cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mammalian kinetochore independently regulates its passive and active force-generating interfaces with microtubules

The kinetochore links chromosomes to dynamic spindle microtubules and drives both chromosome congression and segregation. To do so, the kinetochore must hold on to depolymerizing and polymerizing microtubules. At metaphase, one sister kinetochore couples to depolymerizing microtubules, pulling its sister along polymerizing microtubules [1,2]. Distinct kinetochore-microtubule interfaces mediate these behaviors: active interfaces transduce microtubule depolymerization into mechanical work, and passive interfaces generate friction as the kinetochore slides along microtubules [3,4]. We do not know the physical and molecular nature [5-7] of these interfaces, or how they are regulated to support diverse mitotic functions in mammalian cells. To address this question, we focus on the mechanical role of the essential load-bearing protein Hec1 [8-11]. Hec1′s affinity for microtubules is regulated by Aurora B phosphorylation on its N-terminal tail [12-15], but its role at the passive and active interfaces remains unclear. Here, we use laser ablation to trigger cellular pulling on mutant kinetochores and decouple sisters in vivo, and thereby separately probe Hec1′s role as it moves on polymerizing versus depolymerizing microtubules. We show that Hec1 phosphorylation tunes passive friction along polymerizing microtubules, modulating both the magnitude and timescale of responses to force. In contrast, we find that Hec1 phosphorylation does not affect the kinetochore′s ability to grip depolymerizing microtubules, or switch to this active force-generating state. Together, the data suggest that different kinetochore interfaces engage with growing and shrinking microtubules, and that passive friction can be regulated without disrupting active force generation. Through this mechanism, the kinetochore can modulate its grip on microtubules as its functional needs change during mitosis, and yet retain its ability to couple to microtubules powering chromosome movement.
The Association of Sport Specialization and Training Volume With Injury History in Youth Athletes.

Background:Recommendations exist to encourage safe youth participation in sport. These recommendations include not specializing in 1 sport, limiting participation to less than 8 months per year, an...
FtsZ Constriction Force - Curved Protofilaments Bending Membranes.

FtsZ assembles in vitro into protofilaments (pfs) that are one subunit thick and ~50 subunits long. In vivo these pfs assemble further into the Z ring, which, along with accessory division proteins, constricts to divide the cell. We have reconstituted Z rings in liposomes in vitro, using pure FtsZ that was modified with a membrane targeting sequence to directly bind the membrane. This FtsZ-mts assembled Z rings and constricted the liposomes without any accessory proteins. We proposed that the force for constriction was generated by a conformational change from straight to curved pfs. Evidence supporting this mechanism came from switching the membrane tether to the opposite side of the pf. These switched-tether pfs assembled “inside-out” Z rings, and squeezed the liposomes from the outside, as expected for the bending model. We propose three steps for the full process of cytokinesis: (a) pf bending generates a constriction force on the inner membrane, but the rigid peptidoglycan wall initially prevents any invagination; (b) downstream proteins associate to the Z ring and remodel the peptidoglycan, permitting it to follow the constricting FtsZ to a diameter of ~250 nm; the final steps of closure of the septum and membrane fusion are achieved by excess membrane synthesis and membrane fluctuations.
Regional Organisations in Central Asia: Patterns of Interaction, Dilemmas of Efficiency

The topic of regional organisations in Central Asia is one of the most hotly debated in the policy and scholarly community, and the conclusions are often greatly contrasting. This paper describes the main organisations and programmes at work in the region, their membership, status and objectives. It discusses the criteria used to judge their efficiency and analyses several cases of actual ‘success’ and ‘failure’. It also focuses on the economic and geopolitical patterns, both internal and external to the region, that impede the activities of such organisations in Central Asia.
Research handbook on transitional justice edited by Cheryl Lawther, Luke Moffett, and Dov Jacobs

The Research Handbook on Transitional Justice, edited by Cheryl Lawther, Luke Moffett, and Dov Jacobs, is a welcome contribution to the transitional justice literature. The book is organized into f...
Overview and History of Statistics for Equity Markets

This article surveys the evolution of stock market trading over a 60-year period. It begins before 1960, when there was no database widely available to conduct a statistical analysis of stock price movements. This changed in the 1960s with the introduction of the Center for Research in Security Prices database. A major finding was the heavy-tailed nature of stock returns. The 1960s also brought major theoretical developments, including the martingale theory of stock price processes and the efficient market hypothesis. This hypothesis prevailed until the 1990s, when the discovery of market anomalies led to statistical arbitrage strategies. We describe the use of modern machine learning methods, such as AdaBoost and random forests, which can combine some of these strategies into an improved trading strategy. The twenty-first century was marked by the rapid evolution of electronic markets and the rise of computer-driven high-frequency trading based on computing technology, low latency access, and limit order...
Chimpanzees and language evolution.

