cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Propionibacterium acnes Infection in the Native Hip: A Case Report

Case: A sixty-five-year-old immunocompetent man with bilateral osteonecrosis of the hip and no prior surgical procedures or trauma was found to have a subacute Propionibacterium acnes infection of the femoral head. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Propionibacterium acnes infection in a native hip in the orthopaedic literature. Conclusion: Diagnosing a subacute P. acnes infection can be challenging because of nonspecific clinical findings, normal laboratory values, and delayed growth of this organism on culture. Clinicians should maintain a high degree of suspicion as these infections are frequently missed.
Harnessing the Power of RNA Interference to Advance Anticancer Drug Development

The creation of specific inhibitors against molecular targets that play a role in the cancer phenotype is the basis for a rational strategy for anticancer drug development. Telomerase activity has been observed in almost all of the human tumors, yet it is completely lacking in normal somatic cells
How Sexual Desire Works: The Enigmatic Urge

How Sexual Desire Works: The Enigmatic Urge, by Frederick Toates. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014, 500 pages, $89.10 (hardcover), $35.99 (paperback).Fredrick Toates has written a master...
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in wheelchair-dependent patients.

Background Wheelchair-dependent patients have a high incidence of shoulder pathology, often causing severe impairment. This study reports outcomes of wheelchair-dependent lower extremity–impaired patients with symptomatic shoulder arthritis or severe rotator cuff pathology treated with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Methods Data for 19 wheelchair-dependent patients who had an RTSA for symptomatic arthritis or rotator cuff pathology, or both, were obtained from the University of Florida Shoulder Arthroplasty Database. Included were 16 of 19 shoulders with adequate follow-up averaging 40 months. Functional outcome scores included the Simple Shoulder Test, University of California Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant score, and 12-item Short Form (SF-12) health survey. Objective measures were active elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation. Radiographs were evaluated for lucent lines, notching, and prosthetic loosening. Results All measured parameters, except the SF-12, significantly improved at the final follow-up. Functional outcome scores included Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, 45; Simple Shoulder Test, 7; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, 73; University of California Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale, 30; Constant, 70; and SF-12, 33. Active elevation was 112°, and active external rotation was 29°. Most patients (83%) were satisfied. The complication rate was 25%; baseplate failure and dislocation occurred early, and periprosthetic humeral fracture secondary to infection occurred late. The notching rate was 42%. Conclusions Shoulder pain and dysfunction due to arthritis and rotator cuff pathology can result in the loss of independence in wheelchair-dependent patients. We investigated whether RTSA can sustain the increased loads placed by these patients during transfers. Wheelchair-dependent patients can benefit from an RTSA for shoulder pain and dysfunction but must accept worsened impairment during the immediate postoperative period and a higher complication rate than the general population treated with an RTSA.
Brands, Photography, and Strategy

Brief reflection paper that considers photography's role in branding and strategy. Examples include selfies, snapshot aesthetics, and photography-based firms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Tinder, and Yahoo! Argues that the role of photography for branding deserves a closer look.
A study on resistance of vector for Japanese Encephalitis to insecticides in Shanghai

[Objective] To investigate the resistance of vector for Japanese Encephalitis(Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex pipens pallens) to three insecticides in Shanghai. [Method] Dipping method was used. [Results] C.tritaeniorhynchus had high resistance to dichlorvos and cypermethrin,while was little susceptible or with low resistance to deltamethrin.C.pipens pallens also had high resistance to dichlorvos,with low to moderate resistance to deltamethion and cypermethrin.[Conclusion] It is necessary to use insecticides for mosquito control rationally based on its resistance.
Protection of Critical Structures During Radiofrequency Ablation of Adjacent Myocardial Tissue Using Catheter Tips Partially Insulated With Thermally Conductive Material

Abstract Objectives This study sought to determine whether partially insulated focused ablation (PIFA) catheters can minimize risk of injury to critical structures, such as the phrenic nerve and atrioventricular (AV) node, during ablation of adjacent myocardial tissue. Background PIFA catheters using thermally conductive materials may have differential radiofrequency (RF) heating properties allowing for tailored RF application with more precision. Methods Open-irrigated, 4- and 8-mm RF ablation catheter tips were insulated partially by coating one-half of their surfaces with a layer of vinyl, silicone, vinyl–silicone, polyurethane, or a composite of aluminum oxide/boron nitride (AOBN). These coated catheters or corresponding noninsulated catheters were positioned with 10 g of force on viable bovine myocardial tissue during RF application in an ex vivo setup. Tip temperatures, power, and lesion volumes were compared. The most effective coating, AOBN, was modified further by adding fenestrations to aid in passive cooling. PIFA catheters with fenestrated AOBN coating were then tested in an in vivo porcine model to target myocardial tissue adjacent to the AV node and the phrenic nerve. Results PIFA catheters all demonstrated higher tip temperatures, although silicone- and AOBN-catheters demonstrated this to a lesser degree. Significant differences in lesion volumes and temperature-limited powers were noted between control, silicone, and AOBN tips. Steam pops were significantly higher for silicone but not AOBN. In contrast with non-PIFA catheters, injuries to the phrenic nerve and AV node during in vivo ablations with AOBN insulation positioned over these structures were reduced significantly. Conclusions RF ablation using catheter tips partially coated with a thermally conductive insulation material such as AOBN results in larger ablation lesion volumes without temperature limitations. Partial insulation of the catheter tip will protect adjacent critical structures during RF ablation.
UDPglucuronosyltransferase deficiency in man and animals.

