cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative computed tomographic imaging–based clustering differentiates asthmatic subgroups with distinctive clinical phenotypes

Background Imaging variables, including airway diameter, wall thickness, and air trapping, have been found to be important metrics when differentiating patients with severe asthma from those with nonsevere asthma and healthy subjects. Objective The objective of this study was to identify imaging-based clusters and to explore the association of the clusters with existing clinical metrics. Methods We performed an imaging-based cluster analysis using quantitative computed tomography–based structural and functional variables extracted from the respective inspiration and expiration scans of 248 asthmatic patients. The imaging-based metrics included a broader set of multiscale variables, such as inspiratory airway dimension, expiratory air trapping, and registration-based lung deformation (inspiration vs expiration). Asthma subgroups derived from a clustering method were associated with subject demographics, questionnaire results, medication history, and biomarker variables. Results Cluster 1 was composed of younger patients with early-onset nonsevere asthma and reversible airflow obstruction and normal airway structure. Cluster 2 was composed of patients with a mix of patients with nonsevere and severe asthma with marginal inflammation who exhibited airway luminal narrowing without wall thickening. Clusters 3 and 4 were dominated by patients with severe asthma. Cluster 3 patients were obese female patients with reversible airflow obstruction who exhibited airway wall thickening without airway narrowing. Cluster 4 patients were late-onset older male subjects with persistent airflow obstruction who exhibited significant air trapping and reduced regional deformation. Cluster 3 and 4 patients also showed decreased lymphocyte and increased neutrophil counts, respectively. Conclusions Four image-based clusters were identified and shown to be correlated with clinical characteristics. Such clustering serves to differentiate asthma subgroups that can be used as a basis for the development of new therapies.
Working Together is Success: Examining Cross-Functional Team Performance in the Global Apparel Supply Chain

Cross-functional teams have been utilized in many companies as a way to organize employees from different specialties to create new products or processes with lower development costs, faster speed to market, greater innovation, and better product design and quality (Sarin & Mahajan, 2001). Drawing from organizational and psychology literature, the study attempted to assess an apparel cross-functional team's performance based on employees' emotional intelligence (EI), job satisfaction, and career success. An online survey method was utilized to collect 135 usable responses in January 2015. The sample included global apparel supply chain members that were recruited by snowball sampling technique. Regression-based conditional process analysis with bootstrapped confidence intervals was used for analysis and EI and job satisfaction positively affect cross-functional team success, as well as, job satisfaction mediating the relationship between EI and team success. Implications for the industry are organizations need to develop work environments that support emotionally intelligent employees.
Are Prophylactic Antibiotic Agents Indicated in Anorectal Surgery for Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract Background: With increased survival among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), surgeons have been seeing more cases of anal dysplasia and cancer. There is, however, no data on the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in HIV-positive patients undergoing elective anorectal procedures, nor on the administration of prophylactic antibiotic agents. We reviewed a HIV-positive population that has undergone elective anorectal biopsy of areas of dysplasia observed on office anoscopy to assess the need for antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all HIV-positive patients seen as outpatients in the Colorectal Surgery Division from 2007–2016. Demographics, dates of surgery and follow-up, antibiotic prophylaxis, and pre-operative CD4 count and HIV viral load were recorded for 229 patients. Post-operative examination notes were reviewed to determine the presence of SSIs. The proportion of patients who received prophylaxis was assessed and ...
Targeting RAGE Signaling in Inflammatory Disease

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a multiligand pattern recognition receptor implicated in diverse chronic inflammatory states. RAGE binds and mediates the cellular response to a range of damage-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) including AGEs, HMGB1, S100s, and DNA. RAGE can also act as an innate immune sensor of microbial pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules (PAMPs) including bacterial endotoxin, respiratory viruses, and microbial DNA. RAGE is expressed at low levels under normal physiology, but it is highly upregulated under chronic inflammation because of the accumulation of various RAGE ligands. Blocking RAGE signaling in cell and animal models has revealed that targeting RAGE impairs inflammation and progression of diabetic vascular complications, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer progression and metastasis. The clinical relevance of RAGE in inflammatory disease is being demonstrated in emerging clinical trials of novel small-molecule RAGE inhibitors.
A Quantum Computing Performance Simulator Based on Circuit Failure Probability and Fault Path Counting

Quantum computing performance simulators are needed to provide practical metrics for the effectiveness of executing theoretical quantum information processing protocols on physical hardware. In this work, we present a tool to simulate the execution of fault-tolerant quantum computation by automating the tracking of common fault paths for error propagation through an encoded circuit block and quantifying the failure probability of each encoded qubit throughout the circuit. Our simulator runs a fault path counter on encoded circuit blocks to determine the probability that two or more errors remain on the encoded qubits after each block is executed, and it combines errors from all the encoded blocks to estimate performance metrics such as the logical qubit failure probability, the overall circuit failure probability, the number of qubits used, and the time required to run the overall circuit. Our technique efficiently estimates the upper bound of the error probability and provides a useful measure of the error threshold at low error probabilities where conventional Monte Carlo methods are ineffective. We describe a way of simplifying the fault-tolerant measurement process in the Steane code to reduce the number of error correction steps necessary. We present simulation results comparing the execution of quantum adders, which constitute a major part of Shor’s algorithm.
Biological factors and psychometric intelligence: A review.