Among the most remarkable developments of recent years has been the opening of a “dialogue” between human and chimpanzee (Fouts 1973; Gardner & Gardner 1969; Premack & Premack 1972; Rumbaugh, Gill, & Glasersfeld 1973). The relevance of chimpanzee performance to human language evolution is controversial, but may be somewhat easier to assess of the debate is framed in explicitly evolutionary terms so that behavioral reconstruction may follow established biological principles. In this pursuit, several lines of research are implied that may refine, if not resolve, some of the questions being asked.
Flipping an introductory programming course: yes you can!

In the "flipped classroom" the instructor offloads passive lecture content to homework outside the classroom, creating additional time in the classroom for active and higher level learning. Students watch "lecture" videos for homework, at their own pace, while in class they learn by working out exercises with the help of the instructor. The role of the instructor changes from being "a sage on the stage" to "a guide on the side" [1]. The lower levels of learning, in the revised Bloom's taxonomy [2], that of remembering and understanding, take place outside the classroom, at the student's own pace. In the class, having the instructor as a guide, the learning can now involve the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy, that of applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating.
Supervised rehabilitation versus home exercise in the treatment of acute ankle sprains: a systematic review.

SUMMARY The best research evidence demonstrated that supervised rehabilitation programsresulted in (1) less pain and subjective instability at intermediate follow-up (8 weeksafter injury), but no differences in self-reported outcomes at longer follow-up periods(3 and 12 months after injury), (2) greater gains in ankle strength and joint positionsense, but worse postural control, at the 4-month follow-up, and (3) inconclusiveresults regarding prevention of recurrent ankle sprains at 12 months after injury. Asurprisingly small number of patients (11%) in the general population diagnosedwithacuteanklesprainsundergosupervisedrehabilitation.Thereisacleardisconnectbetween how patients with ankle sprains are treated in competitive sports medicinesettings compared with the general population. REFERENCES 1. Hootman JM, Dick R, Agel J. Epidemiology of collegiate injuries for 15 sports:summary and recommendations for injury prevention initiatives. J Athl Train2007;42(2):311–9.2. Swenson DM, Yard EE, Fields SK, et al. Patterns of recurrent injuries among UShigh school athletes, 2005–2008. Am J Sports Med 2009;37(8):1586–93.3. van Rijn RM, van Os AG, Bernsen RM, et al. What is the clinical course of acuteankle sprains? A systematic literature review. Am J Med 2008;121(4):324–31.4. Anandacoomarasamy A, Barnsley L. Long term outcomes of inversion ankleinjuries. Br J Sports Med 2005;39(3):e14.5. Verhagen R, De Keizer G, Van Dijk C. Long-term follow-up of inversion trauma ofthe ankle. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 1995;114(2):92–6.6. McKay GD, Goldie PA, Payne WR, et al. Ankle injuries in basketball: Injury rateand risk factors. Br J Sports Med 2001;35(2):103–8.7. Bleakley CM, O’Connor SR, Tully MA, et al. Effect of accelerated rehabilitation onfunction after ankle sprain: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2010;340:c1964.8. Eiff MP, Smith AT, Smith GE. Early mobilization versus immobilization in the treat-ment of lateral ankle sprains. Am J Sports Med 1994;22(1):83–8.9. Jones MH, Amendola AS. Acute treatment of inversion ankle sprains: immobiliza-tion versus functional treatment. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2007;455:169–72.10. Lamb SE, Marsh J, Hutton JL, et al. Mechanical supports for acute, severe anklesprain: a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2009;373(9663):575–81.11. Bassett SF, Prapavessis H. Home-based physical therapy intervention withadherence-enhancing strategies versus clinic-based management for patientswith ankle sprains. Phys Ther 2007;87(9):1132–43.12. Holme E, Magnusson S, Becher K, et al. The effect of supervised rehabilitation onstrength, postural sway, position sense and re-injury risk after acute ankle liga-ment sprain. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1999;9(2):104–9.13. van Rijn RM, van Os AG, Kleinrensink G, et al. Supervised exercises for adultswith acute lateral ankle sprain: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Gen Pract2007;57(543):793–800.
Cytopathic Hypoxia: Mitochondrial Dysfunction as Mechanism Contributing to Organ Dysfunction in Sepsis

Several lines of evidence support the notion that cellular energetics are deranged in sepsis, not on the basis of inadequate tissue perfusion, but rather on the basis of impaired mitochondrial respiration and/or coupling; that is, organ dysfunction in sepsis may occur on the basis of cytopathic hypoxia. If this concept is correct, then the therapeutic implications are enormous. Efforts to improve outcome in patients with sepsis by monitoring and manipulating cardiac output, systemic Do2, and regional blood flow are doomed to failure. Instead, the focus should be on developing pharmacologic strategies to restore normal mitochondrial function and cellular energetics.
Sharpening the Tool of Language: Examining Anchors and AMBIGUITIES:

Language, though a powerful human tool, can often be imprecise. Such underspecifications often lead to misconceptions and misrepresentations in communication. These issues arise not only in everyda...
Unconventional field-induced spin density wave phases in quasi-one-dimensional conductors in high magnetic fields

It is known that the field-induced spin-density-wave (FISDW) phases are experimentally observed in the quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) organic conductors with chemical formula ${(\mathrm{TMTSF})}_{2}\mathrm{X}$ ($\mathrm{X}={\mathrm{PF}}_{6}$, ${\mathrm{ClO}}_{4}$, etc.) and some others in moderate magnetic fields. From a theoretical point of view, they appear as a result of ``one dimensionalization'' of the Q1D electron spectra due to the orbital electron effect in a magnetic field. We predict that the novel FISDW phases with different physical meaning have to appear in inclined high magnetic fields in Q1D conductors as a result of combination of the spin-splitting and orbital electron effects. We suggest performing the corresponding experiments in the ${(\mathrm{TMTSF})}_{2}\mathrm{X}$ materials.
Estudio crítico sobre el sentido y ámbito de aplicación del recurso de amparo económico

El ambito de proteccion del Recurso de Amparo Economico (RAE) no es un tema pacifico ni en la doctrina ni en la jurisprudencia. En materia jurisprudencial, ha experimentado tres etapas marcadas, la ultima de ellas iniciada el ano 2009, ano en que la Corte Suprema adopta un criterio de aplicacion restrictiva del recurso, limitandolo a la tutela del inciso segundo del articulo 19 N° 21 de la CPR. En los ultimos anos se han dictado aisladamente fallos en que la Corte vuelve a una interpretacion amplia del recurso. El presente articulo revisa someramente la jurisprudencia y doctrina en la materia, y expone la opinion de su autora, fundada en la naturaleza juridica del articulo 19 N° 21 de la Constitucion y en la interpretacion de las normas conforme a criterios hermeneuticos propios del ambito constitucional.
Enhancing nodular lesions in Chiari II malformations in the setting of persistent hindbrain herniation: case report and literature review

Chiari II malformation includes concomitant cerebellar tonsillar herniation, hydrocephalus, and myelomeningocele. Rarely, pediatric patients with persistent hindbrain herniation develop a new enhancing nodule at the cervicomedullary junction as adults. These new lesions may be suspicious for neoplastic growth, but it remains unclear if neurosurgical intervention is necessary. A 27-year-old female patient with history of Chiari II malformation and persistent hindbrain herniation presented with a 3-month history of headache and upper extremity weakness and numbness. Neuroimaging revealed a new enhancing nodule near the cervicomedullary junction suspicious for neoplasm. Following posterior fossa decompression and excision of the enhancing lesion, pathological analysis demonstrated only benign glioneural heterotopia. New enhancing nodules at the cervicomedullary junction in Chiari II malformation are exceedingly rare and are likely benign, reactive changes rather than a neoplastic process. Biopsy or surgical excision of these lesions is likely unnecessary for asymptomatic patients.
Demonstrations of localization in regulative embryos

This chapter presents the demonstrations of localization in regulative embryos. Demonstrations that morphogenetically significant cytoplasmic determinants are localized in the egg have extended to material more or less refractory to earlier investigations, in particular to the eggs of amphibians and echinoderms. The earliest detailed observations indicating that morphogenetic determinants exist in the cytoplasm of the sea urchin egg are owing to Boveri. Boveri's demonstrations of this correspondence were achieved by shaking the eggs into pieces and fertilizing the fragments. This chapter also discusses cytoplasmic localization in amphibian eggs and the universality of cytoplasmic localization. Cytoplasmic localization is evolutionarily more ancient than even the celomic grade of organization and in fact, it appears to be older than the bilateralia.
Gastric volvulus involving the duodenum.

A 55-year-old woman presented with a 2-day history of abdominal pain, multiple episodes of non-bloody, non-bilious emesis and inability to tolerate oral intake. Her medical history included recurrent small bowel obstructions status-post multiple exploratory laparotomies and decompressive gastrostomy
Embolic Hypodermic Needle Causing Traumatic Cardiac Tamponade: A Case Report.

We present a unique case of a broken fragment of a hypodermic needle breaking and embolizing to the heart. This needle subsequently penetrated the right ventricle and the patient developed hemopericardium which resulted in cardiac tamponade physiology. Data sources None. Study selection None. Data extraction None. Data synthesis Recognizing the potential for unusual and serious complications of IV illicit drug use is an important part of providing effective and timely medical care in this vulnerable population. Conclusions An embolic needle phenomenon can have significant sequela, including direct cardiac trauma leading to tamponade and subsequent cardiac collapse. Partnering with the patient to take a detailed history was critical in uncovering the underlying etiology of this patient's cardiogenic shock.
Brittle nature and the related effects of zirconium hydrides in Zircaloy-4