Deficient function of hepatic UDPglucuronosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.17) is readily detected because affected individuals have non-haemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia which is usually severe enough to produce clinical jaundice. Deficient hepatic UDPGT activity has been demonstrated in six pathobiologic states: (i) Gunn rats (Arias, 1959 ; Dutton, 1980), (ii) Crigler-Najjar syndrome (type I) patients (Wolkoff et al., 1983). (iii) Crigler-Najar syndrome (type 11) patients (Arias et al., 1969), (iv) Gilbert’s syndrome in man (Arias & London, 1957; Wolkoff et al., 1983), (v) Gilbert’s syndrome in Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Roy Chowdhury et al., 1982b,c), and the most common form, (vi) neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in man and monkeys (Gartner et al., 1977). In each disorder, reduced hepatic UDPGT activity was demonstrated when homogenates of microsomes were incubated with UDPGA and bilirubin or several other glucuronide acceptors (Roy Chowdhury et al., 1982~; Wolkoff et al., 1983). Only recently have advances in purification of UDPGT (see Burchell, 1981) permitted partial answers to be obtained to the following longstanding questions. (i) Is there a single UDPGT with varied affinity for different receptors forming acyl, alcoholic, ethereal, Nand S-linked glucuronides or is there a family of UDPGTs with overlapping substrate specificities? (ii) What is the role of microsomal membrane lipids in the expression and regulation of UDPGT activity? (iii) What is the specific structural and molecular defect in disorders characterized by deficient UDPGT activity? The number of these disorders, availability of mutant (Gunn) rats and squirrel (Bolivian) monkeys (Roy Chowdhury et al., 19826,~) and progress in UDPGT purification prompted our efforts to purify UDPGT(s) from the liver of normal and mutant rats, squirrel monkeys, and man. Our goal is to determine the structure of the enzymes and develop immunologic and molecular probes to characterize their regulation, development and response to pharmacologic and molecular manipulation. Based upon the accomplishments of others (Gorski & Kasper, 1977; Burchell, 1978; Bock etal., 1979; Weatherill & Burchell, 1980; Tukey & Tephly, 1981) and collaborations with Burchell and Tephly and their associates, we have made progress toward these aims as reported in this paper.
Teleexercise for Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Case Series

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in significant loss of function below the level of injury, often leading to restricted participation in community exercise programs. To overcome commonly experienced barriers to these programs, innovations in technology hold promise for remotely delivering safe and effective bouts of exercise in the home. Objective: To test the feasibility of a remotely delivered home exercise program for individuals with SCI as determined by (1) implementation of the intervention in the home; (2) exploration of the potential intervention effects on aerobic fitness, physical activity behavior, and subjective well-being; and (3) acceptability of the program through participant self-report. Methods: Four adults with SCI (mean age 43.5 [SD 5.3] years; 3 males, 1 female; postinjury 25.8 [SD 4.3] years) completed a mixed-methods sequential design with two phases: an 8-week intervention followed by a 3-week nonintervention period. The intervention was a remotely delivered aerobic exercise training program (30-45 minutes, 3 times per week). Instrumentation included an upper body ergometer, tablet, physiological monitor, and custom application that delivered video feed to a remote trainer and monitored and recorded exercise data in real time. Implementation outcomes included adherence, rescheduled sessions, minutes of moderate exercise, and successful recording of exercise data. Pre/post-outcomes included aerobic capacity (VO2 peak), the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Quality of Life Index modified for spinal cord injury (QLI-SCI). Acceptability was determined by participant perceptions of the program features and impact, assessed via qualitative interview at the end of the nonintervention phase. Results: Participants completed all 24 intervention sessions with 100% adherence. Out of 96 scheduled training sessions for the four participants, only 8 (8%) were makeup sessions. The teleexercise system successfully recorded 85% of all exercise data. The exercise program was well tolerated by all participants. All participants described positive outcomes as a result of the intervention and stated that teleexercise circumvented commonly reported barriers to exercise participation. There were no reported adverse events and no dropouts. Conclusion: A teleexercise system can be a safe and feasible option to deliver home-based exercise for persons with SCI. Participants responded favorably to the intervention and valued teleexercise for its ability to overcome common barriers to exercise. Study results are promising but warrant further investigation in a larger sample. [JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2016;3(2):e8]
Asymptotic Distribution of Sample Quantiles for Exchangeable Random Variables

