cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘You make me wanna holler and throw up both my hands!’: campus culture, Black misandric microaggressions, and racial battle fatigue

AbstractBlack males are scarce on White campuses. Still, they experience hypervisibility and are targets of hypersurveillance. This study used focus groups and semi-structured interviews to examine the experiences of 36 Black male students attending seven ‘elite’ historically White Research I institutions. Two themes emerged: (a) anti-Black male stereotyping and marginality and (b) hypersurveillance and control directed at Black men by Whites. Participants reported stereotyping and increased surveillance by police on and off campus. They also reported being defined as ‘out of place’ and ‘fitting the description’ of illegitimate members of the campus community. As a result, students reported psychological stress responses symptomatic of racial battle fatigue (e.g. frustration, shock, anger, disappointment, resentment, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness, and fear). The study finds the college environment was more hostile toward Black men than other groups, exemplifying Black racial misandry.
The idea of the sacred in twentieth-century thought: four views (Otto, Scheler, Nygren, Tymieniecka)

Most of the contemporary notions of the Sacred developed by positive philosophers of religion have their origins in the Enlightenment and the Romantic movement. Especially foundational for this development was the Kantian philosophy, with its concern about the sublime and the possibility of a purely rational religion — concerns which were to set the ground rules for philosophical discourse about the idea of the Sacred for centuries to come. Parts of Kant’s larger philosophical project — the notions of the a priori and the categorical constitution of reality, in particular — have left indelible marks on subsequent philosophical definitions of the Sacred. Indeed, if one wishes to understand why broadly phenomenological philosophies of religion have dealt with the Sacred in the way they have, then one must begin with the philosophy of Kant.
Measurement and Modeling of Nuclear Waste in the Double Shell Tanks at Hanford Nuclear Waste Site Using Miniature Sensors

Abstract Double Shell Tanks (DST's) at the Hanford Site in Washington store nuclear waste and require an understanding of tank integrity. Depending on the chemical composition and pH of the waste, ...
Photoplythesmographic Signal to Screen Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Acute Stroke Patients: Feasibility of a Prospective Clinical Pathway (P1.181)

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate a clinical screening protocol for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients admitted for acute stroke. Background: SDB is highly prevalent among patients with acute stroke but widely underdiagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a known risk factor for stroke. A prior study from our Institution showed the utility of photoplethysmography in screening for SDB in patients admitted with congestive heart failure. Based on this data, and we tailored the protocol for use in the inpatient stroke unit. Early recognition and intervention in such patients with positive airway pressure may result in secondary prevention of stroke. Methods: Inpatient acute stroke patients with high clinical suspicion of SDB, indicated by STOP questionnaire score ≥ 2 and/or ODI≥5, were offered outpatient polysomnography (PSG). PSG is considered positive if the apnea hypoxia index (AHI) is ≥ 5. Bland-Altman plot will be used to assess agreement between ODI and AHI. Receiver operator characteristics will be determined for ODI ≥ 5 and AHI ≥ 5. Results: In the previous study for CHF patients, outpatient PSG showed that 94[percnt] of patients with ODI ≥ 5 who followed up had SDB. Inpatient ODI correlated well with PSG-derived AHI. Based on preliminary data, we predict that the application of the revised screening protocol for acute stroke patients will give similar results once all follow-up data is collected and analyzed. Conclusions: Screening hospitalized patients admitted for acute stroke with a positive questionnaire and inpatient plythesmography may identify a cohort of patients with high prevalence SDB. Our screening strategy hypothesizes that inpatient ODI can be a potentially cost-effective method for early recognition of SDB in acute stroke patients. Disclosure: Dr. Lim-Hing has nothing to disclose. Dr. Byrne has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yaddanapudi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pineda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sharma has nothing to disclose.
Christian Education, White Supremacy, and Humility in Formational Agendas

AbstractChristian education served as a tool of White supremacy that played a central role in the devastation of millions of human lives throughout the colonial era of Western expansion. An adequate account of how Christian education paired with colonial imperatives helps to identify where the legacy of White supremacy and imperial domination lives on in contemporary practices of Christian faith formation and religious education. While any educational venture requires authority and is an act of power, humility is an essential partnering virtue for Christian educators who do not wish to replicate this history of domination.
Of ‘Psychological Music’, Ciphers and Daguerreotypes: Joseph Joachim’s Abendglocken Op. 5 No. 2 (1853)

