of sirtuins in mammalian energy metabolism in response to nutrient signals. This review focuses on the involvement of two nuclear sirtuins, SIRT1 and SIRT6, and three mitochondrial sirtuins, SIRT3, SIRT4, and SIRT5, in regulation of diverse metabolic processes.
Surgical revascularization after acute myocardial infarction in patients with end-stage renal disease

Objective: Cardiovascular disease accounts for over 50% of deaths in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), hospital mortality exceeds 25%, and survival beyond 2 years is !20% for patients with ERSD. The role of coronary artery bypass grating (CABG) in the setting of an AMI in patients with ESRD remains undefined. Methods: Three hundred and forty-two patients had preoperative ESRD (serum creatinine O2.0 mg/dl or dialysis dependence) between 1995 and 2000. One hundred and nineteen patients had an AMI (!7 days) and 223 patients had a remote myocardial infarction (RMI) (O7 days) at the time of CABG. The study group, AMI, was compared to the RMI group, which served as a comparison group. Results: The age (69 vs. 67 years), males (68 vs. 67%), creatinine (3.18 vs. 3.76 mg/dl, PZ0.06), and preoperative dialysis (19 vs. 22%, PZ0.52) were similar in either the AMI or RMI group, respectively. The frequency of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, previous myocardial infarction were common, yet not different between groups (PZNS). For either AMI or RMI group, multivessel CABG (96 vs. 94%, PZ0.73), off-pump CABG (OPCAB) (22 vs. 18%, PZ0.67), and arterial conduits (71 vs. 78%, PZ0.42) were similar. Among postoperative events, only pulmonary complications (33.8 vs. 14.7%, PZ0.049) and atrial fibrillation (48 vs. 29%, P!0.001) were more common in the AMI group. Hospital mortality was no different between the AMI and RMI groups (10 vs. 8.5%, PZ0.88). Conclusions: Although patients with ESRD that have an AMI or RMI represent high risk groups, perioperative outcomes suggest that patients selected for CABG as an early treatment strategy in the setting of an AMI represents a viable therapeutic option. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of BioSentry 904 and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid-Tris Disinfecting During Incubation of Chicken Eggs on Microbial Levels and Productivity of Poultry

Abstract Proper sanitation practices and the use of efficacious disinfectants in a hatchery have an effect on chick quality. Aerosol bacterial counts, egg moisture loss, hatchability, chick quality, and broiler productivity were evaluated when egg surfaces were contaminated by immersion of each egg into a broth medium containing a field isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and incubated with exposure to one of three disinfectant treatments administered by fine spray: distilled water, BioSentry 904 (904), and a 1:1 ratio of 904 and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-Tris. The aerosol bacteria levels were statistically greater on day 21 of incubation in the group treated with distilled water than in those receiving disinfectants. Overall hatch of fertile eggs and egg moisture loss were comparable among all three treatments. At 1 day of age, the chicks incubated with 904 had a statistically lower yolk sac contamination rate than those incubated with 904+EDTA-Tris or distilled water. The 2-wk mortality rates...
A convolutive spectral decomposition approach to the separation of feedback from target speech

Feedback is a common problem in teleconferencing systems. Typical usage of an adaptive filter can be effective for feedback reduction but it relies on the presence of such a filter on the side of the far speaker in order to reduce feedback on the side of the near speaker. In order to avoid this reliance on the far speaker's setup, we can use an adaptive filter on the side of the near speaker. Unfortunately, due to non-linear speech coding typically used during speech transmission, these filters perform poorly in this situation. In this paper, we present a novel probabilistic method, using a non-negative convolutive decomposition of spectrogram data to perform feedback reduction by posing the problem as a source separation problem. Our method is robust to non-linear speech coding as well as continuous double-talk, which often presents a challenge to adaptive filters. We compare our method to the use of an adaptive filter and show superior results with respect to standard source separation metrics.
Superconducting final focus for the slac linear collider

Triplets composed of superconducting quadrupoles have been built and installed as the final focusing element for the high-energy positron and electron beams of the SLAC Linear Collider. Special features include independent alignment to 100-micron tolerance inside a common cryostat; non-magnetic materials to allow operation inside the detector's solenoid field; a continuous-flow helium-only system using 50-meter-long flexible transfer lines; and complete operation of the system before installation. The mechanical design and cryogenic operation experience are presented.
SEASONAL MIGRATION, SPECIATION, AND MORPHOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE IN THE GENUS CATHARUS (TURDIDAE)