Abstract The use of zirconium alloys such as Zircaloy-4 in nuclear reactors is limited by brittle hydride formation, for example in harsh reactor operating conditions such as those in the pressurized water reactors. Even though much research has studied this phenomenon, a more systematic, in-depth study of the effects of hydrides on the properties of Zircaloy-4, using various analytical techniques, can add more details to the understanding of these effects. In the current study, hydrogen charging was performed on Zircaloy-4 at different levels compatible with commercial reactor operating conditions and conditions in accident scenarios. Effects of hydriding on the Zircaloy-4 (α-(hcp)-Zr) tensile properties, together with an in-depth study of any relationship between tensile and the microstructural properties of the material, are discussed. While a moderate pinning effect on the equiaxed α-Zr grain size was observed, no significant change in bulk texture of the Zry-4 was revealed as the hydrogen level increased up to nominally 1230 wppmH. At a nominal value of 490 wppmH, Zircaloy-4 fractured at a low strain value just above the yielding point, and brittle tensile fracture was observed in a sample H-charged to nominally 1230 wppmH. The low ductility and brittle fracture of the samples were attributed to the presence of brittle inter-grain boundary hydrides. It was observed that brittle fracturing was also supported by intra-grain boundary hydrides that were affected by the tensile deformation of the sample.
Flipped vs. traditional: An analysis of teaching techniques in finance and psychology

Recently there has been a surge of interest in technology-aided teaching strategies such as the flipped classroom. Given the growing interest in these techniques, it is important to critically evaluate their effectiveness and to begin to examine factors that might shape how effective the flipped classroom will be in a given educational setting. Although most existing research on the flipped classroom suggests an advantage of the flipped approach over a more traditional lecture approach, most of this research has been conducted in a single educational setting at a time and in ways that preclude definitive conclusions about the relative effectiveness of the flipped approach. We present the results of a study that addressed many of these methodological limitations and compared the effectiveness of the flipped approach to a traditional lecture approach across two semesters in courses from two different disciplines, finance and psychology. We found that the effectiveness of the flipped versus the traditional approach varied across the two courses. In particular, in the psychology courses the flipped approach resulted in superior performance on quizzes administered immediately after exposure to course material, but resulted in similar performance on exams administered some time after initial exposure. In contrast, in the finance courses the flipped approach resulted in similar performance on immediately administered quizzes, but superior performance on later-administered exams. These results contribute to the burgeoning literature on the flipped classroom both by addressing methodological limitations found in previous work and by identifying some of the specific conditions under which the flipped approach may be a good pedagogical choice.
Self-expansion: Intergroup and Sociocultural Factors

Self-expansion theory suggests that people are motivated to broaden the self (Aron & Aron, 1986; Aron & Aron, 1996; Aron, Aron, & Norman, 2001). A primary way of expanding the self is through close relationships, where others become included in the self-concept. A large body of research on self-expansion theory has examined self-expansion in close relationships in the context of romantic dyads. We expand on this research to shed light on a growing line of work that explores self-expansion and intergroup contact. We begin with an overview of self-expansion theory, focusing on the motivational aspect and the cognitive aspect of inclusion of other in the self. We then discuss self-expansion and intergroup contact at the level of friendships and broaden this application to intergroup contact in romantic couples. Further, we discuss individual differences in motivation to self-expand via intergroup relations and examine research on intergroup relations, both as a means of individual self-expansion and as a mechanism for prejudice reduction and improved outgroup attitudes. We also review the literature on how inclusion of other in the self is linked with positive intergroup outcomes. Finally, we suggest next steps to broaden and deepen this important work and discuss implications and connections with work on self-construal.
Encoding multiple permanent shapes in 3D printed structures

Abstract Conventional methods of programmed shape change in polymers are one-way and one-time only. We introduce a new method of combining a bioinspired, hierarchical architecture with the pre-strain generated by extrusion-based 3D printing to encode multiple permanent shapes in thermoplastic polymer shell structures. At high temperature, these structures are multistable and can snap repeatedly between all encoded permanent shapes without reprogramming. At low temperature, the structures are monostable with increased stiffness; the multistability can be switched on and off via temperature. Characterization studies are performed to determine how to control the level of pre-strain and the deflection behavior of the structure to enable finite element modeling for analysis and design. This pre-straining technique may be thought of as a virtual mold: printed structures are initially flat but have multiple permanent shapes encoded. Taking advantage of the geometric freedom of 3D printing, complex geometries, and pre-strain fields may be used to create highly tailored snapping structures. Thermoplastic filaments with added particles may be used to impart additional multifunctionality to the structures, such as magnetic responsiveness, to enable remote actuation. These switchable multistable structures have potential applications in fields including robotics, aerospace, and smart buildings.
On the Morphology Changes of Al and Al-Cu Powder After Laser Melting