If as a performer and Brahms’s close collaborator Joachim promoted the music of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, a process relatively unsympathetic to programme music of the Neudeutsche Schule, as a composer Joachim’s works do not display such an aesthetic stance. His own music, which he dubbed ‘psychological’, was intended to ‘detect and save’, that is faithfully to perceive and record his emotions. As part of this process, Joachim’s Abendglocken, the second of the Drei Stucke, Op. 5, for violin and piano (1853), betrays a striking use of ciphers, taking Robert Schumann’s musical word games to a heightened level and using notational signs such as double bars as framing devices that suggest an intriguing link to the daguerreotypes of early photography.‘Psychological music’ describes a compositional approach Joachim pursued in the 1850s, when positivism began clashing with the existing idealist philosophy, as demonstrated in the emergence of empirical psychology from philosophy and metaphysics. Enrolled in philosophy at Gottingen University in 1853, Joachim would have encountered psychology from a pre-empirical, phenomenological perspective, which may have initiated his ‘psychological music’. The dedicatee of Abendglocken and the constant subject of his thoughts – and arguably of his music – was Gisela von Arnim (1827–1889), daughter of Bettina von Arnim, with whom he was romantically involved and whose encrypted name – G♯–E–A – provides a valuable key to understanding Abendglocken in particular, and Joachim’s psychological music in general. This article considers the autobiographical, philosophical and cultural influences on Joachim to interpret ‘psychological music’ as it played out in Abendglocken.
Developing a user-friendly report for electronically assisted surveillance of catheter-associated urinary tract infection

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) surveillance is labor intensive, generally involving manual medical record review. We developed a prototype automated report through iterative design. Surveys and qualitative interviews were administered to key stakeholders to assess the report design. We found that different provider types expressed different needs regarding report content and format. Therefore, determining the primary audience for reporting data on CAUTI a priori is critical to developing useful reports, particularly as this process becomes standardized and automated.
CuO and ZnO Nanoparticles Modify Interkingdom Cell Signaling Processes Relevant to Crop Production.

As the world population increases, strategies for sustainable agriculture are needed to fulfill the global need for plants for food and other commercial products. Nanoparticle formulations are likely to be part of the developing strategies. CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) offer potential as fertilizers, as they provide bioavailable essential metals, and as pesticides, because of dose-dependent toxicity. Effects of these metal oxide NPs on rhizosphere functions are the focus of this review. These NPs at doses of ≥10 mg metal/kg change the production of key metabolites involved in plant protection in a root-associated microbe, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6. Altered synthesis occurs in the microbe for phenazines, which function in plant resistance to pathogens, the pyoverdine-like siderophore that enhances Fe bioavailability in the rhizosphere and indole-3-acetic acid affecting plant growth. In wheat seedlings, reprogramming of root morphology involves increases in root hair proliferation (CuO NPs) and lateral...
Corporate Culture and Organisation

The topic of cultural adjustment as well as the creation of a start-up mentality characterised by agility and entrepreneurship as an essential prerequisite for a successful transformation driven by digitisation are the subjects of this chapter. To this end, new methods for innovation and project management, such as Scrum and Design Thinking for instance, are presented and organisational proposals are discussed from the viewpoint of digitisation. The IT application area should be separated and migrated to the specialist departments in order to take into account the importance of IT as a strategic core element of the automotive industry and to gain momentum for digital change. The role of the Corporate Digital Officer is discussed as well as contemporary aspects of Human Resource work with new ways of hiring and career development, and finally an appropriate change management for a successful digital transformation.
The relationship between distress tolerance regulation, counterfactual rumination, and PTSD symptom clusters.

Abstract Background Distress tolerance (DT) and rumination both influence the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies have investigated these constructs simultaneously. We investigated whether the regulation dimension of DT was associated with PTSD symptom clusters (intrusions, avoidance, negative alternations in cognitions and mood, alterations in arousal and reactivity), and whether counterfactual rumination (CFT) mediated these relationships. Methods This cross-sectional study sampled trauma-exposed adults (N = 119) seeking mental health services at a community mental health center. Participants completed self-report measures of DT, rumination, and PTSD. Mediation analyses were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS Macro. Results Lower scores on the DT regulation dimension were associated with higher PTSD symptom severity for all four symptom clusters, controlling for depression and number of traumas. CFT significantly mediated this relationship between DT's regulation and PTSD's intrusions and avoidance symptoms. Limitations Limitations included use of self-report data and the cross-sectional nature of this data. Conclusions Clinically, this study highlights that difficulties with regulating negative emotions can result in the use of maladaptive cognitive strategies, such as CFT. This, in turn, may exacerbate PTSD symptom severity, particularly intrusions and avoidance. This study highlights the importance of understanding specific dimensions of DT, rumination, and PTSD symptom clusters to develop precise and efficient psychological interventions.
Urology mythbusters: Radiation and radiophobia

In this episode of Mythbusters we critically examine the premise that there is strong biological and epidemiologic evidence that radiation exposure at levels associated with modern genitourinary diagnostic imaging increases the risk of subsequent malignancy, especially in children.
Polyamory, Offense, and Obergefell

In his dissent in Obergefell v. Hodges, Justice Thomas suggested that comparisons between same-sex marriage and interracial marriage bans are “offensive and inaccurate.” The language of offense is striking, particularly given Justice Thomas’s otherwise respectful tone in other cases involving the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. It also provides an interesting juxtaposition to the Chief Justice’s dissent, which compares same-sex marriage to plural marriage. This essay explores this rhetoric of offense and suggests that these various comparisons are the result of traditional legal argumentation. Thus, the LGBTQ community should not take offense at comparisons to plural marriage.
Fuzzy Analysis in Pitch-Class Determination for Polyphonic Audio Key Finding.