Abstract The effects of seasonal migration on evolutionary change within lineages is poorly understood, in terms of both differentiation (cladogenesis) and specialization (anagenesis). Regarding differentiation, two contradictory hypotheses exist: Seasonal migration counters differentiation; or it can stimulate differentiation by exposing lineages to new environments. Regarding specialization, the morphological consequences of a migratory life history have not been well explored. We examined these issues by reconstructing morphological and molecular phylogenies of the genus Catharus (Turdidae), a group of forest-dwelling, New World thrushes traditionally considered to include a small “species flock” of Nearctic-Neotropic migrants. DNA sequence data (2,920–3,027 base pairs) do not support traditional taxonomy, and morphological characters conflicted with these data. Results suggest that long-distance seasonal migration arose independently four times in Catharus sensu lato (including Hylocichla mustelina). ...
A terrestrial invader threatens a benthic community: potential effects of hemlock woolly adelgid-induced loss of eastern hemlock on invertebrate shredders in headwater streams

The invasion of non-native species is considered among the most important causes of the loss of native biota. An example of a devastating exotic pest impacting eastern forests is the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae), a xylem feeding insect native to Asia that feeds on all ages and species of hemlock (Tsuga spp.), and has the capacity to functionally eliminate eastern hemlock (T. canadensis) from the landscape. Eastern hemlock is an important component of forested riparian communities in southern and central Appalachia where it maintains stable stream conditions important for aquatic biota. We investigated differences between eastern hemlock and deciduous dominated headwater streams in eastern Kentucky to determine the extent to which HWA invasion may affect benthic invertebrate shredders. Shredders form the basis of a resource chain within headwater streams, thus they are invaluable links in stream-riparian interactions. We found that eastern hemlock contributed energy in the form of leaf litter to the riparian zone at a consistent rate throughout the growing season in contrast to the autumnal pulse of deciduous material. We also detected significant vegetation by season interactions for shredders which suggest that some shredders are more abundant in eastern hemlock streams than in their deciduous counterparts during the summer. This could be linked to the consistent addition of food resources that eastern hemlock provides. Our results indicate that stream communities will likely change following adelgid associated mortality of eastern hemlock in headwater stream riparian zones.
Building Bridges for Collaborative Digital Reference between Libraries and Museums through an Examination of Reference in Special Collections

While a growing number of the digital reference services in libraries have become part of collaborative reference networks, other entities that serve similar information-seeking needs such as special collections and museums have not joined these networks, even though they are answering an increasing number of questions from off-site patrons via the Internet. This article examines the differences between questions asked electronically of traditional reference services and those asked of special collections services; it further explores how a better understanding of digital reference in special collections will facilitate the development of the tools and models needed to create a bridge between digital human intermediation at general academic libraries, special collections, and museums.
Is the Moratorium over? African American Psychology Professionals' Views on Intelligence Testing in Response to Changes to Federal Policy.

Collectively, advocates for the well-being of African American children have long called for a moratorium on the use of intelligence testing for the placement of children in special education. With...
Reforming Again: Now Teachers.

BackgroundEducational reform responds to local and national pressures to improve educational outcomes, and reform efforts cycle as similar pressures recur. Currently, reform efforts focus on teache...
A Heuristic Approach to Finding the Preferred Design Variable Parameterization for Optimization

An approach to addressing optimization’s curse of dimensionality that alters the design variable parametrization as optimization proceeds is described. An evolutionary strategy is applied to nding a preferred variable length vector of design parameters. Rules for this strategy are described. Extension of this method to a multidisciplinary rotorcraft vehicle design problem is described.
Measurement of the Charge Asymmetry in the Decay K L 0 -->π +/- +e -/+ +ν

The charge asymmetry $\ensuremath{\delta}=\frac{({\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{-}})}{({\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}+{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{-}})}$ for the electron in the decay of the long-lived neutral kaon to pion, electron, and neutrino has been measured. We find asymmetry $\ensuremath{\delta}=(+2.24\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.36)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The result shows that $\mathrm{CP}$ symmetry is not conserved in this process.
Perspective: Leveraging the health care workforce: what do we need and what educational system will get us there?

