cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Spectrum of Clinical Challenges

Since their earliest description, keloids and hypertrophic scars have beleaguered patients and clinicians alike. These scars can be aesthetically disfiguring, functionally debilitating, emotionally distressing, and psychologically damaging, culminating in a significant burden for patients. Our current understanding of keloid pathophysiology has grown and continues to advance while molecular biology, genetics, and technology provide ever-deepening insight into the nature of wound healing and the pathologic perturbations thereof. Greater understanding will lead to the development and application of refined therapeutic modalities. This article provides an overview of our current understanding of keloids, highlighting clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria while providing a comprehensive summary of the many therapeutic modalities available. The proposed mechanism, application, adverse events, and reported efficacy of each modality is evaluated, and current recommendations are summarized.
Of Football, ‘Footnote One,’ and the Counter-Jurisdictional Establishment Clause: The Story of Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe

This article is a chapter in the forthcoming collection First Amendment Stories. It tells the story of Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, a case in which the United States Supreme Court struck down a school policy establishing an election mechanism that enabled student-led prayers before football games. It offers both a doctrinal and a human perspective on the case. In particular, this article focuses on two issues. First, it argues that the first footnote in the Supreme Court’s opinion in Santa Fe, recounting the strenuous efforts that both school officials and private citizens undertook to “ferret out” the identity of the anonymous plaintiffs in the case, deserves greater attention. “Footnote One” speaks volumes about why the election mechanism the school district tried to employ as a “circuit-breaker” between government speech and private speech failed, and more broadly about the meaning of the Establishment Clause in overwhelmingly religiously homogeneous jurisdictions. Second, it argues that for similar reasons, there are good grounds for thinking about the Establishment Clause in a “counter-jurisdictional” fashion: that is, despite its own language, the Establishment Clause should, if anything, be more strictly maintained at the state and local level than at the national level. This suggestion, which follows from the lumpy rather than even nature of religious diversity in the United States, runs counter to an increasing trend on the Court and in legal scholarship in favor of a “jurisdictional” reading of the Establishment Clause which would apply it more loosely at the state and local level than at the national level.
Teachers’ use of new standards, frameworks, and assessments: Local cases of NYS elementary grade teachers

Abstract The authors investigated how primary grade teachers in four upstate New York districts used the state standards in a summer cross‐district curriculum development institute funded in part with federal initiatives. Using document and interview analyses, the authors interpreted teachers’ perceptions of the standards and described the teachers’ curriculum products in light of the four district contexts in which the teachers worked. Next, a cross‐case comparison of teachers from two of the districts with similar demographics but differing expectations for teachers’ work further illustrated the influence of district context in determining what teachers understood to be their responsibility. The study also reported that teachers held a more narrow view of learning than that set forth in the state standards, a view that the authors attributed to teachers’ real‐life experiences with the subject matter of beginning reading instruction, an area not adequately addressed by the standards.
Dispersal and Dispersion in a Population of Soldier Beetles, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Coleoptera: Cantheridae)

Mark-recapture methods were used to examine movement patterns in a population of soldier beetles ( Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus ). Eighty-one percent of 776 marked beetles were recaptured 24 h after release. Males were recaptured in greater proportion than were females, and sex ratios in the population were skewed in favor of males. Frequency distributions for distances moved were similar and leptokurtic for both sexes. The abundance of both males and females within the study site was highly correlated with the presence of breeding sites and food ( Solidago sp.). Partial correlation analyses suggest that males and females responded to Solidago plants in different ways: male density was positively correlated with plant abundance, and female density was positively correlated with male abundance and uncorrelated with plant abundance. Proportions of each sex remaining at a site were correlated with the density of the opposite sex but uncorrelated with Solidago .
Tight Control of Light Beams in Photonic Crystals with Spatially-Variant Unit Cells

Spatially-variant photonic crystals can be used to direct light through tight turns, with turning radii as small as Rbend ~ 20 μm, whereas waveguides having similar Rbend exhibit high loss.
Effectiveness of pedestrian safety education among children in Hangzhou