This paper presents a fuzzy analysis technique for pitch class determination that improves the accuracy of key finding from audio information. Errors in audio key finding, typically incorrect assignments of closely related keys, commonly result from imprecise pitch class determination and biases introduced by the quality of the sound. Our technique is motivated by hypotheses on the sources of audio key finding errors, and uses fuzzy analysis to reduce the errors caused by noisy detection of lower pitches, and to refine the biased raw frequency data, in order to extract more correct pitch classes. We compare the proposed system to two others, an earlier one employing only peak detection from FFT results, and another providing direct key finding from MIDI. All three used the same key finding algorithm (Chew’s Spiral Array CEG algorithm) and the same 410 classical music pieces (ranging from Baroque to Contemporary). Considering only the first 15 seconds of music in each piece, the proposed fuzzy analysis technique outperforms the peak detection method by 12.18% on average, matches the performance of direct key finding from MIDI 41.73% of the time, and achieves an overall maximum correct rate of 75.25% (compared to 80.34% for MIDI key finding).
A Short Synthesis of Strychnine from Pyridine

The synthesis of complex natural products serves as a source of great inspiration and challenge for organic chemists. The synthesis of strychnine is no exception. With six contiguous stereocenters, five of which adorn the central cyclohexane ring, a stereodefined trisubstituted olefin, and seven rings, strychnine (1, Fig. 4.1) presents a significant challenge for synthesis.
MARKETING IN WESTERN VERSUS EASTERN CULTURE – COMPARING AND CONTRASTING BETWEEN THE U.S. AND JAPAN

In this paper we consider differences in marketing in Western vs. Eastern cultures and use the United States and Japan as the primary, but not exclusive, focus of our discussion. We first consider the general issue of companies trading internationally, and home in on the U.S. and Japan. We consider corporate cultures and examine a deeper look at the U.S. vs. Japan along a set of six dimensions, and we distinguish between internal and external aspects. We use case studies of three companies to illustrate our points, and end with a noting of our conclusions and managerial implications and some advice for companies seeking to enter the Japanese market.
Chronotropic incompetence in paediatric heart transplant recipients with prior congenital heart disease

Background:Cardiopulmonary exercise testing has been used to measure functional capacity in children who have undergone a heart transplant. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing results have not been compared between children transplanted for a primary diagnosis of CHD and those with a primary diagnosis of cardiomyopathy despite differences in outcomes. This study is aimed to compare cardiopulmonary exercise testing performance between these two groups.Methods:Patients who underwent heart transplant with subsequent cardiopulmonary exercise testing at least 6 months after transplant at our institution were identified. They were then divided into two groups based on primary cardiac diagnosis: CHD or cardiomyopathy. Patient characteristics, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterisations, outcomes, and cardiopulmonary exercise test results were compared between the two groups.Results:From the total of 35 patients, 15 (43%) had CHD and 20 (57%) had cardiomyopathy. Age at transplant, kidney disease, lung disease, previous rejection, coronary vasculopathy, catheterisation, and echocardiographic data were similar between the groups. Mean time from transplant to cardiopulmonary exercise testing, exercise duration, and maximum oxygen consumption were similar in both groups. There was a difference in heart rate response with CHD heart rate response of 63 beats per minute compared to cardiomyopathy group of 78 (p = 0.028). Patients with CHD had more chronotropic incompetence than those with cardiomyopathy (p = 0.036).Conclusion:Primary diagnosis of CHD is associated with abnormal heart rate response and more chronotropic incompetence compared to those transplanted for cardiomyopathy.
Racial differences in skeletal fragility but not osteoarthritis among women and men with cerebral palsy.

Abstract Background Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have increased risk for skeletal fragility and osteoarthritis. However, racial differences in these outcomes have not been examined. Such knowledge could improve patient-specific clinical care for the prevention and management of these conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were racial differences in the prevalence of osteoporosis, all-cause fracture, and osteoarthritis among young and middle-aged adults with CP. Methods Data from 2016 were extracted from a random 20% sample of the Medicare fee-for-service database. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify 18–64 year olds with CP, as well as osteoporosis, all-cause fracture, osteoarthritis, and neurodevelopmental and noncommunicable disease comorbidities. Results Of the 16,488 adults with CP, 13,334 were White, 2477 were Black, and 677 were Hispanic. The age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis (women: 12.9%, 9.0%, 8.3%, respectively; men: 9.2%, 4.8%, 7.9%, respectively) and fracture (women: 7.4%, 4.2%, 9.9%; men: 6.0%, 2.3%, 6.0%) was lower for Black adults with CP compared to White adults with CP (all p Conclusions Study findings suggest racial differences in skeletal fragility among young and middle-aged adults with CP, with White women and men with CP having greater risk compared to Black women and men with CP. This study found no evidence of racial differences in the prevalence of osteoarthritis.
Relationship between retinal inner nuclear layer, age, and disease activity in progressive MS