Results from a synthesis of correlations between psychometric intelligence and two physical traits, head size and body size, are reported. Within-family studies are reviewed for evidence of pleiotropy, the effect of a single genetic factor on two traits. Studies are also reviewed to determine whether prenatal effects bias twin studies, leading to underestimates of genetic influence. An N-weighted mean partial correlation (controlling height) of .10 between intelligence and head size was found. Using a method developed by Van Valen (1974), the correlation of intelligence and brain size was estimated as .29 based on all the intelligence/head-size studies of adults and adolescents, and .44 based on studies measuring intelligence with IQ tests. The N-weighted mean partial correlations (controlling age) of intelligence and height were .18 for children and .22 for adults. The within-family studies indicated that pleiotropy may contribute to the correlation of intelligence with head size and to the correlation of intelligence with body size. Prenatal effects are not an important source of bias in twin studies or for heritability estimates based on them.
The Genetic Architecture of Idiopathic Scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is the most common pediatric spinal deformity, affecting 2–3 % of school age children worldwide. This disease is typically classified by age at onset, with the great majority occurring around the time of the adolescent growth spurt, so-called AIS. AIS can progress rapidly, threatening pain, deformity, and pulmonary dysfunction. Heritability of AIS is high, with genetic factors likely explaining over 80 % of disease risk. Population studies have consistently found that AIS is best explained by a polygenic inheritance model, in which many genetic risk factors combine to cause the disease. Population studies have associated AIS with candidate genes, including the LBX1 homeobox transcription factor, and the G protein-coupled receptor GPR126. AIS candidate genes thus far identified function in muscle and nerve specification in early development, suggesting neuromuscular disease origins, but their role in later human development and growth of the axial spine is an unexplored area of developmental biology. Animal models that can address these issues will become a valuable resource for the AIS research community. Likewise continued gene discovery efforts, aided by next-generation genomic platforms, are a priority for the field and will provide the tools for biological investigations of AIS pathogenesis.
A mixed-methods exploration of cognitive dispositions to respond and clinical reasoning errors with multiple choice questions.

Cognitive dispositions to respond (i.e., cognitive biases and heuristics) are well-established clinical reasoning phenomena. While thought by many to be error-prone, some scholars contest that these cognitive dispositions to respond are pragmatic solutions for reasoning through clinical complexity that are associated with errors largely due to hindsight bias and flawed experimental design. The purpose of this study was to prospectively identify cognitive dispositions to respond occurring during clinical reasoning to determine whether they are actually associated with increased odds of an incorrect answer (i.e., error). Using the cognitive disposition to respond framework, this mixed-methods study applied a constant comparative qualitative thematic analysis to transcripts of think alouds performed during completion of clinical-vignette multiple-choice questions. The number and type of cognitive dispositions to respond associated with both correct and incorrect answers were identified. Participants included medical students, residents, and attending physicians recruited using maximum variation strategies. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations binary logistic model for repeated, within-subjects measures. Among 14 participants, there were 3 cognitive disposition to respond categories – Cognitive Bias, Flaws in Conceptual Understanding, and Other Vulnerabilities – with 13 themes identified from the think aloud transcripts. The odds of error increased to a statistically significant degree with a greater per-item number of distinct Cognitive Bias themes (OR = 1.729, 95% CI [1.226, 2.437], p = 0.002) and Other Vulnerabilities themes (OR = 2.014, 95% CI [1.280, 2.941], p < 0.001), but not with Flaws in Conceptual Understanding themes (OR = 1.617, 95% CI [0.961, 2.720], p = 0.070). This study supports the theoretical understanding of cognitive dispositions to respond as phenomena associated with errors in a new prospective manner. With further research, these findings may inform teaching, learning, and assessment of clinical reasoning toward a reduction in patient harm due to clinical reasoning errors.
Comparing short-term outcomes of surgery and voice therapy for patients with vocal fold polyps.