Gas-atomized powders are commonly used in additive manufacturing, specifically laser powder bed fusion, due to their high flowability during recoating. Morphological changes can occur in particles that are irradiated by the laser during additive manufacturing, but are not incorporated into the melt pool. These irradiated particles will affect the rheology of the recycled powder in subsequent builds, potentially leading to failures due to uneven powder flow or spatial distribution. Thus, a better understanding of mechanisms that degrade the sphericity of powder after being laser irradiated is needed. This research examines morphological changes in Al and Al-Cu eutectic powders after laser melting. Two complementary approaches were taken. First, particles found along the edges of line scans following high-power (300 W) laser irradiation were characterized. The collected particles displayed morphological anomalies not observed in the as-received powder. Then, to gain a more quantitative and controlled perspective on morphological evolution, the same base powders were dispersed onto glass substrates and irradiated with a low-power (6.5 W) CW laser diode. This approach, which permits characterization of specific particles before and after laser irradiation, clearly shows laser-induced changes in the surface morphology of particles in the form of dents and rifts. These results suggest that isolated melting and resolidification of particles contained within their respective oxide shells can occur at the relatively low laser energy densities present at the edges of laser melt tracks. Thermal stresses developing in the oxide shell during cooling can account for the observed morphological changes in the context of shell-buckling theory.
Clinical, Genetic, and Prognostic Features of Adrenocortical Tumors in Children: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience.

Background and Aims: Pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) are very rare endocrine neoplasms in childhood. In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of children with ACT treated at our institution by examining clinical and genetic disease features, treatment strategies, and outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 13 children treated at the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital from November 2010 to March 2020. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 17 months (range = 0-82 months). The female: male ratio was 3.3/1. Mixed symptomatology (>1 hormone abnormality) was the most common presentation (46.1%). In three cases, the tumor was detected during prenatal or perinatal echographic screening. All patients presented with localized disease at diagnosis and underwent total adrenalectomy. Six patients were identified as having malignancies according to the Wieneke scoring system, five benign, and two undetermined. Seven patients underwent mitotane adjuvant therapy for 12 months. There was metastatic disease in three patients, with no correlation with age or Wieneke score. The most common sites of metastases were the liver and lungs. Metastatic patients were treated with surgery (n = 2), mitotane (n = 1), chemotherapy (n = 2) associated with anti-EGFR (n = 1), or immunotherapy with anti-PD1 (pembrolizumab) (n = 1); two patients achieved complete disease remission. Overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 100%, with a median follow-up of 5 years (range = 2-9.5 years). Two- and 5-year disease free survival was 76.9 and 84.6%, respectively (95% confidence interval = -66.78-114.76 months). All patients are alive, 12 without disease, and one with stable disease. Genetic analyses showed TP53 germline mutations in six of eight patients analyzed (five inherited, one de novo). One patient had Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, with mosaic paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 11, in both neoplastic and healthy adrenal tissue. Conclusion: We report the cases of 13 patients treated for ACT, including 12 aged <4 years at diagnosis, with a relative short time from symptoms onset. Our cohort experienced an excellent prognosis. TP53 mutation was found in 75% of tested patients (6/8) confirming the need to perform genetic tests and familial counseling in this disease.
“Nice White Meetings”: Unpacking Absurd Library Bureaucracy through a Critical Race Theory Lens

Although the issues of diversity and representation are often discussed within academic librarianship in Canada and the United States, the field has made little headway in being inclusive of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who work within it. If academic libraries are to become truly authentic and inclusive spaces where BIPOC are central not only to shaping the values of a library but also to determining how those values are accomplished, we must examine the traditional ways in which libraries function. One of these traditions is a reliance on bureaucracy and its associated practices such as structured group work and meetings, which are presumed to be inherently neutral and rational ways of working. Critical examinations of bureaucracy within higher education reveal how its overadoption is absurdly at odds with the social justice–oriented missions of most libraries. Furthermore, not all who are involved in libraries are equally harmed through this overreliance on bureaucracy; this article employs Critical Race Theory to uncover the insidious and specific deleterious impacts bureaucracies can have on BIPOC library workers. The antithesis of a neutral system, bureaucracy instead functions to force assimilation into a system entrenched in whiteness.
For Kin, God and Other Beings: Mixtures of Conservation Practice in Raja Ampat, West Papua