Objective To investigate whether inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness as assessed with optical coherence tomography differs between patients with progressive MS (P-MS) according to age and disease activity. Methods In this retrospective longitudinal analysis, differences in terms of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), INL and T1/T2 lesion volumes (T1LV/T2LV) were assessed between 84 patients with P-MS and 36 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) and between patients stratified according to age (cut-off: 51 years) and evidence of clinical/MRI activity in the previous 12 months Results pRNFL and GCIPL thickness were significantly lower in patients with P-MS than in HCs (p = 0.003 and p Conclusions INL thickness was higher in younger patients with P-MS with recent MRI activity, a criterion used in previous studies to identify a specific subset of patients with P-MS who best responded to disease-modifying treatment. If this finding is confirmed, we suggest that INL thickness might be a useful tool in stratification of patients with P-MS for current and experimental treatment choice.
Reconstituting Breast Tissue with Organotypic Three-dimensional Co-culture of Epithelial and Stromal Cells in Discontinuous Extracellular Matrices

Co-culture systems utilizing reconstituted or synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) and micropatterning techniques have enabled the reconstruction of surface epithelial tissues. This technique has been utilized in the regeneration, disease modeling and drug screening of the surface epithelia, such as the skin and esophagus. On the other hand, the reconstruction of glandular epithelia would require more intricate ECM organizations. Here we describe a protocol for a novel three-dimensional organotypic co-culture system for the reconstruction of mammary glands that utilizes the discontinuous ECM. In this technique, primary mammary fibroblasts first establish a layer of the connective tissue rich in collagen I. Then, mammary epithelial cells form acinar structures, the functional glandular units, within the laminin-rich basement membrane embedded in the connective tissue. This method allows for the regeneration of the in vivo-like architecture of mammary glands and could be utilized for monitoring the real-time response of mammary glands to drug treatment.
Association between the sleep environment and sleep problems in low-income Latinx youth

This study examined the association between the sleep environment and sleep disturbances in 44 low-income Latinx youth. Participants reported an average of 2.10 past-week ambient sleep disruptions....
morphologic and Ultrastructural Changes

The vascular endothelium plays an important and complex role in vascular allograft rejection. Antigens expressed by the endothelium can act to promote and be the target of rejection reactions, which often lead to thrombosis and ischemic necrosis of the allograft. In this study, segments of femoral artery and femoral vein with or without endothelium were grafted between allogenic or autologous control rats. Immunocompetent Lewis (RT1(1] recipient rats were randomly selected for groups (N = 14 for each) receiving the following: ACI- (RT1a) allografts with intact endothelium, allografts with endothelium removed before operation, autografts with endothelium, and autografts with endothelium removed. Rejection was assessed by graft patency as well as morphologic and ultrastructural changes. At 5 days, the allografts with intact endothelium were totally occluded, whereas allografts without endothelium remained patent, as did autologous control grafts with or without endothelium. Two additional groups (N = 14 each) receiving the de-endothelialized allografts or autografts were examined at 120 days after operation, revealing that grafts in both groups were still patent and had been re-endothelialized. These findings indicate that physical removal of vascular endothelium may depress vessel allograft rejection without immunosuppressive therapy.
Determining the Safety and Effectiveness of Electrocautery Enhanced Scissors for Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (with Video).

Background/aims Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has recently come to the forefront in the management of achalasia. We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of the use of electrocautery enhanced scissors (EES) for POEM. Methods This retrospective cohort study prospectively collected the data of all adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with normal foregut anatomy who underwent POEM using EES. The patients' baseline characteristics and procedure details (time, tunnel length, myotomy length, depth, and location) were recorded. The primary outcome was clinical success (3-month post-procedure Eckardt score of ≤3). The secondary outcomes were technical success and adverse events. A paired Student's t-test was performed. Results Fifteen patients were included in this study. The technical success rate of myotomy using EES was 100%. Fellows participated in the myotomy in all cases. The clinical success rate was 93.3% (14/15). The mean pre-Eckardt score was 5.4±2.5, while the mean post-Eckardt score was 1.3±1.3, which indicated a significant improvement (p≤0.0001). The most common treatment-related adverse events were post-procedure pain (4, 26.7%) and symptomatic reflux disease (4, 26.7%). Conclusion In the largest series to date on the use of EES in POEM, we demonstrated that this technique has both technical and clinical efficacy as well as an excellent safety profile.
Looking for a Hero: Masters of the Dew, La Source, and the Quest for Water in Haiti

This article focuses in part on Patrick Shen’s 2012 documentary La Source, which recounts the return of Josue Lajeunesse from the United States to Haiti, his country of origin. His mission is to he...
Prevention of surgical site infections in pediatric spines: a single-center experience.