SummaryThe purpose of this article is to investigate the ‘large sample’ properties of sample quantiles when we assume that the basic random variables are exchangeable (ref. Loeve (1960) p. 365). It is shown that under different conditions (to be specified below) on the nature of these exchangeable random variables the distribution of the sample quantile Xr : n where Xr : n is the rth order statistic for the first n exchangeable random variables (limn→∞ rn = p; 0 < p < 1) tends, as n → ∞, to different nondegenerate forms. As an example, the special case of random variables with equicor-related multivariate normal distribution is discussed.
Building Games to Learn from Their Players: Generating Hints in a Serious Game

This paper presents a method for generating hints based on observed world states in a serious game. BOTS is an educational puzzle game designed to teach programming fundamentals. To incorporate intelligent feedback in the form of personalized hints, we apply data-driven hint-generation methods. This is especially challenging for games like BOTS because of the open-ended nature of the problems. By using a modified representation of player data focused on outputs rather than actions, we are able to generate hints for players who are in similar (rather than identical) states, creating hints for multiple cases without requiring expert knowledge. Our contributions in this work are twofold. Firstly, we generalize techniques from the ITS community in hint generation to an educational game. Secondly, we introduce a novel approach to modeling student states for open-ended problems, like programming in BOTS. These techniques are potentially generalizable to programming tutors for mainstream languages.
Changing Perceptions of Systemic Risk in Financial Regulation

After the onset of the financial crisis in 2007, official reports noted that the crisis demonstrated failures of pre-crisis financial regulation. Since the crisis, governments, international organizations and regulators have emphasized systemic risk and financial stability as a core concern of financial regulation. A focus on interconnectedness is a critical component of the analysis of financial stability: financial market activity interconnects across territorial borders, across market sectors and through transactional linkages in ways that pre-crisis financial regulation did not effectively address. The institutional arrangements for transnational financial regulation have also changed: the G20 countries committed to a new co-ordination of financial regulation emphasizing financial stability, an enterprise commentators have characterized as a departure from the pre-crisis paradigm of networks of regulators. Public pronouncements by governments, regulators and international organizations suggest that there has been a transnational paradigm shift in financial regulation.
Quantification of urinary mono-hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by on-line solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be assessed through monitoring of urinary mono-hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs). Gas chromatography (GC) has been widely used to separate OH-PAHs before quantification by mass spectrometry in biomonitoring studies. However, because GC requires derivatization, it can be time consuming. We developed an on-line solid phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (on-line-SPE-HPLC-MS/MS) method for the quantification in urine of 1-OH-naphthalene, 2-OH-naphthalene, 2-OH-fluorene, 3-OH-fluorene, 1-OH-phenanthrene, the sum of 2-OH and 3-OH-phenanthrene, 4-OH-phenanthrene, and 1-OH-pyrene. The method, which employed a 96-well plate platform and on-line SPE, showed good sensitivity (i.e., limits of detection ranged from 0.007 to 0.09 ng/mL) and used only 100 μL of urine. Accuracy, calculated from the recovery percentage at three spiking levels, varied from 94 to 113 %, depending on the analyte. The inter- and intra-day precision, calculated from 20 repeated measurements of two quality control materials, varied from 5.2 to 16.7 %. Adequate method performance was also confirmed by acceptable recovery (83–102 %) of two NIST standard reference materials (3672 and 3673). This high-throughput on-line-SPE-HPLC-MS/MS method can be applied in large-scale epidemiological studies.
Molecular formula composition of β-caryophyllene ozonolysis SOA formed in humid and dry conditions