This chapter describes the emergence of hybrid conservation practices in the Raja Ampat islands of Indonesian New Guinea in the context of significant socio-economic and ecological change. On West Papua’s coast fringe, different values motivate different types of geographic resource management systems with varying stakes for the people who support them. Here, a patchwork of interlinked regimes of land and sea-based resource governance have contributed to a composite approach to adaptive governance, rather than an inherently conflicting set of practices or norms. I describe how resident Beteo and Ma’ya people revived a limited type of seasonal harvest prohibition and taboo called sasi to incorporate Christian ethics and the significance of ancestral sites of nonhuman spirits. On Waigeo island, a center point of international conservation programs and ecotourism, two distinct forms of sasi are currently practiced: sasi gereja, a type of Christian village-based resource protection and sasi mon, a set of clan-mediated rules for areas beyond villages inhabited by ancestors or nonhuman spirit beings. In the past decade, the practices have become formalized through engagement of West Papuan communities with international non-governmental organizations. The varieties of conservation practices in coastal West Papua reflect distinct but perhaps commensurable ethical norms and values. Engagements with valued places highlights how conservation in Raja Ampat is consequential to people’s understanding of themselves and others, amidst ongoing resource degradation, the denial of Christian social virtue or economic marginalization.
Infectious Complications of Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Incidence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) is a newer form of neuromodulation that targets the dorsal root ganglion. DRGS has superior efficacy in complex regional pain syndrome compared to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and may have efficacy in other forms of chronic pain. While decades of safety data are available for SCS, there is less available safety information for DRGS. The objectives of this systematic review and pooled analysis of incidence are to determine the overall incidence of DRGS infections, incidence at each stage (trial vs. implant vs. revision), infection characteristics, and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive search of databases from January 1980 to January 2021 was conducted. RESULTS Ten studies met inclusion criteria. Eight studies reported patients with trial data (n = 291), ten studies reported patients with implant data (n = 250), and seven studies reported data with revisions (n = 26). The pooled incidence of trial infections was 1.03% (95% CI 0.35-2.99%), implant infections was 4.80% (95% CI 2.77-8.20%), revision infections was 3.85% (95% CI 0.20-21.59%), and overall infections was 2.82% (95% CI 1.62-4.54%). There was a statistically significant difference in infection rates between the trial, implant, and revision stages, X2 (2, N = 567) = 8.9839, p = 0.01. CONCLUSIONS This is the first systematic review and pooled analysis that followed PRISMA guidelines to report infectious complications of DRGS by stage (trial vs. implant vs. revision). DRGS trial appears to be low risk for infection but that risk is significantly increased with DRGS implant. Our findings highlight the need for further study of infectious complications, their risks, and optimal prophylaxis.
Characterization of systemic immunosuppression by IDH mutant glioma small extracellular vesicles.

Background Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors and are universally fatal. Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase genes (IDH1 and IDH2) define a distinct glioma subtype associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Mechanisms underlying systemic immunosuppression in IDH mutant (mutIDH) gliomas are largely unknown. Here, we define genotype-specific local and systemic tumor immunomodulatory functions of tumor-derived glioma exosomes (TEX). Methods TEX produced by human and murine wildtype and mutant IDH glioma cells (wtIDH and mutIDH, respectively) were isolated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). TEX morphology, size, quantity, molecular profiles and biodistribution were characterized. TEX were injected into naive and tumor-bearing mice, and the local and systemic immune microenvironment composition was characterized. Results Using in vitro and in vivo glioma models, we show that mutIDH TEX are more numerous, possess distinct morphological features and are more immunosuppressive than wtIDH TEX. mutIDH TEX cargo mimics their parental cells, and induces systemic immune suppression in naive and tumor-bearing mice. TEX derived from mutIDH gliomas and injected into wtIDH tumor-bearing mice reduce tumor-infiltrating effector lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages, and increase circulating monocytes. Astonishingly, mutIDH TEX injected into brain tumor-bearing syngeneic mice accelerate tumor growth and increase mortality compared with wtIDH TEX. Conclusions Targeting of mutIDH TEX represents a novel therapeutic approach in gliomas.
Bioreactors and microphysiological systems for adipose-based pharmacologic screening

Abstract Costs of drug development are estimated at over $2 billion per drug. There is a need for improved in vitro models that more accurately predict in vivo pharmacokinetics and improve drug outcome predictions. Adipose tissue is a key pathological organ in a variety of diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer and a promising pharmaceutical target. Recent advances in adipose-based microphysiological systems (MPS) and bioreactors demonstrate the potential for more physiologically relevant adipose tissue models and noninvasive assessments of cell phenotype. In addition to providing improved estimates of drug interactions, they aid progression toward development of a human-on-a-chip system.
Development of Active-Learning Units in Nuclear Engineering

Active learning engages students in activities that could enhance their ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the material being learned. Evidence-based studies have shown that active learning increases student performance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses. This paper presents the design of active learning units in nuclear engineering. The goal is to enhance students learning and technical skills, thereby improving their preparation for success in pursuing STEM graduate programs and careers in nuclear engineering. Three modes of active learning that are of interest are problem-solving, lab-based hands-on activities, and simulation. The active learning units are aimed at using interactive mode to provide students with the mastering of fundamental principles and concepts, and better understanding of how equations translate and apply to real-life engineering situations. The introductory nuclear engineering topics to be covered include radioactivity and half-life, binding energy, atom density, radiation interactions, radiation dose, radiation shielding, stopping power, and fission. An assessment plan for the effectiveness of the active-learnings units is also presented.
Precarious Neutrality in World War I