To describe the potential issues in the methodology of surgical site infection (SSI) prevention and how it was investigated and corrected in a single institution. A pediatric orthopedic unit experienced an increase of SSI, concerning up to 10% of scoliosis surgery cases from 2011 to 2013. An institutional procedure of multimodal and interdisciplinary risk evaluation was initiated, including a review of the literature, a morbi-mortality meeting, internal and external audits concerning the hygiene conditions in the operating room, the antibiotic prophylaxis, patients, and sterile material pathways. Several preventive actions were implemented, including the improvement of air treatment in the operating room, wound irrigation with 2L of saline before closure, application of topic vancomycine in the wound, verification of doses and timing of antibiotics injection, and use of waterproof bandages. We compared the rates of spine SSI before (retrospective group, 2011–2013) and after the implementation of various preventive measures (prospective group, 2014–2018). SSI occurred in 12 patients (6 idiopathic and 6 neuromuscular) out of 120 operated on (93 idiopathic, 18 neuromuscular, 9 others) in the retrospective group and 2 (both neuromuscular) out of 196 (150 idiopathic, 33 neuromuscular,13 others) in the prospective group (10% vs 1%, odds ratio=9.7, p=0.001). The groups were comparable for age, etiology, duration of surgery, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, number of levels fused, and blood loss (p>0.2). The systematic analysis of SSI allowed for the understanding of the failures and correcting them. The current process is effectively preventing SSI. Level of evidence: 3: prospective series with case-control analysis
Myocarditis as a Manifestation of a T Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder in a Patient Undergoing Left Ventricular Assistance Device Implantation

Introduction Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) core pathology may provide definitive cardiomyopathy etiology and guide management. We present a case of progressive cardiomyopathy concerning for myocarditis in a patient with cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) undergoing LVAD implantation. Case Report A 63-year-old man presented with mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). He had an extensive history of Gulf War Syndrome, heavy metal exposure, chronic kidney disease, hypercalcemia and cutaneous T cell lymphoma, managed with ultraviolet light therapy and methotrexate. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging demonstrated anteroseptal and inferolateral wall delayed gadolinium enhancement (DGE). Coronary angiography showed no coronary artery disease. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed reduced lateral and inferior wall perfusion but no myocardial FDG uptake or evidence of systemic CTCL. Endomyocardial biopsy demonstrated mild hypertrophy and marked interstitial fibrosis, however no evidence of sarcoidosis or myocarditis. Over the next 2 years, his cardiomyopathy progressed (LVEF 15-20%, LVDd 7.2cm). Upon readmission for VT and heart failure (HF), repeat FDG-PET showed myocardial FDG uptake - perfusion mismatch pattern prompting oral prednisone initiation. Durable LVAD was implanted 5 days later given clinical progression. LVAD core pathology showed myocardial T cell infiltration with a clonal T cell gene rearrangement (Figure 1). Peripheral blood and PET markers remained otherwise negative for CTCL. After LVAD, his HF and VT stabilized, and he is undergoing treatment plan for systemic T cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Summary We present a case of myocardial T cell lymphoproliferative disorder presenting as progressive cardiomyopathy and highlight the role of LVAD core pathology in diagnosis.
Role-Based Administration of Role-Based Smart Home IoT

Using role-based access control (RBAC) to manage RBAC is among RBAC's attractive benefits, contributing to its long-standing dominance in practice. Administrative models facilitate management of (mostly configuration) changes in the underlying operational models. Overall system security is crucially dependent on both the administrative and operational models. In this paper, we develop an RBAC administrative model to manage authorization assignments in the EGRBAC (enhanced generalized role-based access control) operational model for smart home IoT. We design the administrative model based on pairwise disjoint Administrative Units, each of which contains a uniquely assigned administrative role and a set of administrative tasks. Administrative tasks determine the administrative permissions available to manage the operational model assignments. We begin with a model containing a single administrative unit and then extend it to include additional units. Multiple administrative units enable decentralized administration which could be adapted to provide scalability in inherently distributed and large-scale environments beyond smart home, such as smart buildings or smart campuses. We provide formalism of our proposed model and illustrate it by specifying operational and administrative use cases. Although, the model is proposed based on a specific smart home operational model, our approach could be applied to environments with similar dynamics.
Units" of Measure."