Abstract Shortages of 100,000 physicians and up to one million nurses are projected in the next 10 years. If these statistics are close to true, medical schools would need a 100% increase in graduates over the next 4 years, and nursing schools a 100% increase over the next 13 years. These calculations are instructive in that they demonstrate the absurdity of expecting schools to provide these sorts of increases in that time frame. Other solutions must be considered. For instance, do doctors and nurses need to do everything they are currently called on to do? Could not other members of the health care workforce, such as well-trained lay workers, be leveraged to do some of the more routine work, freeing medical professionals to perform their unique roles? How is such a workforce built, and how shall learners be educated to fill those needs? This article presents a hypothetical model that could be implemented based on carefully researched pilots to meet health care education needs. The model features three essential components: (1) a school for the public in which lay teachers develop curricula with members of the public, for example, about how to incentivize healthy behavior, (2) a college for health as part of a university with interdisciplinary teaching, where patients, faculty members, and students interact in each of the schools and learn together, and (3) the most effective and efficient nursing and medical school curricula, developed together based on evidence of what the student needs to know.
Microcomputer-based inverse time-lag over-excitation protection

The RMS value of excitation-voltage is figured out with sampling values of three-phase line voltages and simulative results show that it has high precision,being independent of system frequency.The real part or imaginary part of the voltage measurement calculated with Fourier transform is used as the input of the linear interpolation method and two zero-crossing points adjacent to it are used to calculate system frequency and period.Simulative results show that,the proposed algorithm is immune to harmonics and DC component with high precision.The equivalent RMS concept and parabolic interpolation method are applied to realize the function of inverse time-lag over-excitation protection,which fits better the over-excitation curve of generator or transformer and meets the requirements of engineering design.
Test Results of HBsAg among Food and Public Places Employees in Anyang Ciy during 2007-2009

[Objective]To understand the HBsAg positive rate of food and public places employees in Anyang City.[Methods]During 2007-2009,HBsAg test was performed on 26 177 employees.[Results]Of 26 177 employees,498 were HBsAg positive,the positive rate was 1.90%;that of male and female was 2.19% and 1.77%,respectively,the difference was significant(P0.05);the HBsAg positive rate was not significantly different between years(P0.05),but significantly different between age groups.[Conclusion]The HBsAg positive rate has been at a low level in recent years,but it is still necessary to continue monitoring.
Obstetric medication and neonatal behavior. Current controversies.

This article reviews the work on the neonatal effects of low drug doses published in the last five years. At the same time, there will be a focus on new developments in perinatal pharmacology and on current controversies in this area. The article includes discussions about neurobe- havioral outcome measures and statistics, as well as recommendations for future studies.
Multi-layer off-axis patch antennas fabricated using polymer extrusion 3D printing

This work describes the design, fabrication, and evaluation of three sets of multi-plane patch antennas fabricated using an enhanced 3D printing system. The antennas were embedded using a unique combination of thermal and chemical embedding techniques enabling the fabrication of multiple conductive non-orthogonal antenna layers constructed in a single build sequence. Potential devices include waveguides and antennas in complex geometries with a wide range of electromagnetically tailored thermoplastics. Two sets of patch antennas were fabricated, both comprising two patches offset 5° from the build plane: one with embedded copper mesh and the second with copper foil. A third set of patch antennas was fabricated on a five-plane structure consisting of three patches with offset 60° from the build plane, and a fourth patch parallel to the build plane. The resulting 3D printed antennas were characterized in terms of return loss and radiation pattern and demonstrated agreement with simulations.
Imperial debris: on ruins and ruination

Ann Stoler directs our attention to the enduring, yet less visible effects of imperial regimes on lands, lives, and livelihoods. ‘Ruination’ is that unique leitmotif that deftly binds nine distinct...
Phloem Biology of the Cucurbitaceae