We studied the molecular formula composition of six β-caryophyllene SOA samples using ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry under various reaction conditions. The SOA samples were generated in dry or low relative humidity (RH) chamber conditions with or without cyclohexane. All of the studied SOA mass spectra have three distinct clusters of hundreds of negative ions referred to as Group I (100 < m/z < 400), Group II (400 < m/z < 700) and Group III (700 < m/z < 1 000) compounds. C14-16H22-28O2-11, C28-29H42-48O6-16 and C42-43H68-70O14-16 were observed as highly abundant organic compounds in the compound class of Group I, II and III, respectively. The relative intensities of most analytes were higher in humid conditions compared to those in dry conditions, indicating the importance of water-dependent reactions and the catalytic role of water both in the presence and absence of cyclohexane. In addition, molecular formulas with higher average carbon numbers were observed in humid SOA than in dry SOA in the absence of cyclohexane, suggesting a decrease of cleavage reactions in humid condition. This study characterizes β-caryophyllene ozonolysis SOA based on ultrahigh mass resolution and demonstrates the significance of humidity in terms of the molecular distributions and relative abundances of the analytes. We also discuss the possible mechanism for the formation of Group I-III compounds based on the current understanding of SOA formation in the atmosphere.
Tracking of Human Joints Using Twist and Exponential Map

Motion tracking system in the home-based environment exhibits attractive advantages for stroke patients. Current methods suffer from incapability of accurately tracking movements with high degrees of freedom. Additionally, displacement from the predefined position during inertial sensor mounting also affects system's performance. To tackle these challenges, a motion tracking system using twist and exponential map technology is developed in this paper. Firstly, a kinematic model for trunk and upper extremity is designed. Based on this model, twist and exponential map method which updates frames in their initial coordinates instead of transforming coordinates from one frame to another presents high convenience in estimating joints' position and orientation. In the experiment, multiple movements are tracked by both of inertial sensor system and optical tracking system. The system's high accuracy was verified by comparing with the optical tracking system.
Nicking Glaucoma with Nicotinamide

A mouse model of glaucoma implicates mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from a deficit in retinal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — together with elevated intraocular pressure — as causing susceptibility to glaucoma.
Kinetics and dynamics in the G protein-coupled receptor signaling cascade.

We describe optical and microscopy methods based on Forster resonance energy transfer, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and imaging cross-correlation spectroscopy that permit to determine kinetic and dynamic properties of key reactions involved G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling from the initial ligand binding step to the generation of the second messenger, cAMP. Well suited to determine rate-limiting reactions taking place along a GPCR signaling cascade in live cells, these techniques have also uncovered new concepts in GPCR signaling as well as many interesting mechanistic subtleties by which GPCRs transmit neurotransmitter and hormone signals into cells.
Relation between lifespan polytrauma typologies and post-trauma mental health

Abstract Background Most individuals experience more than one trauma. Hence, it is important to consider the count and types of traumas (polytraumatization) in relation to post-trauma mental health. Method The current study examined the relation of polytraumatization patterns to PTSD clusters (intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood [NACM], and alterations in arousal and reactivity [AAR]), depression, and impulsivity facets (lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, negative urgency, sensation seeking) using a web-based sample of 346 participants. Age, gender, race, and ethnicity were covariates. Results Results of latent class analyses indicated a three-class solution: Low Experience, Moderate Experience – Predominent Threat/Indirect PTEs (Moderate Experience), and High Experience – Predominant Interpersonal PTEs (High/Interpersonal). Multinomial logistic regression results indicated that ethnicity and gender were significant covariates in predicting Low versus High/Interpersonal Class, and Moderate Experience versus High/Interpersonal Class membership, respectively. The High/Interpersonal Class had higher scores on most PTSD clusters, depression, and the impulsivity facets of lack of perseverance and negative urgency compared to the other classes. The Low and Moderate Experience Classes differed on PTSD's avoidance and AAR clusters (lower in the former). Conclusions Individuals exposed to multiple PTE types, particularly interpersonal traumas, may be at risk for more severe post-trauma symptoms.
Mesh sutured repairs of contaminated incisional hernias

Abstract Background We sought to evaluate the results of a new mesh sutured repair technique for closure of contaminated incisional hernias. Methods 48 patients with contaminated hernias 5 cm wide or greater by CT scan were closed with mesh sutures. Surgical site occurrence, infections, and hernia recurrence were compared to similar patient series reported in the literature. Results Of the 48 patients, 20 had clean-contaminated wounds, 16 had contaminated wounds, and 12 were infected. 69% of the patients underwent an anterior perforator sparing components release for hernias that averaged 10.5 cm transversely (range 5 cm–25 cm). SSO occurred in 27% of patients while SSI was 19%. There were no fistulas or delayed suture sinuses. With a mean follow-up of almost 12 months, 3 midline hernias recurred (6%). In these same patients, three parastomal hernias repaired with mesh sutures failed out of 4 attempted for a total failure rate of 13%. Conclusion Mesh sutured closure represents a simplified and effective surgical strategy for contaminated midline incisional hernia repair.
Ligand Hyperfine Couplings and the Structure of Transition-Metal Complexes