I see you. And it DAWNS on me, six feet over lies a woman who rises as if gravity were a choice The Sun Also Rises trammeled by hard luck, by dissent by us.
Selective Inhibition of STAT6 With Antisense Nucleotides Enhances Systemic Antitumor Effect of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Anti-PD1 in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose/Objective(s) Despite advances in radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy, their antitumor activity remains suboptimal in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The tumor microenvironment after hypofractionated RT (hRT) is largely immunosuppressive and replete with M2 tumor-associated macrophages. STAT6 is a highly activated transcription factor that contributes to M2 macrophage polarization but has been difficult to target therapeutically. We selectively targeted STAT6 with antisense nucleotides (ASOs), hypothesizing that using ASOs to inhibit STAT6 in combination with hRT and anti-PD1 would inhibit M2 polarization and improve systemic antitumor effects in NSCLC. Materials/Methods We tested three bilaterally established lung cancer murine models: Lewis lung carcinoma in B6.Foxp3EGFP mice, and 344SQ-parental or 344SQ anti-PD1-resistant adenocarcinomas in 129Sv/Ev mice. The primary tumor was treated with hRT (3 fractions of 12 Gy each) and secondary tumors were observed for evidence of abscopal effects. STAT6 knockdown was determined by Western blotting and qRT-PCR. Tumor-infiltrating leukocytes were characterized by immunohistochemical tissue microarray-based immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and 770 gene-Immune NanoString analyses. Also, serum TGF-β was measured by ELISA. Results The combination of hRT and STAT6 ASOs reduced the volumes of both primary and secondary tumors and extended survival (vs. either treatment alone). The addition of anti-PD1 enhanced the systemic antitumor effect (vs. STAT6 ASOs + hRT or hRT+anti-PD1) and led to decreased STAT6, increased M1 genes (IL1R, iNOS, CD80, CD86), and lowered M2 genes (Arg-1, Fizz-1, CD163, CCR2) in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes by qRT-PCR. Treatment with hRT+STAT6 ASOs ± anti-PD1 also enhanced tumor infiltration by macrophages and Th1 cells, improved T-cell and macrophage function, and slowed cancer progression. Flow cytometry and tissue microarray confirmed the hRT (vs. control) led to higher STAT6 and lower M1/M2 ratio, but hRT+ STAT6 ASOs ± anti-PD1 led to decreased STAT6, reduced Tregs, increased M1/M2 ratio, and lowered TGF-β levels. Depletion of macrophages by anti-F4/80 abrogated the observed antitumor effect. Conclusion The combination of STAT6 ASOs and hRT reduces immunosuppressive M2 macrophage infiltration into tumors and enhances the systemic antitumor effect of hRT; this radio-immunotherapy combination may provide an alternative therapeutic approach for NSCLC patients with PD1-resistance.
Building Partnerships and Trust: Research With Vulnerable Immigrant Communities

Stress and distress among immigrant communities in the United States have escalated under the recent sociopolitical climate (e.g., exclusionary federal policies, COVID-19), underscoring the urgent need for additional data to better understand immigrant experiences. Yet, the very stressors that generate this need for data also create fear and trust-related barriers that might impede research success. Barriers, including a lack of trust, power differentials, language differences, and varying cultural norms, negatively impact the collection of valid data. Recommendations to address these barriers are provided, and integration of such strategies is an essential step toward growing the knowledge base of the profession, delivery of evidence-based interventions with immigrant clients, and better-informed discussions of culturally responsive approaches in social work education and practice. © The Author(s) 2021.
Grounded Internal Body Models for Communication: Integration of Sensory and Motor Spaces for Mediating Conceptualization

An internal model of the own body is a central and early representation, which is first used for motor control and then for planning ahead using internal simulation. The body model is also important for the conceptualization of actions for language, not only when performed by oneself but also when used in a cooperative scenario. This chapter focusses on how this internal model can be recruited in order to mediate between different sensory domains, as it is necessary to connect, e.g., the proprioceptive space when performing an action with a visual space, when seeing an action, in order to constitute a comprehensive conceptualization. The article introduces the biologically inspired neural network approach which can subserve these different functions in different contexts.
Analysis of the Redox Regulation of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Superfamily Members Utilizing a Cysteinyl-Labeling Assay

The catalytic activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily members is regulated by the reversible oxidation of their invariant catalytic Cys residue in vivo. Transient and specific regulation of PTP activity by reactive oxygen species (ROS) attenuates dephosphorylation and, thereby, promotes phosphorylation, hence facilitating signal transduction. We have recently developed a modified cysteinyl-labeling assay [Boivin, B., Zhang, S., Arbiser, J. L., Zhang, Z. Y., and Tonks, N. K. (2008). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA105, 9959-9964.] that showed broad selectivity in detecting reversible oxidation of members from different PTP subclasses in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB overexpressing cells. Herein, we applied this assay, which utilizes the unique chemistry of the invariant catalytic Cys residue to enrich and identify PTPs that are reversibly oxidized upon acute growth factor stimulation. Performing the cysteinyl-labeling assay with Rat-1 fibroblasts enabled us to capture both PTEN and SHP-2 as a consequence to acute PDGF-BB stimulation. Given the ability of this assay to detect reversible oxidation of a broad array of members of the PTP family, we anticipate that it should permit profiling of the entire ROS-regulated PTPome in a wide array of signaling paradigms.
THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON AGGLOMERATION: THE CASE OF U.S. MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT FROM 1988 TO 2003

This paper explores the impact of globalization on the micro-determinants of agglomeration, namely labor pooling (LP), goods pooling (GP), and idea pooling (IP). According to our estimates, LP now has a negative effect on employment agglomeration in U.S. manufacturing.
Lupus-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Variable Course and Importance of Prompt Recognition