Cucurbit phloem is especially interesting and unusual in several respects, which has made these plants the subject of intensive study by microscopists, physiologists and molecular biologists. Early light microscopists were attracted to cucurbits due to the large dimensions of the sieve tubes and sieve pores, which made them relatively easy to see (Esau, The phloem. Berlin/Stuttgart: Gebruder Borntraeger, 1969). Hartig, the forest botanist who discovered the sieve element, turned to Cucurbita in his studies, describing many aspects of phloem structure including sieve plates, callose and “slime plugs.” (See Esau, The phloem. Berlin/Stuttgart: Gebruder Borntraeger, 1969 for the early history of phloem research). Cucurbita has also featured strongly in the analysis of phloem development. For example, Esau et al. (Bot Gaz 123:233–243, 1962) described the development of the sieve pores and the involvement of callose deposition in this process in Cucurbita maxima. A striking feature of cucurbit phloem is the presence of a unique array of extrafascicular (outside the vascular bundles) sieve tubes, which have been studied by several groups in recent years (Zhang et al. Proc Nat Acad Sci U S A 107:13532–13537, 2010; Gaupels et al. Plant Physiol 160:2285–2299, 2012; Zhang et al. Plant Physiol 158:1873–1882, 2012; Gaupels and Ghirardo, Front Plant Sci 4:187, 2013; Gaupels et al. Front Plant Sci 7:154, 2016).
Preserved Renal-Allograft Function and the PD-1 Pathway Inhibitor Nivolumab

To the Editor: Inhibition of immune checkpoints with the use of antibodies targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or monoclonal antibodies against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) has been used clinically in patients with various types of cancer. In the limited number of reported cases in which these antibodies have been used in patients who have undergone kidney transplantation,1 these agents have been associated with cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejection (see Table S2 in the Supplementary Appendix, available with the full text of this letter at NEJM.org). We report on a patient who received a renal transplant from a living related donor. . . .
Abstract 218: Fibrinolytic Reactivity of Venous Endothelial Cells from Different Vascular Beds

Objective: Little is known about the molecular biology of endothelial cells from different venous vascular beds. As a result, our treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary artery embolism (PE) remain identical. PAI-1 and tPA are important regulators of thrombosis and fibrinolysis, while ICAM-1 is known to bind fibrinogen. Here, we aim to investigate differences in fibrinolytic reactivity between human iliac vein endothelial cells (HIVECs) and human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs). Methods: Confluent HIVECs and HPAECs, passages 3 - 6, were cultured in the absence or presence of TNFα (10 ng/mL) for 24 hours. Cellular expression of tPA and PAI-1 as analyzed by Western blot analysis and ICAM-1 as analyzed by flow cytometry were compared to controls. Results: Following TNFα stimulation, PAI-1 was upregulated in both HPAECs and HIVECs, however the upregulation observed in HPAECs was approximately 9-fold the increase observed in HIVECs (relative expression: 3.23 ± 0.52 vs 1.26 ± 0.27, n = 3, p < 0.05). While TNFα had no effect on tPA expression in HIVECs, tPA expression in HPAECS was upregulated by 33% (n = 3, p < 0.05). Although TNFα stimulation increased the number of ICAM-1 positive to approximately 100% in both cell types, a 3-fold greater increase in the Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) was observed in HIVECs when compared to HPAECs (relative MFI: 69.28 ± 13.58 vs 21.92 ± 7.22, n = 3, p <0.05). Conclusions: HPAECs and HIVECs react differently in terms of fibrinolytic potential when challenged with a cytokine associated with systemic inflammation, such as in DVT and PE. These findings suggest that endothelial cells from distinct venous vascular beds may differentially regulate the fibrinolytic pathway, thus demonstrating unique properties of the deep veins and the pulmonary artery to respond to thromboembolism.
Behavioral Skills Training to Promote Social Behavior of Individuals with Autism

Behavioral skills training (BST) is a teaching method that consists of instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback, utilized by a trainer in a role-play or simulation (Himle & Miltenberger, 2004; Miltenberger, 2016). In the role-play, the trainer simulates the discriminative stimulus (SD) in the presence of which the target behavior should occur. When using BST to teach social behavior, the SD presented in the role-play is the opportunity for a social interaction with another person. The use of role-play is important so that the learner can practice engaging in the correct response(s) when the SD is present and receive feedback for correct and incorrect performance(s). BST is an ideal intervention for promoting social behavior because social contexts and social behavior of others can be simulated effectively in a role-play, and the learner can rehearse the social skills in the role-play context so the correct behavior can be reinforced and corrective feedback can be provided for incorrect behavior. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the implementation of BST and review several applications of BST for promoting social behavior with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Morphological Dependence of the Thermal and Photochemical Reactions of Acetaldehyde on Anatase TiO2 Nanocrystals