Objective To analyze pedestrian safety awareness among children in Hangzhou,and to evaluate effectiveness of health education on pedestrian safety. Methods Through a multi-stage random cluster sampling,students from first to sixth grade in primary schools from 4 districts in Hangzhou were selected. Awareness of pedestrian safety was assessed before and after health education program. Results No significant differences were found in awareness of pedestrian safety among students before the intervention( P0.05). Awareness increased both in boys and girls after intervention( P0.01). The intervention effect was more remarkable among girls than boys in the item " cross the road at crossroad"( for girls P = 0.001,for boys P = 0.116). Awareness of pedestrian safety improved at varying extent among students in different grades( P0.01). The intervention effect was higher in middle-grade students than in low-grade and high-grade students. Students reporting " not worried by crossing the street" accounted for17.5% and 19.1% before and after the intervention,respectively. But the psychological state of children on walking safety before and after the intervention had not been improved( P0.05). Conclusion The short-term pedestrian safety education seems effective. Intervention should consider comprehensive physiological and psychological factors of subjects,the interactions between boys and girls,grades,differences in schools and class size in urban and rural areas. Effective pedestrian education,encouragement should be developed and conducted for the optimal development of physical and psychological abilities among children and adolescents.
Sensor Skins: An Overview

Sensor skins can be broadly defined as distributed sensors over a surface to provide proprioceptive, tactile, and environmental feedback. This chapter focuses on sensors and sensor networks that can achieve strains on the same order as elastomers and human skin, which makes these sensors compatible with emerging wearable technologies. A combination of material choices, processing limitations, and design must be considered in order to achieve multimodal, biocompatible sensor skins capable of operating on objects and bodies with complex geometries and dynamic functionalities. This chapter overviews the commonly used materials, fabrication techniques, structures and designs of stretchable sensor skins, and also highlights the current challenges and future opportunities of such sensors.
Reproductive Emergencies in the Mare

This article briefly reviews the clinical management of emergency conditions likely to be encountered by veterinarians responsible for the reproductive health of mares. The article discusses rectal tears, breeding injuries, uterine torsion, placental hydrops, and prepubic tendon rupture. A major component discusses a recommended approach to dystocias, and the management of such complications as uterine rupture and prolapse and postpartum hemorrhage. Management of retained fetal membranes and septic metritis is addressed.
Technological Evolution and Transhumanism

Since the Big Bang, the universe has been in constant evolution and continuous transformation. First there were physical interactions, followed by chemical reactions, then biological processes, and finally now technological evolution.
Doxycycline alters collagen composition following ventral hernia repair

Doxycycline, a nonspecific metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, has been demonstrated to impact the strength of the polypropylene (PP) mesh-repaired hernia with an increase in the deposition of collagen type 1. The impact of doxycycline with porcine acellular dermal matrices (PADM) is unknown; therefore, we evaluated the impact of doxycycline administration upon hernia repair with PP and PADM mesh. Sprague–Dawley rats weighing ~400 g underwent laparotomy with creation of a midline ventral hernia. After a 27-day recovery, animals were randomly assigned to four groups of eight and underwent intraperitoneal underlay hernia repair with either PP or PADM. Groups were assigned to daily normal saline (S) or daily doxycycline in normal saline 10 mg/kg (D) via oral gavage for 8 weeks beginning 24 h preoperatively. Animals were euthanized at 8 weeks and underwent tensiometric testing of the abdominal wall and western blot analyses for collagen subtypes and MMPs. Thirty-two animals underwent successful hernia creation and repair with either PADM or PP. At 8 weeks, 15 of 16 PP-implanted animals survived with only 12 of 16 PADM-implanted animals surviving. There were no differences in the mesh to fascial interface tensiometric strength between groups. Densitometric counts in the PADM-D group demonstrated increased collagen type 1 compared to PP-S (PADM-D [1286.5], PADM-S [906.9], PP-S [700.4], p = 0.037) and decreased collagen type 3 compared to PP-S (PADM-D [7446.9], PADM-S [8507.6], PP-S [11,297.1], p = 0.01). MMP-9 levels were increased in PADM-D (PP-S vs. PADM-D, p = 0.04), while MMP-2 levels were similar between PADM-D and PADM-S, respectively. Collagen type 1 deposition at the mesh to fascial interface is enhanced following administration of doxycycline in ventral hernia repairs with porcine acellular dermal matrices. Doxycycline administration may have implications for enhancing hernia repair outcomes using biologic mesh.
Development of an Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer Platform

Complex samples benefit from multidimensional measurements where higher resolution enables more complete characterization of biological and environmental systems. To address this challenge, we developed a drift tube-based ion mobility spectrometry-Orbitrap mass spectrometer (IMS-Orbitrap MS) platform. To circumvent the time scale disparity between the fast IMS separation and the much slower Orbitrap MS acquisition, we utilized a dual gate and pseudorandom sequences to multiplex the injection of ions and allow operation in signal averaging (SA), single multiplexing (SM), and double multiplexing (DM) IMS modes to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements. For the SM measurements, a previously developed algorithm was used to reconstruct the IMS data. A new algorithm was developed for the DM analyses involving a two-step process that first recovers the SM data and then decodes the SM data. The algorithm also performs multiple refining procedures to minimize demultiplexing artifacts. The new IMS-O...
Approximating exponential and logarithmic functions using polynomial interpolation