Objectives/hypothesis Optimal treatment for patients with vocal fold polyps (VFPs) remains controversial. We compared the short-term outcomes of treatment with voice therapy alone (VT), surgery alone (SUR)m or voice therapy and surgery (VTS). Study design Retrospective case series. Methods A retrospective study was performed for patients diagnosed with VFP (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 478.4 and Tenth Revision code J38.1) between January 2010 and April 2016. Inclusion criteria were age greater than 18 years and charted evidence of treatment with voice therapy, surgery, or both. Exclusion criteria were history of laryngeal cancer or radiation above the clavicles. Outcomes measured included chart records of lesion absence, persistence or recurrence, and differences between pretreatment and post-treatment Voice Handicap Index-10 and GRBAS (G/grade, R/roughness, B/breathiness, A/asthenia, S/strain) scores. Results One hundred twenty patients with VFPs were identified (SUR = 23, 19.2%, VT = 29, 24.2%, VTS = 68, 56.7%). Mean follow-up was 5.5 months. There were no recurrences in 115 patients (95.8%). There was significant improvement from pre- to post-treatment VHI-10 scores in the SUR (mean improvement = 12.5, standard deviation [SD] = 12.7) and VTS (mean improvement = 12.3, SD = 10.3) groups compared to the VT (mean improvement = 2.84, SD = 11.9) group (P = .009). Pre- and post-treatment GRBAS scores did not significantly change in any group. Conclusions When using patient-reported outcomes measures, patients with VFPs receive the greatest short-term gains from treatment paradigms involving surgery or a combination of surgery and voice therapy. Voice therapy alone did not result in significant short-term changes. Perceptual voice characteristics did not change significantly for any group. Further research on long-term treatment outcomes for patients with VFPs is needed. Level of evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 129:1067-1070, 2019.
Asexual reproduction can account for the high diversity and prevalence of rare taxa observed in microbial communities

ABSTRACT Recent studies evaluating the community structures of microorganisms and macroorganisms have found greater diversity and rarity within micro-scale communities, compared to macro-scale communities. However, reproductive method has been a confounding factor in these comparisons; the microbes considered generally reproduce asexually, while the macroorganisms considered generally reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction imposes the constraint of mate finding, which can have significant demographic consequences by depressing birth rates at low population sizes. First, I construct an island biogeography model to study the organization of ecological communities under neutral stochastic processes. Then, I examine theoretically how the effects of mate finding in sexual populations translate to the emergent community properties of diversity, rarity, and dominance (size of the largest population). In mate-limited sexual populations, the decreased growth rates at low population densities translate to a higher extinction rate; this increased extinction rate had a disproportionately strong effect on taxa with low population densities. Thus, mate limitation decreased diversity, primarily by excluding small populations from communities. However, the most abundant taxa were minimally affected by mate limitation. Therefore, mate limitation affected the diversity and rarity of taxa in communities but did not alter the dominance of the largest population. The observed shifts in community structure mirror recent empirical studies of micro-scale versus macro-scale communities, which have shown that microbial communities have greater diversity and rarity than macrobial communities but are not different in dominance. Thus, reproductive method may contribute to observed differences in emergent properties between communities at these two scales. IMPORTANCE There have been numerous recent efforts to integrate microbes into broad-scale ecological theories. Microbial communities are often structurally distinct from macrobial communities, but it is unclear whether these differences are real or whether they are due to the different methodologies used to study communities at these two scales. One major difference between macroorganisms and microorganisms is that microbes are much more likely to reproduce asexually. Sexually reproducing taxa have diminished growth rates at low population size, because they must encounter another member of their species before reproducing. This study shows that communities of asexually reproducing taxa are expected to be more diverse, because taxa persist longer. Furthermore, asexually reproducing taxa can exist at much lower densities than sexually reproducing taxa. Thus, asexual reproduction by microbes can account for two major differences between microbial and macrobial communities, namely, greater diversity and greater prevalence of rare taxa for microbes.
Tootling in an After-School Setting: Decreasing Antisocial Interactions in At-Risk Students.

This study was designed to extend the research on tootling interventions, which involves reinforcing students’ reporting of their peers’ incidental prosocial behaviors. Specifically, a withdrawal d...
Viva la evolution: Using dual-strategies theory to explain leadership in modern organizations

Abstract Research from multiple fields suggests that throughout human history, leaders ascended the hierarchy through one of two strategies—dominance (using force or coercion to gain control) or prestige (demonstrating competence and generosity so others follow of their own volition). The dual-strategies theory of social rank suggests that these two strategies are still inherent in human psychology, and that consideration of dominance and prestige can help explain hierarchy and leadership in modern social groups. Thus far, research on dual-strategies theory has developed without significant cross-fertilization from the literature on leadership within organizational settings. In this review, I provide the first examination of dual-strategies theory within the context of broader leadership research, highlighting a) the unique contributions of dual-strategies theory, b) current workforce trends that make dual-strategies theory particularly applicable to modern organizations, and c) key limitations of dual-strategies theory that could be addressed by integrating leadership theory.
Non-destructive parameter extraction for a reduced order lumped electrochemical-thermal model for simulating Li-ion full-cells