We describe a critically ill young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting with circulatory shock, multiorgan dysfunction, and elevated right-sided heart pressures. She was found to have recurrent acute severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the setting of an SLE flare. Our report highlights the variable course that SLE-associated PAH can take in the same patient and the implications of this for instituting the most effective treatment approach with each episode. This report also highlights the potential for SLE-associated PAH to present with life-threatening symptoms requiring critical care level interventions. We also describe evidence-based therapies, which can result in significant improvement in symptoms, function, and long-term outcomes.
Corn and Soybean Production with a Winter Rye Cover Crop

The objective of this project wasto study corn nitrogen (N) fertilization requirement and corn/soybean yield response when grown in a rye cover cropping system. Multiple rates of N fertilizer were applied, with measurement of corn yield response to applied N and soybean yield with and without a fall-planted winter rye cover crop. The study was conducted at multiple research farms, with the intent for comparison of with and without a cover crop system across varying soil and climatic conditionsin Iowa.
Quickly erupted volcanic sections of the Steens Basalt, Columbia River Basalt Group: Secular variation, tectonic rotation, and the Steens Mountain reversal

[1] The Steens Basalt, now considered part of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), contains the earliest eruptions of this magmatic episode. Lava flows of the Steens Basalt cover about 50,000 km2 of the Oregon Plateau in sections up to 1000 m thick. The large number of continuously exposed, quickly erupted lava flows (some sections contain over 200 flows) allows for small loops in the magnetic field direction paths to be detected. For volcanic rocks, this detail and fidelity are rarely found outside of the Holocene and yield estimates of eruption durations at our four sections of ∼2.5 ka for 260 m at Pueblo Mountains, 0.5 to 1.5 ka for 190 m at Summit Springs, 1–3 ka for 170 m at North Mickey, and ∼3 ka for 160 m at Guano Rim. That only one reversal of the geomagnetic field occurred during the eruption of the Steens Basalt (the Steens reversal at approximately 16.6 Ma) is supported by comparing 40Ar/39Ar ages and magnetic polarities to the geomagnetic polarity timescale. At Summit Springs two 40Ar/39Ar ages from normal polarity flows (16.72 ± ± 0.29 Ma (16.61) and 16.92 ± ± 0.52 Ma (16.82); ± ± equals 2σ error) place their eruptions after the Steens reversal, while at Pueblo Mountains an 40Ar/39Ar age of 16.72 ± ± 0.21 Ma (16.61) from a reverse polarity flow places its eruption before the Steens reversal. Paleomagnetic field directions yielded 50 nontransitional directional-group poles which, combined with 26 from Steens Mountain, provide a paleomagnetic pole for the Oregon Plateau of 85.7°N, 318.4°E, K = 15.1, A95 = 4.3. Comparison of this new pole with a reference pole derived from CRBG flows from eastern Washington and a synthetic reference pole for North America derived from global data implies relative clockwise rotation of the Oregon Plateau of 7.4 ± 5.0° or 14.5 ± 5.4°, respectively, probably due to northward decreasing extension of the basin and range.
Electric load optimization of a nonlinear mono-stable duffing harvester excited by white noise

This paper investigates the electric load optimization of a nonlinear mono-stable Duffing energy harvester under white noise excitations considering symmetric and asymmetric nonlinear restoring forces. Statistical linearization is utilized to obtain approximate analytical expressions for the statistical averages including the average output power, which is then optimized with respect to the electric load. It is shown that the optimal load is dependent on the nonlinearity unless the ratio between the period of the mechanical system and the time constant of the harvesting circuit is large. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that, under optimal electric loading, a mono-stable Duffing harvester with a symmetric nonlinear restoring force can never produce higher average power levels than an equivalent linear harvester regardless of the magnitude of the nonlinearity. On the other hand, asymmetries in the restoring force are shown to provide performance improvements over an equivalent linear harvester.
Evolution in a tropical archipelago: comparative phylogeography of Philippine fauna and flora reveals complex patterns of colonization and diversification

An unusual geological setting and a high level of endemism makes the Philippine islands of great interest to biogeography. These islands lie adjacent to the continental (Sunda) shelf, yet the majority of the islands have never been directly attached to the mainland. Existing hypotheses of colonization and diversification processes have been tested across multiple taxa, but only in ahistorical contexts. We present explicit phylogenetic predictions based on these hypotheses, and then test them using new molecular datasets for four Philippine birds. Two proposed colonization routes to the northern Philippines (from mainland Asia and Palawan) are difficult to differentiate from each other, except on the basis of outgroup, as are the two routes from the south (Sulu archipelago and Sulawesi). We find unique colonization and diversification patterns for each taxon. These results contrast with expectations from Pleistocene geography, with Luzon and Mindoro indistinguishable genetically, and Negros and Panay are often nonsister taxa. Combining these data with a literature search for studies addressing these patterns, Philippine organisms shows some evidence for each proposed colonization route but the greatest support is for the two routes from Borneo. Many taxa exhibit multiple colonization events using several of these routes, contrasting with past assumptions of single colonization events. Island-by-island differentiation within the Philippines follows, with patterns reflecting colonization patterns rather than Pleistocene geography, particularly for highland species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95, 620–639.
Endosomal regulation of contact inhibition through the AMOT:YAP pathway