Hyperfine couplings arising from nuclei in the ligands of transition metal complexes have been known for some fifteen years now and have from the first been valuable sources of information on covalency in such species. Within the past few years, however, many new results on ligand hyperfine couplings have been obtained, primarily by ESR. In particular, it has been shown in several systems that the often-invoked back donation or π covalency in cyanides is largely nonexistent, and the detection of ligand hyperfine couplings has verified, in several cases, an energy level scheme which puts the unpaired electron(s) in an orbital which is localized mainly on the ligands. A brief discussion of the detection and analysis of ligand hyperfine couplings will be followed by several examples of interest.
The Newly Proposed Lung Cancer TNM Classification: Review and Clinical Implications

Lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer-related mortality in the Western world, with more than 1,000,000 deaths each year [1]. Staging is vital in the approach to lung cancer since it offers both prognostic information and a guide for treatment decisions. A unified and universally accepted staging system is also essential to standardize nomenclature for international comparisons of clinical trials. The TNM system provides a detailed description of cancers based on the extent of the anatomic involvement, by defining the primary tumor (T), the regional lymph node involvement (N), and the presence of distant metastases (M) [2]. In this chapter we will review the proposed changes for the eighth edition of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) TNM staging system, and we will discuss its clinical implications, strengths, and limitations.
Prostate Ablation Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A Literature Review of the Potential Role for Patient Preference Information

Purpose: The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recently allowed the marketing of 2 high intensity focused ultrasound devices for prostate tissue ablation indications after previous rejections for a prostate cancer indication due to insufficient data on clinical effectiveness or direct patient benefit. We reviewed the safety and effectiveness of high intensity focused ultrasound and knowledge regarding patient preferences, such as tolerance for adverse events associated with high intensity focused ultrasound ablation of tissue, in men with prostate cancer. This may inform decision making for device developers and the FDA.Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed® and gray literature, including FDA reports for relevant data on 1) the safety and effectiveness of primary and salvage high intensity focused ultrasound of localized prostate cancer in studies performed in or outside the United States and 2) patient preference information on high intensity focused ultrasound related safety and effectiveness outco...
Violence as Solution, Culture of

While we in the United States deplore violence, we nevertheless live in a very violent society. Our society is not merely plagued by ‘illegitimate’ violence. Arguably, even more violence is generated by ‘legitimate’ behavior, engaged in by individuals, and by institutions, ranging from corporations to governments. Violence, on various levels, is standard behavior in US society. It is justified by rationales ranging from the ‘buyer beware’ to ‘shoot first’ to ‘the need for domestic order’ to ‘protecting US interests’ to ‘promoting national security’ to ‘preventive wars’.
Produktivität wird von Menschen entschieden — Personalführung und Arbeitszeitmodelle bei Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard ist ein weltweit tatiges Unternehmen mit Firmensitz in Palo Alto, Kalifornien. Das Unternehmen wurde 1939 von Bill Hewlett und David Packard gegrundet. David Packard ist als Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats noch heute aktiv. Beide Grunder haben unsere Unternehmenskultur und damit auch unsere Personalfuhrung masgeblich gepragt.
Disciplined (Un)Knowing: The Pedagogical Possibilities of Yogic Research as Praxis.

Within this paper, I seek to engage with the possibilities that may exist when, through a yogic lens, we disrupt those unspoken, but accepted boundaries with/in research and pedagogy that separate art and science, reader and author, student and teacher, knowing and not knowing. Using multiple genres, I explore the practice of researching and the limitations of Truth seeking to create space for dialogue across the text, as reader and writer consider the pedagogical possibilities of letting go within research. In a culture that places a premium on knowing, this work can be uncomfortable, but in the discomfort one may discover new ways of knowing and seeing that invite praxis within pedagogy. Key Words: Yoga, Arts-Informed Research, Pedagogy, Praxis, and Poststructuralism
Overview of the ETC POD Methodology