Abstract Rapid voltage and temperature estimations with a Reduced Order Lumped Electrochemical-Thermal Model (TLM) was developed by applying a State Space Approach to transform partial differential equations (PDEs) into ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The TLM is attractive for Battery Management Systems (BMS) because of model restrictions that result in only four parameters: exchange current (i0S), diffusion time constant (τ), internal resistance (RIR), and the entropic heat coefficient (dUdT−1). The State Space approach is shown to be an effective method for reducing the computational time for the model by greater than 50% (~2s to less than 1s). This study also shows that the required model parameters (i0S, τ, RIR, dUdT−1) can be nondestructively extracted from real cells using the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT). This allows us to create cell-level temperature and state of charge (SOC) parameter surfaces that would be nearly impossible to develop experimentally. By confirming the extracted parameters with the model predicted parameters, future BMS models can further reduce computational time (approach millisecond predictions) by experimentally constraining the model. This means that the methodology reported in this paper can be ubiquitously implemented for other battery chemistries (e.g. cathodes, anodes), formats (e.g. 18650, pouch, prismatic), and properties (e.g. capacity ratios).
Childhood variation in skeletal and dental development

The existing research comparing variation in developmental timing of skeletal and dental systems has focused on cross-sectional correlations of group means throughout late childhood. We used a longitudinal sample of 100 White American girls to compare developmental variation from 3-12 years to improve our understanding of developmental variation. The sample was divided into two sets (dental and skeletal) of three subgroups (delayed, average, or advanced) based on development at age three. Repeated measure ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD analyses examined the longitudinal maturation of: 1) skeletal development of skeletal subgroups, 2) dental development of skeletal subgroups, 3) dental development of dental subgroups, and 4) skeletal development of dental subgroups. The four models demonstrated significant differences between subgroup developmental trajectories. Pairwise comparisons of same-system development (analyses 1 and 3) found all comparisons to be significant; this was not the case for pairwise comparisons across systems (analyses 2 and 4). Only the advanced group was consistently different across all combinations. Results suggest that the pace of development differs among delayed, average, and advanced individuals, and between dental and skeletal systems. Therefore, to fully explore the relationship between the systems, the full range of variation in the timing of development is required.
Nickel-Catalyzed Three-Component Cycloadditions of Enoates, Alkynes, and Aldehydes.

A method for the three-component cycloaddition of enoates, alkynes, and aldehydes has been developed. Building upon previous work by this group in which stoichiometrically generated metallacycles u...
What is theology

INTRODUCTION: THE QUEST(IONS) OF HUMAN EXISTENCE If one mentions the word “theology” to the average person on the street, one may well be met by a puzzled expression followed by a series of questions: What exactly is theology and what does it have to do with real life? Isn't it something studied only by professionals who have an obscure interest in ancient texts? Don't theologians make unnecessary complexity out of what could and should be simple? Is theology really relevant in our contemporary world? These perplexed responses are understandable. But theology need not be arcane, enigmatic, or irrelevant. While there is no denying that scholars who undertake its study tend to reject simplistic answers, often use technical terminology, and engage more than two millennia of historical development, the practice of theology is actually not confined to a small class of scholars. Indeed, we would suggest that anyone who seriously inquires about the basic questions of life is a theologian of sorts. That is to say, human beings are theologically inclined insofar as they wonder about things such as: Where did the world come from? What is the purpose of human existence? Is there any final justice in life? What is the something “other” or “more” that seems to manifest itself in human existence, whether in peak or in depth experiences? What does the “something” – or “someone” – want with us? In short, what is the meaning of life? These are the kinds of questions that theologians think about.
Preventing COVID-19 Transmission on Labor and Delivery: A Decision Analysis.

Objective The health care system has been struggling to find the optimal way to protect patients and staff from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our objective was to evaluate the impact of two strategies on transmission of COVID-19 to health care workers (HCW) on labor and delivery (L&D). Study Design We developed a decision analytic model comparing universal COVID-19 screening and universal PPE on L&D. Probabilities and costs were derived from the literature. We used individual models to evaluate different scenarios including spontaneous labor, induced labor, and planned cesarean delivery (CD). The primary outcome was the cost to prevent COVID-19 infection in one HCW. A cost-effectiveness threshold was set at $25,000 to prevent a single infection in an HCW. Results In the base case using a COVID-19 prevalence of 0.36% (the rate in the United States at the time), universal screening is the preferred strategy because while universal PPE is more effective at preventing COVID-19 transmission, it is also more costly, costing $4,175,229 and $3,413,251 to prevent one infection in the setting of spontaneous and induced labor, respectively. For planned CD, universal PPE is cost saving. The model is sensitive to variations in the prevalence of COVID-19 and the cost of PPE. Universal PPE becomes cost-effective at a COVID-19 prevalence of 34.3 and 29.5% and at a PPE cost of $512.62 and $463.20 for spontaneous and induced labor, respectively. At a higher cost-effectiveness threshold, the prevalence of COVID-19 can be lower for universal PPE to become cost-effective. Conclusion Universal COVID-19 screening is generally the preferred option. However, in locations with high COVID-19 prevalence or where the local societal cost of one HCW being unavailable is the highest such as in rural areas, universal PPE may be cost-effective and preferred. This model may help to provide guidance regarding allocation of resources on L&D during these current and future pandemics. Key Points
Safety and Tolerance of Enteral Nutrition in the Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patient Receiving Vasopressors.