That the Netherlands was able to stay out of World War I was little less than a miracle, beset as it was by so many dangers and difficulties. A small country and militarily weak, it nevertheless possessed important colonial territories in both Asia and America. The livelihood of many of its people was gained from the operation of a merchant fleet which was one of the largest in the world. A large transit traffic, especially with the German industrial hinterland, was of great importance in the economic life of the country. Geographically the country was precariously situated. Its eastern and southern borders were of a character to invite aggression in case of hostilities between its neighbors. A tongue of Dutch territory jutted downward between Germany and Belgium, extending half the distance to the Luxembourg border. A narrow strip of territory south of the Scheldt gave the Netherlands control over a river which is essentially Belgian and on which is situated the great ocean port of Antwerp. In the Rhine, Holland controlled the mouth of another international river— one of the utmost importance to one of the major belligerents. Still another international river, which emptied into the seas from Dutch territory, was the Meuse. After the occupation of Belgium the Netherlands had to guard its entire land frontier against belligerent violation. Across a comparatively narrow sea lay another belligerent, England, whose fleet dominated the seas.
Field evaluation of methods for the detection of enteric viruses in marine sediments

This report describes a recently developed method for the quantitative detection of enteroviruses in estuarine sediments. The method involves the elution of enteroviruses adsorbed to sediment with a solution of 0.05 M ethylenediaminetetraacetate (pH 11.0). The volume of the eluate is then reduced by membrane filter adsorption-elution into an economically assayable volume (30 to 50 ml). In laboratory experiments poliovirus type 1 (strain LSc) could be recovered from 400-ml volumes of wet sediment with an overall efficiency of 50 percent. Using this method enteroviruses were recovered from sediments of coastal areas receiving sewage discharges in both Texas and Florida. These field studies indicated a 10- to 10 000-fold greater concentration of enteroviruses in the sediment than in the overlying water on a volume basis. In laboratory studies, enteroviruses were found to survive longer in estuarine sediments than in estuarine water.
SU-E-T-695: Silicon Diode Measurements of Output Field Size Factors for Proton Pencil Beam Scanning with a Dedicated Nozzle

Purpose: Proton irradiation degrades solid state detectors, producing high recombination and leakage currents and ultimately rendering them unusable for dosimetry. In this work we evaluate the performance of a new p-type silicon diode under proton beam irradiation. Methods: A novel p-type silicon diode with improved radiation hardness has recently been developed (IBA Dosimetry, Schwarzenbruck, Germany). The dosimetric properties of the devices were assessed for application in pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton irradiation. Using PBS fields with 4 mm spaced, uniform intensity spots, dose and dose rate linearity were evaluated over a clinical range. Output factors were measured at energies of 100, 180, and 225 MeV and for field sizes ranging from 4×4 – 20×20 cm2. Measurements were performed at the center of the square fields at varying depths upstream from the Bragg peak and compared with previously published results. Results: At shallow depths, the diode exhibits linear behavior (0.1%) over the clinical range of doses and dose rates; the sensitivity of the diode in this region is ∼6.0 nC/Gy. As the depth of measurement approaches within 2 cm of each Bragg peak, the deviation from linearity becomes greater (±2–6%). The diode shows less response with small fields and - over responds with large fields.ConclusionAt depths more than 2 cm upstream from the Bragg Peak, the diode shows very good agreement with ion chamber and calculated results for output factors. This demonstrates that diodes can be used for relative measurements at shallow depths, but should be used with caution at deeper depths and for higher energy. Measurements at all depths exhibit an energy dependence that is characteristic of silicon diodes and requires correction. Detectors provided by IBA Dosimetry GmbH, Schwarzenbruck, Germany
A Distant Stellar Companion in the υ Andromedae System

Upsilon Andromedae is an F8 V star known to have an extrasolar system of at least three planets in orbit around it. Here we report the discovery of a low-mass stellar companion to this system. The companion shares common proper motion, lies at a projected separation of ~750 AU, and has a spectral type of M4.5 V. The effect of this star on the radial velocity of the brighter primary is negligible, but this system provides an interesting test bed for stellar planetary formation theory and understanding dynamical stability since it is the first multiple planetary system known in a multiple stellar system.
Pride and prejudice in high school gang members

This study compared gang versus nongang high school students along measures of self-esteem, racial attitudes, and their self-professed role models. A total of 78 Caucasian (65 nongang and 13 gang members) and 77 African-American students (41 nongang and 36 gang members) participated. Results indicated that gang members had significantly lower levels of self-esteem compared to their nongang peers. All students, regardless of ethnicity, manifested negative racial stereotyping toward racial outgroups; gang members were not more racially prejudiced compared to other students. The role model data revealed that overall, gang members could name fewer role models than did their nongang peers. African-American students who were not gang members were much more likely to mention a parent or teacher as a role model. A regression analysis indicated that the absence of parental or teacher roles models was the best predictor of gang membership. These results are conceptualized within the framework provided by social identity theory.
Cave Automatic Virtual Environment