The probability of detection (POD) plays an integral role in the management of the lives of structural components. A number of methodologies exist for determining the POD [1]. These have been used with great success in the assessment of the detectability of surface-breaking defects such as low cycle fatigue cracks. However, a few, highly visible accidents have been caused by the rupture of rotating components of commercial jet engines due to cracks initiating from naturally occurring, internal inclusions. Difficulties have been encountered in applying existent methodologies to determine the POD of such defects for reasons such as the inability to prepare samples containing known defects which reasonably simulate naturally-occurring hard-alpha inclusions. This paper provides an overview of a new methodology that has been developed to overcome these difficulties [2–4]. The methodology also provides the advantage of providing a quantitative determination of the probability of false alarms (PFA), which quantify an important aspect of the economic costs of an inspection.
Decreased preoperative functional status is associated with increased mortality following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objectives Functional status prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery may be a risk factor for post-operative adverse events. We sought to examine the association between functional status in the 3 months prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery and subsequent 180 day mortality. Design, setting, and participants We performed a single center retrospective cohort study in 718 adults who received coronary artery bypass graft surgery from 2002 to 2014. Exposures The exposure of interest was functional status determined within the 3 months preceding coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Functional status was measured and rated by a licensed physical therapist based on qualitative categories adapted from the Functional Independence Measure. Main outcomes and measures The main outcome was 180-day all-cause mortality. A categorical risk prediction score was derived based on a logistic regression model of the function grades for each assessment. Results In a logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, New York Heart Association Class III/IV, chronic lung disease, hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, the lowest quartile of functional status was associated with an increased odds of 180-day mortality compared to patients with highest quartile of functional status [OR = 4.45 (95%CI 1.35, 14.69; P = 0.014)]. Conclusions Lower functional status prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery is associated with increased 180-day all-cause mortality.
Comparing badges and learning goals in low- and high-stakes learning contexts

Digital badges (i.e., digital credentials for achievements) have been suggested as a useful and scalable implementation of gamification. Digital badges (hereafter “badges”) provide two potential supports for learning: (1) badges provide support for motivation by rewarding achievement and (2) badges provide implicit learning goals. The present paper describes two experiments in which we investigated whether badges can support self-regulated learning by comparing their impact on learning with students given explicit goals for student learning, a key factor in self-regulated learning. Specifically, we compared the effects of badges and goal setting in a low-stakes learning context (Experiment 1; online extra credit unit) and a high-stakes learning context (Experiment 2; introductory Educational Psychology courses). In these two quasi-experiments, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: badge only, goal only, badge + goal, or control (i.e., no badge, no goal). Learning was measured by comparing performance on topics related to Turkish Culture (Experiment 1) or Educational Psychology (Experiment 2) at pre-test and post-test. Somewhat surprisingly, the results from both studies demonstrated no significant improvement in learning between groups. The discussion suggests that caution should be taken when incorporating badges in learning contexts and provides guidance on the conditions under which badges may be most effective for supporting learning.
Authoritarian state building through political decentralization and local government law: Evidence from the Islamic Republic of Iran

What motivates ideological authoritarian regimes to permit subnational elections? What mechanisms do these regimes employ to ensure that local electoral outcomes are favorable to the regime? Focusing on the decision to create a new tier of elected local government and the use of local government law, I argue that national elites can use local elections to strengthen state-building through increased institutionalization of mass political participation and by integrating local populations into the ambit of state controlled public goods provision. I illustrate this argument by analyzing elected local government in the Islamic Republic of Iran. I show how the state’s legal framework successfully constrains local actors in three contested domains: the scope of political participation, the extent of legislative authority, and the degree of fiscal autonomy. A major implication of these findings is that expanding participation through subnational elected government in an ideological Islamist regime contributes to authoritarian nation-state building. ?Que motiva a los regimenes autoritarios ideologicos a permitir elecciones subnacionales? ?Que mecanismos emplean para asegurarse de que los resultados de las elecciones locales les son favorables? Argumentamos aqui que las elites nacionales pueden utilizar las elecciones locales para fortalecer la construccion del Estado a traves de una creciente institucionalizacion de la participacion politica masiva y de la integracion de poblaciones locales en el ambito de las provisiones de bienes controlados por el Estado. Ilustramos ese argumento con un analisis del gobierno local electo en la Republica Islamica de Iran. El marco juridico del Estado limita a los agentes locales en la participacion politica, la autoridad legislativa y la autonomia fiscal. Una importante implicacion de estos hallazgos es que la expansion de la participacion a traves de un gobierno subnacional electo en un regimen ideologico islamista contribuye a la construccion del Estado-nacion autoritario. Available from: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1029
Role of the ocular surface microbiome in allergic disease.

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this review is to provide an update regarding new and emerging data on the role of the ocular surface microbiome in allergic disease.Recent findingsRecent findings support the role of the microbiome in the pathophysiology of allergic disease of the ocular surface.Summ
The evolving role of cytoreductive nephrectomy: incorporating genomics of metastatic renal cell carcinoma into treatment decisions.