Size and shape selected anatase TiO2 (A-TiO2) nanocrystals that had either a truncated bipyramidal morphology exposing predominantly (101) facets, or a platelet morphology exposing a high fraction of (001) facets and ranging in size from 10 to 25 nm were used to study the influence of crystallite shape and size on the thermal and photocatalytic reactions of acetaldehyde on TiO2 using temperature-programmed desorption in ultra-high vacuum. The primary thermal reaction pathways on the bipyramidal and platelet nanocrystals were aldol condensation to produce crotonaldehyde and reductive coupling to butene. The platelet morphology, however, exhibited higher thermal activity, which was attributed to the higher fraction of exposed (001) facets. For both morphologies crystallite size was found to be important with smaller nanocrystals favoring butene and larger ones favoring crotonaldehyde. The dependence of the selectivity on crystallite size can be attributed to the populations of planar and edge sites exposed by the nanocrystals. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocrystals was also found to vary with size and shape with the platelets having higher activity for acetaldehyde photo-oxidation than the bipyramidal morphology. For both morphologies, photoactivity also increased as the size of the nanocrystals increased.
Contesting Sovereignty: Protective Homophobia and International Relations

International relations play a role in the contestation of sexuality in Africa. Against the assumption that protective homophobia is a domestic issue, Chap. 5 contends that it is an international relations issue. Using US President Barack Obama’s encounters with Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Macky Sall of Senegal, and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, I argue that Western sexual activism forces African politicians’ public opposition to homosexuality. I examine the nature of inter-continental understanding of sexual politics and the global and local political and religious implications of the same. I conclude that postcolonial and cultural predispositions feed neocolonial accusations as well as claims that homosexuality is un-African. But they also invite public disputes on homosexuality in domestic politics while exposing sexual minorities to political and religio-cultural scapegoating.
Modelling the influence of crop density and weather conditions on field drying characteristics of switchgrass and maize stover using random forest

Field drying trials were conducted using both field baskets as well as grab sampling techniques to study drying behaviour of switchgrass and maize (corn) stover (CS). Environmental conditions such as hourly solar radiation, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), average wind speed, rainfall amount, harvesting method, and field operations such as swath density were used as variables for model development. A powerful classification-based algorithm, which uses a collection of decision trees called random forest (RF) was utilised to predict moisture content (MC) of switchgrass and CS on wet basis. RF predicted the MC of switchgrass and CS with a coefficient of determination of 0.77 and 0.79, respectively. Rainfall, hours after harvest, average change in solar radiation in past 12 h, average solar radiation in past 12 h, and swath density were found to be the important variables affecting the MC of CS. Drying CS in low density (LD) and medium density (MD) swaths facilitated quick drying even in moderate drying conditions. Rainfall events ranging from 1.5 to 7.5 mm were experienced during the switchgrass drying period which delayed crop drying by one day to several days depending on the weather conditions after rainfall. Several rewetting events were also observed due to dew at night which increased the MC in LD switchgrass and CS by 5–15%. The models developed in the current study will help in decision-making of switchgrass and CS collection after harvest, based on forecast weather conditions in lower Midwestern states.
Allies, Accomplices, or Troublemakers: Black Families and Scholar Activists Working for Social Justice in a Race-Conscious Parent Engagement Program

Using the complementary theoretical lenses of critical liberatory (Freirean) pedagogy, critical race theory and blackcrit theory in education, this paper critically examines the experiences of researchers and Black parent activists engaged in grassroots activism directed at challenging the adultification of Black children and their subjugation to disproportionate and punitive disciplining. We look at the barriers Black parents and a multiracial team of researchers have faced when encountering an ideology of anti-blackness as they tried to push the school district away from the zero tolerance disciplinary practices which primarily targeted Black students in Rivertown.
Frecuencia de complicaciones en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 de un hospital de segundo nivel en Aguascalientes