BACKGROUND Multiple societal guidelines recommend enteral nutrition (EN) be initiated within 24 to 48 hours of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) once a patient is hemodynamically stable. Gastrointestinal intolerance and occurrence of bowel ischemia have been a concern for patients receiving vasopressors while concurrently receiving luminal nutrients. The study objective was to determine whether patients receiving vasopressors while concomitantly receiving enteral nutrients had more incidences of bowel ischemia and intolerance than those receiving EN without vasopressor agents. METHODS This retrospective study included 319 medical and surgical ICU patients from a level 1 trauma center. The patients were either receiving vasopressors simultaneously with EN (n = 178) or EN alone (n = 141). Data regarding gastric residual volume (GRV), new abdominal pain, emesis, and bowel ischemia were collected. RESULTS There were more patients who had elevated GRV in the group that received vasopressors than patients who did not (20% vs 7%; P-value < .01). There were no differences between rates of bowel ischemia, emesis, or new abdominal pain between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Based on our findings, EN is generally well tolerated and safe for those patients simultaneously receiving vasopressors.
The Diagnosis of a Regime

Holy Science: The Biopolitics of Hindu Nationalism, written by Banu Subramaniam, is a creative take on India’s political evolution from its independence movement to modern politics, told through th...
Accurate Estimation of Total Intracranial Volume in MRI using a Multi-tasked Image-to-Image Translation Network.

Total intracranial volume (TIV) is the volume enclosed inside the cranium, inclusive of the meninges and the brain. TIV is extensively used to correct variations in inter-subject head size for the evaluation of neurodegen- erative diseases. In this work, we present an automatic method to generate a TIV mask from MR images while synthesizing a CT image to be used in subsequent analysis. In addition, we propose an alternative way to obtain ground truth TIV masks using a semi-manual approach, which results in significant time savings. We train a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) using 2D MR slices to realize our tasks. The quantitative evaluation showed that the model was able to synthesize CT and generate TIV masks that closely approximate the reference images. This study also provides a comparison of the described method against skull stripping tools that output a mask enclosing the cranial volume, using MRI scan. In particular, highlighting the deficiencies in using such tools to approximate the volume using MRI scan.
Probability of hyperthermia in a hot environment while wearing a liquid cooling garment underneath firefighters' protective clothing.

Firefighters’ protective clothing (FPC) can limit human thermoregulation due to limited water vapor permeability and insulation. This study investigated the effect of cooling on the physiological r...
American Military Justice: Retaining the Commander's Authority to Enforce Discipline and Justice

The authors address pending legislation which would amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice by removing a commander's powers to prefer and refer court-martial charges for serious offenses. The paper offers detailed arguments for rejecting those proposals.
IL-15 and IL-15Rα: Something old, something new, and something blue