Purpose of review Recent publications evaluating cytoreductive nephrectomy in the era of targeted therapy emphasize the importance of patient selection. We reviewed the predictive role of genetic alterations in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy. Recent findings Studies evaluating the association between genetic alterations and outcomes following systemic treatment for mRCC include mainly patients after cytoreductive nephrectomy. Expression of proangiogenic genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms involving genes of the vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway and somatic mutations of chromatin remodeling genes were associated with response to VEGF-targeted therapy. Outcomes following treatment with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors were initially associated with mTOR/TSC1/TSC2 mutations; however, subsequent studies did not validate these findings but rather found an association between loss of PTEN expression and PBRM1 mutations and improved outcomes. Loss of PBRM1 was initially linked to response to immunotherapy; however, larger studies question this association and showed high expression of T-effector gene signature predicted improved outcome. Primary tumors with low intratumor heterogeneity but elevated somatic copy-number alterations were associated with rapid progression at multiple sites. Summary Genetic alterations may help select patients for cytoreductive nephrectomy and optimize timing of treatment. Intratumor heterogeneity and genetic discordance between primary and metastatic tumors may limit clinical applicability. Future studies should evaluate approaches to overcome these limitations.
Financial Constraints and Long-Term Performance of Acquirers

This paper shows an empirical evidence that the level of financial constraints for target and acquiring firms in an M&A deal has a significant impact on wealth gains by the acquiring firm in long-term. If both target and acquiring firms are financially unconstrained, thus have low financing costs, investors believe that the level of M&A synergy for them is low in long-term since they do not have a high level of incentives to pool resources to reduce financing cost. On the other hand, long-term gain for acquiring firms’ shareholders is positive and significantly higher than for the other deals if both target and acquiring firms are financially constrained, since they can reduce financing costs by pooling their resources. This positive average long-term abnormal return for the constrained pairs of acquirer and target can be partially explained by industry diversification, impact of institutional ownership, and the level of corporate governance for the acquirer.
Pilot Study of Return of Genetic Results to Patients in Adult Nephrology.

Background and objectives Actionable genetic findings have implications for care of patients with kidney disease, and genetic testing is an emerging tool in nephrology practice. However, there are scarce data regarding best practices for return of results and clinical application of actionable genetic findings for kidney patients. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We developed a return of results workflow in collaborations with clinicians for the retrospective recontact of adult nephrology patients who had been recruited into a biobank research study for exome sequencing and were identified to have medically actionable genetic findings. Results Using this workflow, we attempted to recontact a diverse pilot cohort of 104 nephrology research participants with actionable genetic findings, encompassing 34 different monogenic etiologies of nephropathy and five single-gene disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics for return as medically actionable secondary findings. We successfully recontacted 64 (62%) participants and returned results to 41 (39%) individuals. In each case, the genetic diagnosis had meaningful implications for the patients’ nephrology care. Through implementation efforts and qualitative interviews with providers, we identified over 20 key challenges associated with returning results to study participants, and found that physician knowledge gaps in genomics was a recurrent theme. We iteratively addressed these challenges to yield an optimized workflow, which included standardized consultation notes with tailored management recommendations, monthly educational conferences on core topics in genomics, and a curated list of expert clinicians for patients requiring extranephrologic referrals. Conclusions Developing the infrastructure to support return of genetic results in nephrology was resource-intensive, but presented potential opportunities for improving patient care. Podcast This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2020_04_16_12481019.mp3
Tidal influence in the determination of long-term trends in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere from LIDAR observations

Abstract Atmospheric temperature has both variations with time constants of order ½ year or longer, such as trends, annual and semiannual oscillation as well as variations with shorter time constants such as two-day waves, diurnal and semidiurnal tides, and gravity waves. Long-term amplitudes, such as trends and solar flux variations, have been determined from the time series of observed sodium lidar temperatures averaged over a night or a fixed 2-h interval by ignoring the short time-scale variations. Since during the twenty-eight years of the CSU/USU sodium lidar experiments diurnal and semi-diurnal temperature tides could be as much as 9 K and 18 K, respectively, it is particularly important to estimate their effects. We accept the Climatological Tidal Model of the Thermosphere (CTMT) and show that, for linear models, the tidal shift of trends depends upon (1) the times of observations, (2) averages of the short-time variations, and (3) the basis functions of the long-time variations, such as t, sin(2πt/1yr) and solar flux, but (4) not on observed temperatures. This allows planning experimental campaigns and analyses to reduce the tidal effects. We compare the tidal shifts of temperature trends and tidal shifts in the annual and semiannual amplitudes for CSU/USU experiments using 2-h averages (_2 MN) and nightly averages (_Ngt) using data from all times during the year and those restricted to different seasons. For example, the maximum tidal shifts in trends in temperatures, winds, and air density are predicted to occur at altitudes around 100 km. For the CSU/USU experiments the tidal shifts of temperature trends vary between 0 and 1.5 K/decade depending on altitude and annual/seasonal data used; between 85 and 100 km, they are much smaller for 2-h means (_2 MN) than for nightly means (_Ngt).
Assessment of two DNA extraction kits for profiling poultry respiratory microbiota from multiple sample types