Las enfermedades cronicas no transmisibles constituyen un problema de salud publica en todo el mundo, entre las cuales, la diabetes tiene una prevalencia del 7%. La hiperglicemia conduce a complicaciones a largo plazo que son causa de la principal mortalidad en nuestro pais. El apego al tratamiento y las modificaciones de estilos de vida son importantes para disminuir las complicaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer el control metabolico y la prevalencia de las principales complicaciones de pacientes diabeticos tipo 2 que son atendidos en un hospital de segundo nivel de atencion. Se revisaron y obtuvieron datos clinicos y de laboratorio de 1010 pacientes atendidos en el Hospital General de Zona #1 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (HGZ1-IMSS) durante el ano de 2016. Los resultados mostraron que 39.6% eran hombres, y el 60.3% mujeres. El promedio de evolucion con DM2 fue 24.62 anos. Se clasificaron en control optimo a 33.47% de los pacientes; en suboptimo a 25.35% y en mal control al 38.32%. Los hipoglucemiantes orales mas utilizados fueron metformina (63.16%) y glibenclamida (58.32%). El 15.44% recibia tratamiento con insulina. Independientemente del nivel de control el tratamiento mas usado fue metformina + glibenclamida. La complicacion mas frecuente fue la retinopatia con 37.42%, nefropatia 31.18% y el pie diabetico 25.14%. Conclusion: a pesar del tratamiento farmacologico de los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2, la mayoria de ellos tuvieron hiperglucemia. La falla en el control metabolico puede deberse el uso tardio de insulina y al fallo en cambios en estilo de vida.
Learning to balance efficiency and innovation for optimal adaptive expertise.

It is critical for health professionals to continue to learn and this must be supported by health professions education (HPE). Adaptive expert clinicians are not only expert in their work but have ...
Effect of a low-dose interventional x-ray system on radiation exposure in the higher body surface area patient population

AbstractLow-dose interventional x-ray systems have been shown to substantially reduce radiation dose in the pediatric and adult structural and interventional realm. We evaluated our single-center experience with Philips AlluraClarity software for all cardiovascular procedures; we also compared performance relative to patient body size. A total of 1155 patients were included. Data on dose area product (DAP) for radiation exposure, along with body surface area (BSA) and fluoroscopy time, were retrospectively collected for 467 patients before implementation of the Clarity system and for 688 patients after system implementation. DAP was then compared to BSA and fluoroscopy time. BSA was categorized into four quartiles to assess the relationship between radiation dose across small to large patient size populations. The mean BSA between two groups was similar (2.03 vs 2.02 m2, P = 0.48), with a 44.7% reduction in radiation dose with DAP indexed to BSA. A significant reduction in radiation dose was seen across a...
Ulysses S. Grant and the Lost Opportunity for Racial Justice (Reviewing Ron Chernow, Grant (2017))

Every law student, legal academic, and attorney would benefit from reading Ron Chernow's exhaustive biography of Ulysses S. Grant. At first glance, that recommendation sounds counterintuitive, because Grant was not a lawyer--much less one like Alexander Hamilton. Nor was Grant a distinguished intellectual like Woodrow Wilson, whose novel vision of the Constitution reshaped America in ways that reverberate to this day. Rather, Grant was a failed businessman, a ruthlessly effective but not especially brilliant general, and a mediocre President. Chernow attempts to rehabilitate Grant's military and political reputation. He does so primarily by highlighting Grant's one indispensable contribution to American law and government: spearheading the implementation of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the various constitutional amendments and statutes that sought to guarantee former slaves not merely their liberty but also their civil and political rights.
Collector's Guide to the Balmat Mining District by Steven C. Chamberlain, Marian V. Lupulescu, David G. Bailey, William F. deLorraine, and George W. Robinson. Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310. 2018; 128 pages; $34.99 plus shipping and handling (hardbound).