Abstract NK cell-based immunotherapies have gained traction in the clinic for the treatment of cancer due to the ability of NK cells to directly lyse tumor cells. NK cells are being exploited in clinical trials using autologous and allogeneic NK cell infusion strategies alone or with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These strategies have rapidly evolved to exploit the therapeutic effects of NK cells transduced with chimeric antigen receptors and the utilization of IL-15 to induce NK cell persistence and expansion that seems to dominate current clinical trials. IL-15 is a member of the common receptor gamma chain (γc) family, which also includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-21. This group of cytokines has a broad pleiotropic activity on both the innate and adaptive immune systems, with important therapeutic ramifications. The protein form of IL-15 contains two N-linked glycosylation sites at the C-terminus of the IL-15 protein, at N79 and N112, and disulfide bonds at positions C42-C88 and C35-C85, the former being homologous to the C C within IL-2. The IL-15 heterotrimeric receptor complex consists of a private IL-15 specific alpha subunit IL-15Rα (CD215), the IL-2/IL-15 receptor β (CD122), and the common γc receptor subunit (CD132) which are shared by the IL-2 receptor. The ability of IL-15 to stimulate NK cell responses, and its well-documented antitumor activity in preclinical models, support the development of clinical studies of IL-15 in cancer. IL-15 showed acceptable toxicity profiles in mouse and primate models and, thus, is increasingly recognized as a promising cytokine for the treatment of hematological and solid malignancies. IL-15 is currently being tested clinically in a number of formulations to enhance immunotherapy for several indications. Clinical studies of IL-15 or IL-15 superagonists, consisting of IL-15 linked to IL-15Rα portions, have been initiated; studies combining IL-15 with adoptive transfer of NK cells are ongoing in cancer patients. This review traces how our understanding of the complex regulation of IL-15 has evolved in time and how accumulated knowledge from the bench was translated in the clinic.
Auricular pseudocysts: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND Auricular pseudocysts are benign fluid accumulations of the ear of uncertain etiology. Little is known about the optimal modality to successfully treat these lesions. No systematic review addressing auricular pseudocysts have been published to date. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to summarize all the published data regarding diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of auricular pseudocysts. METHODS On May 28, 2020, a systematic search of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted. All the studies describing treatment of auricular pseudocysts, procedure description, outcome, and follow-up period were included in this review. RESULTS After full-text article review, 74 articles were included, representing a total of 1,011 lesions. The commonly used treatments for auricular pseudocysts were deroofing (493 lesions), aspiration (284 lesions), incision and drainage (171 lesions), intralesional steroids (53 lesions), and observation (10 lesions). The highest cure rate was found with the deroofing procedure (97.2%) followed by incision and drainage (95.9%). The mean follow-up period was 6.7 months. CONCLUSION Surgical procedures (anterior deroofing or incision and drainage) showed the highest cure rates and should be considered as first-line treatment for auricular pseudocysts. Future adequately designed randomized controlled trials are warranted to compare the efficacy of the techniques described.
A Tri-Layered Hydrogel Scaffold for Vocal Fold Tissue Engineering

The lamina propria within the vocal fold (VF) is a complex multi-layered tissue that increases in stiffness from the superficial to deep layer, where this characteristic is crucial for VF sound production. Tissue engineered scaffolds designed for VF repair must mimic the biophysical nature of the native vocal fold and promote cell viability, cell spreading, and vibration with air flow. In this study, we present a unique tri-layered, partially-degradable hydrogel scaffold that mimics the multi-layered structure of the VF lamina propria. Using thiol-norbornene photochemistry, tri-layered hydrogel scaffolds were fabricated via layer-by-layer stacking with increasing polymer concentration from the top to middle to deep layer. Mechanical analysis confirmed hydrogel modulus increased with increasing polymer concentration. Partially-degradable hydrogels promoted high cell viability and cell spreading in 3D as assessed via live/dead and cytoskeleton staining, respectively. Importantly, partially-degradable hydrogels maintained some degree of the 3D polymer network following protease exposure, while still enabling encapsulated cells to remodel their local environment via protease secretion. Finally, the tri-layered hydrogel scaffold successfully vibrated and produced sound in proof-of-concept air flow studies. This work represents a critical first step towards the design of a multi-layered, hydrogel scaffold for vocal fold tissue engineering.
The World is Out of Joint : World-Historical Interpretations of Continuing Polarizations

01 - Introduction by Immanuel Wallerstein 02 - Ecology and the Geography of Capitalism by Ana Esther Cecena 03 - Economic Inequality, Stratification, and Mobility by Roberto Patricio Korzeniewicz and Timothy Patrick Moran 04 - Cities by Peter J. Taylor, Michael Hoyler, and Dennis Smith 05 - Peasantries by Eric Vanhaute, Hanne Cottyn, and Yang Wang 06 - Large Enterprises and Corporate Power by Jorge Fonseca 07 - Intellectual Property by Ravi Sundaram 08 - The States by Atilio A. Borom and Paloma Nottebohm 09 - Citizenship by Oleksandr Fisun and Volodymyr Golovko 10 - Patriarchal Systems and Women's Spaces by Linda Christiansen-Ruffman 11 - Deviance by Ari Sitas, Sumangala Damodaran, Weibke Keim & Nicos Trimikliniotis 12 - Conclusion by Immanuel Wallerstein
High Resolution Wigner Distribution for Sonar Signals

In this paper we propose new algorithms for high resolution estimation of the Wigner distribution, based on classical AR and MUSIC spectral estimators. We illustrate with examples that these tech[Aniques do provide high resolution estimates of closely spaced chirps better than WD estimates based on DFT techniques. We also identify potential problems with the use of Wigner distributiopn in general, namely cross term artifacts and large computational complexity of the estimation algorithms.
Increased sporulation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by manipulation of nutrient regimens.