Technology has come a long way in the last decade. Many automotive, military vehicle, and other production and design companies have moved on from the 2D design programs to 3D virtual reality designs. The Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) is a projection-based Virtual Reality display that was developed at the Electronic Visualization Laboratory. This projection system displays images in a 3D immersive four-walled room. It uses a real-time viewer-centered head tracking perspective with a large angle of view, interactive control, and binocular display.
Interpretation of infrared intensities

Abstract Calculated infrared intensities for water (including the rotational intensities) from an ab initio calculation at the SCF level (6–31G**/6–31G**) are presented. These values are analyzed in the intensity analysis in Cartesian coordinates to show the contributions to the intensities from each element of the APTs for H2O. Further analysis separates the contributions to the mass-weighted squared effective charges from rotation to obtain the vibrational terms alone, and illustrates in detail the rotational contributions to the APTs for atoms in H2O. The atomic contributions to intensities are defined and illustrated, as is the intensity analysis in symmetry coordinates. From this analysis a suggestion is made concerning the source of errors in the theoretical prediction of intensities for the water molecules. A “calibrated” set of APTs is proposed, which reproduces the intensities for H2O as well as the most powerful calculation. This study defines an approach to the analysis of calculated infrared intensities that appears to be helpful in understanding the perdicted values.
Herman Award Lecture, 1996: relation of metabolic studies to clinical nutrition--the example of burn injury

The optimal nutritional support of critically ill patients should be based on the metabolic response. Therefore, we performed a series of experiments in patients using stable isotopic tracers designed to elucidate the responses of glucose, fatty acids, and protein metabolism in severely burned patients. Glucose production was elevated above normal as a result of an increase in glucagon concentration. The peripheral hypoglycemic action of insulin was diminished, as was its effectiveness in suppressing endogenous glucose production, but the intracellular capacity to oxidize glucose was not impaired. Lipolysis was stimulated by β 2 -adrenergic stimulation to a much greater extent than was fatty acid oxidation, with the result being an increase in the recycling of fatty acids secreted in very-low-density lipoproteins. Muscle protein catabolism was accelerated in severely burned patients, leading to a progressive loss of lean body mass that was not prevented by nutritional support alone. The ineffectiveness of nutritional support for muscle was due to alterations in amino acid transmembrane transport kinetics that favored efflux. Treatment with exogenous insulin stimulated inward amino acid transport and muscle protein synthesis. Extrapolation from our current knowledge of metabolism to clinical treatment indicates that nonprotein energy should be provided largely in the form of carbohydrate. If hyperglycemia ensues, exogenous insulin will further increase the anabolic response in muscle. Protein requirements can be met with 1.5 g protein.kg -1 .d -1 . Treatment with anabolic hormones may ultimately be the most effective way in which to optimize the response to nutritional support.
Does differential sensitivity to aggregate earnings shocks drive post-earnings-announcement drift?

This paper finds that returns to the post-earnings-announcement drift (PEAD) strategy result from differential sensitivity of individual stock returns to aggregate earnings shocks. Larger negative aggregate earnings shocks are associated with higher PEAD returns, because stocks in the PEAD’s sell portfolio are more sensitive to aggregate earnings shocks than those in the buy portfolio. Such differential sensitivity to aggregate earnings shocks drives a significant portion of PEAD returns. During the 1985 to 2009 sample period, investors were on average negatively surprised by aggregate earnings shocks, leading to average positive returns to the PEAD strategy. Further analysis suggests that macroeconomic shocks (that work through aggregate earnings shocks) explain the variation in PEAD returns.
Assessing the antibiotic potential of essential oils against Haemophilus ducreyi.

Haemophilus ducreyi is the bacterium responsible for the genital ulcer disease chancroid, a cofactor for the transmission of HIV, and it is resistant to many antibiotics. With the goal of exploring possible alternative treatments, we tested essential oils (EOs) for their efficacy as antimicrobial agents against H. ducreyi. We determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), Eugenia caryophyllus (clove) and Thymus satureioides (thyme) oil against 9 strains of H. ducreyi using the agar dilution method. We also determined the minimum lethal concentration for each oil by subculturing from the MIC plates onto fresh agar without essential oil. For both tests, we used a 2-way ANOVA to evaluate whether antibiotic-resistant strains had a different sensitivity to the oils relative to non-resistant strains. All 3 oils demonstrated excellent activity against H. ducreyi, with MICs of 0.05 to 0.52 mg/mL and MLCs of 0.1-0.5 mg/mL. Antibiotic-resistant strains of H. ducreyi were equally susceptible to these 3 essential oils relative to non-resistant strains (p = 0.409). E. caryophyllus, C. verum and T. satureioides oils are promising alternatives to antibiotic treatment for chancroid.