Contact-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation is an essential part of organ growth control; the transcription coactivator Yes-associated protein (YAP) plays a pivotal role in this process. In addition to phosphorylation-dependent regulation of YAP, the integral membrane protein angiomotin (AMOT) and AMOT family members control YAP through direct binding. Here we report that regulation of YAP activity occurs at the endosomal membrane through a dynamic interaction of AMOT with an endosomal integral membrane protein, endotubin (EDTB). EDTB interacts with both AMOT and occludin and preferentially associates with occludin in confluent cells but with AMOT family members in subconfluent cells. EDTB competes with YAP for binding to AMOT proteins in subconfluent cells. Overexpression of the cytoplasmic domain or full-length EDTB induces translocation of YAP to the nucleus, an overgrowth phenotype, and growth in soft agar. This increase in proliferation is dependent upon YAP activity and is complemented by overexpression of p130-AMOT. Furthermore, overexpression of EDTB inhibits the AMOT:YAP interaction. EDTB and AMOT have a greater association in subconfluent cells compared with confluent cells, and this association is regulated at the endosomal membrane. These data provide a link between the trafficking of tight junction proteins through endosomes and contact-inhibition-regulated cell growth.
Two Types of Input Modification and EFL Reading Comprehension: Simplification Versus Elaboration

This study investigates the relative effects of two types of input modification—simplification and elaboration—on Korean high school students' EFL reading comprehension. Six English reading passages in one of three forms—(a) baseline, (b) simplified, or (c) elaborated—were presented to 180 students, who were divided into two proficiency levels (i.e., high proficiency and low proficiency). Comprehension was assessed by an 18-item multiple-choice test, which included items for assessing (a) general, (b) specific, and (c) inferential comprehension. In addition, students' perceptions of their comprehension were measured by their responses on a 6-point unipolar scale. The test data were analyzed by a 2-by-3 analysis of variance, with least significant difference tests used in post hoc analyses. The results support the suggestion that input should be modified in the direction of elaboration rather than by artificial simplification, because elaboration retains more nativelike qualities than and is at least equally successful as—if not more successful than—simplification in improving comprehension. Instruction with elaborated input should accelerate the progression to fluent reading of unmodified materials, which is the ultimate goal of foreign language reading instruction.
Purification and visualization of native spliceosomes

Mammalian spliceosomes were purified in preparative amounts by gel filtration chromatography and shown to be functional by in vitro complementation experiments. The column fractions containing spliceosomes are enriched in the snRNAs U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 and a subset of proteins present in the nuclear extract. Splicing intermediates, the entire set of snRNAs, and the enriched proteins can be immunoprecipitated with three different monoclonal antibodies that recognize snRNP determinants. At least one U1 snRNP is present in each spliceosome since the particles are quantitatively immunoprecipitated by an anti-U1 snRNP monoclonal antibody. Examination of the spliceosome fractions by EM revealed a relatively homogeneous population of 40-60 nm particles with a striking morphology. Evidence that these particles are spliceosomes is their sensitivity to micrococcal nuclease, their ATP-dependent assembly, and their immunoprecipitation with a trimethyl cap monoclonal antibody. In addition, pre-mRNA was visualized in the particles by EM.
Increased muscle efficiency and sustained benefits in an outpatient community hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Previous reports of pulmonary rehabilitation programs have demonstrated improvement in exercise capacity in subjects with disabling pulmonary disease. However, the cost-effectiveness, benefits to outpatients in a community setting, durability of these improvements, and mechanism of improved exercise capacity remain unclear. Forty-four patients with an average FEV1 of 33 ± 4 percent of predicted completed a six-week long period of supervised treadmill exercise, as well as a continuing home program. Twenty percent had previously unsuspected cardiac disease discovered through the program, while 36 percent had previously unsuspected exercise desaturation. Cardiopulmonary stress testing before and after the program revealed a 73 ± 16 percent improvement in aerobic capacity (METs peak [power]) and a 250 ± 78 percent improvement in endurance (MET-min [work]). No significant change was seen in E max, HR max, FEV1, or the degree of exercise desaturation. Only a small improvement was noted in O2 max (15 ± 8 percent) and O2 pulse (16 ± 8 percent), suggesting that most of the improvement was due to improved muscle efficiency. Follow-up testing at 12 ± 3 months in 24 subjects revealed that 89 ± 7 percent of the peak exercise performance was maintained. The cost of the basic program was $800. The results demonstrated that an outpatient community hospital pulmonary rehabilitation program can accomplish substantial exercise capacity improvement with sustained benefits in a cost-effective manner. (Chest 1988; 94:1161-68)