Adjustment of pot culture nutrient solutions increased root colonization and sporulation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. Paspalum notatum Flugge and VAM fungi were grown in a sandy soil low in N and available P. Hoagland nutrient solution without P enhanced sporulation in soil and root colonization of Acaulospora longula, Scutellospora heterogama, Gigaspora margarita, and a wide range of other VAM fungi over levels produced by a tap water control or nutrient solutions containing P. However, Glomus intraradices produced significantly more spores in plant roots in the tap water control treatment. The effect of the nutrient solutions was not due solely to N nutrition, because the addition of NH4NO3 decreased both colonization and sporulation by G. margarita relative to levels produced by Hoagland solution without P.
Evaluating the evidence for models of life course socioeconomic factors and cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review

A relatively consistent body of research supports an inverse graded relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). More recently, researchers have proposed various life course SES hypotheses, which posit that the combination, accumulation, and/or interactions of different environments and experiences throughout life can affect adult risk of CVD. Different life course designs have been utilized to examine the impact of SES throughout the life course. This systematic review describes the four most common life course hypotheses, categorizes the studies that have examined the associations between life course SES and CVD according to their life course design, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the different designs, and summarizes the studies' findings. This research reviewed 49 observational studies in the biomedical literature that included socioeconomic measures at a time other than adulthood as independent variables, and assessed subclinical CHD, incident CVD morbidity and/or mortality, and/or the prevalence of traditional CVD risk factors as their outcomes. Studies were categorized into four groups based upon life course design and analytic approach. The study authors' conclusions and statistical tests were considered in summarizing study results. Study results suggest that low SES throughout the life course modestly impacts CVD risk factors and CVD risk. Specifically, studies reviewed provided moderate support for the role of low early-life SES and elevated levels of CVD risk factors and CVD morbidity and mortality, little support for a unique influence of social mobility on CVD, and consistent support for the detrimental impact of the accumulation of negative SES experiences/conditions across the life course on CVD risk. While the basic life course SES study designs have various methodologic and conceptual limitations, they provide an important approach from which to examine the influence of social factors on CVD development. Some limitations may be addressed through the analysis of study cohorts followed from childhood, the evaluation of CVD risk factors in early and middle adulthood, and the use of multiple SES measures and multiple life course analysis approaches in each life course study.
Using semiclassical models for electron broadening and line shift calculations of Δn=0 and Δn≠0 dipole transitions

Abstract Semiclassical electron broadening and shift models have significantly differing behaviors for Δ n = 0 and Δ n ≠ 0 transitions. Δ n = 0 transitions generally are not susceptible to large, diagnostically observable shifts due to significant mixing and quenching between upper and lower states. Large shifts typically occur for Δ n ≠ 0 transitions where the lower states are much more tightly bound than the upper states therefore resulting in negligible mixing and quenching effects.
A phase II study of high-dose continuous infusion interleukin-2 with lymphokine-activated killer cells in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Thirty-three patients with metastatic melanoma were treated in a phase II study with an intravenous continuous infusion (IVCI) of interleukin-2 (IL2) given with lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. The dose of IL2 was the optimal priming dose for LAK-cell induction, followed by the maximally tolerated LAK-cell dose that could be given by an IVCI schedule as determined by a previous phase I trial. The CI schedule was chosen for evaluation because of a postulated reduction in toxicity with the possibility of administering a more prolonged IL2 infusion and because greater rebound lymphocytosis and LAK-cell generation had been reported using this dose and schedule. The 33 patients were similar in age, performance status, and sites of disease to those treated in previous IL2 trials. All patients were assessable for response and toxicity. One patient (3%) achieved a partial response of 10 months duration. There were no other clinically significant responses. Significant toxicity included hypotension requiri...
Consistency and asymptotic normality of maximum likelyhood estimators

Abstract Let the random variable X denote the time taken in completion of a process. For a fixed a, if the observed value of X is less than a, the X is observable, but if X is greater than a, the process is tampered with and is accelerated or decelerated at time a by some unknown factor α, and Y=a+α(X-a) is observed. If the experimenter has only partial control over the experiment, it may be difficult to get several observations on Y corresponding to the same a value. Thus we have a set of independent but not identically distributed observations. The large sample behavior of m.l.e. of the unknown parameters based on tampered random variables Y b1 , ..., Y bn is studied. If X follows an exponential distribution with mean (1/--), ... the consistency and asymptotic normality of the m.l.e. of α and -- is established under mild conditions on a b1, a b2, ... The conditions needed for establishing the consistency of m.l.e. of lX are given when X follows a uniform distribution U(O, --) or when X has any known dis...
The distribution of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in the tissues of the rabbit