Characterization of poultry microbiota is becoming increasingly important due to the growing need for microbiome-based interventions to improve poultry health and production performance. However, the lack of standardized protocols for sampling, sample processing, DNA extraction, sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis can hinder data comparison between studies. Here, we investigated how the DNA extraction process affects microbial community compositions and diversity metrics in different chicken respiratory sample types including choanal and tracheal swabs, nasal cavity and tracheal washes, and lower respiratory lavage. We did a side-by-side comparison of the performances of Qiagen DNeasy blood and tissue (BT) and ZymoBIOMICS DNA Miniprep (ZB) kits. In general, samples extracted with the BT kit yielded higher concentrations of total DNA while those extracted with the ZB kit contained higher numbers of bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies per unit volume. Therefore, the samples were normalized to equal amounts of 16S rRNA gene copies prior to sequencing. For each sample type, all predominant taxa detected in samples extracted with one kit were present in replicate samples extracted with the other kit and did not show significant differences at the class level. Furthermore, between-kit differences in alpha and beta diversity metrics were statistically indistinguishable. Therefore, both kits perform similarly with regard to 16S rRNA gene-based poultry microbiome analysis.
Medical Management in Focal versus Generalized Epilepsy

About 70% of children with new-onset epilepsy have the potential to become seizure-free on antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapy with appropriately selected first-line medication. In ideal world, physician is expected to achieve best possible seizure control without impacting the quality of life. There is rapid increase in number of AEDs available over last couple of decades. Although not necessarily all of them are superior to old generation drugs in terms of seizure control, certainly there is change in landscape from perspective of tolerability and side-effect profile. Physicians must therefore be familiar with safety, tolerability, therapeutic effects, synergistic combinations as well as AEDs to avoid in specific circumstances. The article attempts to give general overview of available AEDs under broad umbrella of effectiveness against focal and generalized seizures as well as drugs with “broad spectrum.” The emergence of newer AEDs with broad spectrum and favorable side-effect profile is welcome. However, the future lies in better understanding of underlying diverse pathophysiology of clinical symptom “epilepsy” and developing new compounds acting on molecular targets as well as individualizing therapy. Technological advances in molecular genetics research are bringing precision medicine to the fore.
Debaryomyces is enriched in Crohn’s disease intestinal tissue and impairs healing in mice

Alterations of the mycobiota composition associated with Crohn’s disease (CD) are challenging to link to defining elements of pathophysiology, such as poor injury repair. Using culture-dependent and -independent methods, we discovered that Debaryomyces hansenii preferentially localized to and was abundant within incompletely healed intestinal wounds of mice and inflamed mucosal tissues of CD human subjects. D. hansenii cultures from injured mice and inflamed CD tissues impaired colonic healing when introduced into injured conventionally raised or gnotobiotic mice. We reisolated D. hansenii from injured areas of these mice, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Mechanistically, D. hansenii impaired mucosal healing through the myeloid cell–specific type 1 interferon–CCL5 axis. Taken together, we have identified a fungus that inhabits inflamed CD tissue and can lead to dysregulated mucosal healing.
METTL8 is required for 3-methylcytosine modification in human mitochondrial tRNAs

A subset of eukaryotic tRNAs is methylated in the anticodon loop to form the 3-methylcytosine (m3C) modification. In mammals, the number of tRNAs containing m3C has expanded to include mitochondrial (mt) tRNA-Ser-UGA and mt-tRNA-Thr-UGU. Whereas the enzymes catalyzing m3C formation in nuclear- encoded cytoplasmic tRNAs have been identified, the proteins responsible for m3C modification in mt- tRNAs are unknown. Here, we show that m3C formation in human mt-tRNAs is dependent upon the Methyltransferase-Like 8 (METTL8) enzyme. We find that METTL8 is a mitochondria-associated protein that interacts with mitochondrial seryl-tRNA synthetase along with mt-tRNAs containing m3C. Human cells deficient in METTL8 exhibit loss of m3C modification in mt-tRNAs but not nuclear-encoded tRNAs. Consistent with the mitochondrial import of METTL8, the formation of m3C in METTL8-deficient cells can be rescued by re-expression of wildtype METTL8 but not by a METTL8 variant lacking the N-terminal mitochondrial localization signal. Notably, METTL8-deficiency in human cells causes alterations in the native migration pattern of mt-tRNA-Ser-UGA suggesting a role for m3C in tRNA folding. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that METTL8 is required for m3C formation in mitochondrial tRNAs and uncover a potential role for m3C modification in mitochondrial tRNA structure.