This new Robert Lauf–edited offering in the popular Schiffer Publishing's monograph series on mineralogy answers many collector-oriented questions concerning this historically important mining dist...
Three-Dimensional Assembly of The Human Forebrain In Vitro To Study Development and Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract I will describe work from my lab on developing methods for generating functional 3D forebrain cultures starting from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells. Specifically, I will show how to derive 3D spheroids resembling either the dorsal forebrain (hCS) and containing cortical glutamatergic neurons, or ventral forebrain (hSS) and containing GABAergic neurons. These subdomain-specific forebrain spheroids can be assembled in vitro to recapitulate the saltatory migration of interneurons similar to migration in fetal forebrain and to generate functional circuits of the human cerebral cortex. Lastly, I will demonstrate how this modular 3D platform can be used to model disease and to study the role voltage gated calcium channels and the consequences of mutations associated with autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Do People Consume the News they Trust

It is reasonable to expect trusted news organizations to have more engaged users. However, given the lowest levels of trust in media and the several intermediaries involved in digital news consumption, recent studies posit that trust and usage may not be related. We argue that while trust may not relate to overall news usage, given that much of it is incidental, but it could still explain intentional usage. We correlated passively metered usage from digital trace data on 35 national news outlets in the US with their trustworthiness from a nationally representative survey, for three discrete months. We find no association between trust and overall user engagement, but a positive relationship between trustworthiness and direct visits, the latter a measure of intentional usage. These relationships held for outlets despite their partisan leanings, multi-platform presence and their mainstream nature.
Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP)

Abstract The relative geological timescale is a hierarchical classification based on a chronostratigraphic scale that consists of units that range from eonothems to stages. More than 150 years of development of the chronostratigraphic scale included the naming of numerous stages, many of which overlap each other temporally and/or are only of very local applicability. During the 1960s the International Commission on Stratigraphy of the International Union of Geological Sciences set out to standardize a set of global stages. This began with the use of boundary stratotypes to define chronostratigraphic units, and, in the 1980s, these came to be called GSSPs (global stratotype sections and points). The GSSP is a point (stratigraphic level) in a specific location (stratigraphic section) that defines the base of a stage. The GSSP is correlated by a primary signal, usually a biostratigraphic datum, and by secondary signals—biostratigraphic, chemostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic, and radioisotopic, among others. The GSSP is not placed at an unconformity or at a lithologic change, so it is at a stratigraphic level of “continuous” sedimentation. GSSPs go through a formal process of proposal and ratification by the voting of earth scientists as specified by the procedures of the International Commission on Stratigraphy. The GSSP method is not above criticism but has done much to standardize chronostratigraphy. Approximately two-thirds of the Phanerozoic stage-base GSSPs (65 of 100 in 2018) have been ratified.
Abused Bodies in Roman Epic

Greco-Roman martial epic poetry, from Homer and Virgil to Neronian and Flavian epic, is obsessed with the treatment of dead bodies. Sometimes corpses take centre-stage in grand funerals; sometimes, disturbingly, they are objects of physical violence or malign neglect. In this book - the first full-length examination of corpse mistreatment in epic - Andrew M. McClellan explores the motif of post mortem abuse in Greco-Roman epic, especially the Latin poems of early imperial Rome: Lucan's Bellum ciuile, Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica, Statius' Thebaid, and Silius' Punica. He counters the pervasive tendency to view epic violence from the perspective of the abuser by shifting the focus to the object of abuse. In signalling the corpse as a critical 'character' and not simply a by-product of war, he offers a fundamental re-evaluation of violence and warfare in Latin epic, and through close study of intertextualities indicates the distinctive features of each author's treatment of the dead.
Isotope Engineering of GaN for Boosting Transistor Speeds

The main factor determining performance of the state-of-the-art high-frequency devices is saturation of velocity and current caused by enhanced scattering. In GaN electronic devices, the saturation velocity gets reduced when the carrier concentration is increased which makes difficult to achieve simultaneous high-power and high-frequency operation. In this chapter, we develop a theory of electron transport in the presence of strong electron-phonon scattering and show that this decrease of saturation velocity is caused by the presence of long-lived nonequilibrium population of hot longitudinal optical phonons and ensuing stimulated scattering of electrons by them. Based on our theory, we demonstrate how the hot phonon population can be quenched in the presence of strong isotope scattering of phonons with resultant decrease in stimulated electron-phonon scattering and subsequent increase of saturation velocity by tens of percent. Thus, isotope engineering can lead to significant improvement of GaN devices such as HEMT.