Abstract Nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase activity has been detected in a number of tissues of the rabbit. These tissues include brain, pancreas, kidney, thymus, spleen, lung, heart muscle, skeletal muscle, bone marrow, and liver. Brain and liver have been found to contain the highest concentrations of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase activity of the tissues tested. This enzyme has been purified some 680-fold from rabbit liver. The substrate specificity, pH optimum, electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels, and apparent molecular weight have been studied and compared to the enzyme which was originally purified and characterized from rabbit red cells (1). A mechanism has been suggested for the biological role of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase.
Patterns of male–male association in mantled howlers (Alouatta palliata) at La Pacifica, Costa Rica: effects of dominance rank and age

Cooperative relationships among male primates are emerging as an important aspect of primate social behavior. What remains unclear is the extent to which male associations with coresident males vary within species, and what social and demographic factors drive these associations. This information provides an important contribution to our understanding of how cooperative relationships play an adaptive role in the evolution of male social and reproductive strategies. To examine the nature of male associations and the influence of social and demographic factors, including rank and age, we collected 1751 h of focal behavioral data on adult males in two large multimale–multifemale groups of mantled howlers (Alouatta palliata) at La Pacifica, Costa Rica. Both groups inhabited upland forest area, were of similar size and sex ratio, and exhibited strongly linear male hierarchies. Based on observed spatial associations within 3 m proximity, dyadic patterns varied from strongly preferred to strongly avoided associations that were largely consistent among dyads over the study period. In contrast to reports from other mantled howler study sites, neither rank nor age differences among males predicted whether dyads spent any time in proximity to one another, nor the amount of time in proximity. However, higher-ranked males within dyads were more likely to maintain close proximity than their lower-ranked counterparts. Our results provide important data on the nature of male associations within mantled howler groups with linear dominance relationships, and are suggestive of the adaptive value of cooperative relationships.
Solar source of the interplanetary sector structure

The interplanetary sector structure observed by the IMP-1 satellite during three solar rotations in 1963–4 is compared with the photospheric magnetic field structure observed with the solar magnetograph at Mt. Wilson Observatory. The interplanetary sector structure was most prominent on the sun in latitudes between 10 °N and 20 °N, although the average heliographic latitude of the satellite was 3 1/2 °S. A superposed-epoch analysis of the calcium plage structure obtained from the Fraunhofer Institute daily maps of the sun is used to discuss the relation between the structure of the plages and the interplanetary sector structure. A possible explanation for the observations is discussed in terms of a North-South asymmetry in the flow of the solar wind. It is suggested that these observations favor the “equinoctial” hypothesis as compared with the “axial” hypothesis for the explanation of the semi-annual maxima in geomagnetic activity.
The Problem of Becoming Conscious of a Salaried New Middle Class

In my previous response to Amos Perlmutter, I was compelled to use seven pages of this valuable journal to reaffirm what I had already written on the new middle class in The Politics of Social Change in the Middle East and North Africa (Princeton, 1963).1 Perlmutter had distorted my ideas beyond recognition in his 'Egypt and the New Middle Class'.2 In his rejoinder, published above, he neither acknowledges nor challenges any of these seven pages of correction. The second part of my previous response contained the preliminary statement of a new theory which expanded and reinforced these earlier conclusions on the new middle class. This new theoretical framework has since been articulated at somewhat greater lengths in 'A Redefinition of the Revolutionary Situation', Journal of International Affairs (Vol. XXIII, No. 1, 1969, 54-75) and will be published next year as The Dialectics of Modernization (Princeton). Perlmutter dismisses this part of the analysis as 'so mystical that I refuse to deal with [it] here'. So cavalier a critic ought at least to be armed with the capacity to read. But he fails at this basic skill a second time.
A Model-Based Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis Methodology for Free-Form Surface Machining Process

In this paper, a process model-based approach has been proposed for monitoring and fault diagnosis in the multi-axis ball end milling process. Besides its ability to deal with complex cutting geometry in free-form surface machining, the method has the capability of not only detecting the presence but also estimating the magnitudes of faults, which include flute chipping, breakage and spindle/cutter axes runout. A threshold-based fault detection method is developed based on the analysis of harmonic power distribution in the cutting force signal. A genetic algorithm approach is used to search and determine the fault pattern and magnitudes. The new approach is validated through both constant cross-section cut and free-form surface machining tests on 1018 steel.
Cultural and intercultural communication competence: Current approaches and directions for future research

Abstract Several critical issues in cultural and intercultural communication inquiry were overviewed including the need for clarity in conceptualizations of culture and intercultural communication, representational and statistical validity of constructs, consistency in ontological and epistemological assumptions, clarity in culture general or culture specific goals in the research endeavor, and appropriate discussion of implications and applications. Four selected approaches to the study of cultural and intercultural competence were discussed in light of these issues: ethnography of speaking approaches, behavioral skills approaches, crosscultural attitude approaches, and, finally, an approach thematizing cultural identity and competence.