This article takes a closer look at the problem of approximating the exponential and logarithmic functions using polynomials. Either as an alternative to or a precursor to Taylor polynomial approximations at the precalculus level, interpolating polynomials are considered. A measure of error is given and the behaviour of the error function is analysed. The results of interpolating polynomials are compared with those of Taylor polynomials.
Incorporation of environmental flows in water allocation in Texas

ABSTRACTAn institutional framework and supporting water availability modelling capabilities are presented for integrating ecological needs into water resources management. Concepts illustrated by the Texas experience are relevant worldwide. Environmental flow standards with subsistence, base, in-bank pulse and over-bank flow components are established through a legislatively mandated process by stakeholder committees and science teams working in collaboration with government agencies. The flow standards incorporate ecosystem needs into water allocation and associated water availability modelling. Recognizing the complexities of defining and preserving environmental stream flows, expedited present action is combined with an adaptive management process for future improvements.
Aging of Silicon Nanocrystals on Elastomer Substrates: Photoluminescence Effects

Nanocrystalline silicon is widely known as an efficient and tunable optical emitter and is attracting great interest for applications such as light-emitting devices (LEDs), electronic displays, sensors, and solar-photovoltaics. To date, however, luminescent silicon nanocrystals have been used exclusively in traditional rigid devices, leaving a gap in knowledge regarding how they behave on elastomeric substrates. The present study shows how the optical and structural/morphological properties of plasma-synthesized silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) change when they are deposited on stretchable substrates made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Our results indicate that SiNCs deposited directly from the gas phase onto PDMS exhibit morphological changes, as well as modified aging characteristics due to enhanced oxidation. These results begin to fill the knowledge gap and point to the potential of using luminescent SiNC layers for flexible and stretchable electronics such as LEDs, displays, and sensors.
Using Game Theory to Resolve the “Chicken and Egg” Situation in Promoting Cellulosic Bioenergy Development

Abstract The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires production of cellulosic biofuel, such as ethanol produced from switchgrass. However, the bioenergy industry faces a well-established “chicken and egg” conundrum where biorefineries cannot be built until adequate farmers' participation in cellulosic biomass production is ensured; on the other hand, farmers will not commit to growing cellulosic biomass until a market is established. We assume that individual farmers in a future biofuel market are boundedly rational, and will endure the risk of growing switchgrass if they are likely to receive a better payoff in the future. After the number of switchgrass farmers reaches a certain threshold, sufficient biomass can be procured to build an economically viable biorefinery. If a biorefinery is built in a region, the reductions of logistics costs and economies of scale lead to the realization of a public good, and all farmers can be benefited from it; otherwise, the efforts of early switchgrass adopters could be unsuccessful. In this paper, an appropriate biorefinery capacity and the corresponding incentives provided to the farmers are determined by balancing the impact and the risk of the public good. Our incentive model is more efficient than a program that incentivizes all switchgrass growers equally.
Culture and Self-Determination

This chapter explores the impact of context, namely cultural factors, on the development of self-determination. The influence of one’s personal culture and cultural norms and beliefs on the development of self-determination are reviewed. The role of Causal Agency Theory in understanding influence of culture on the development of self-determination, and research on the operationalization of self-determined action in diverse cultures is presented. Implications for the development of self-determination across cultural contexts is discussed.
Hyperglycemia attenuates receptor activator of NF-κB ligand-induced macrophage activation by suppressing insulin signaling.

Abstract Background Although male gender, aging, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking are common risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm, diabetes mellitus is an independent negative risk factor. In aneurysm tissue, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expressed by activated macrophages degrades extracellular matrix proteins. In our previous experimental study, we demonstrated that the aneurysmal formation and macrophage activity were suppressed by inhibiting mimicking hyperglycemia (HG) through upregulation of glucose-sensing nuclear receptor, Nr1h2. Here in this study, we focused on the role of HG-induced altered glucose uptake on macrophage activation. Methods RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells were pretreated in cultures containing HG (HG group, 15.5 mM) or normal glucose (NG) concentrations (NG group, 5.5 mM) for 7 d. The culture medium was then changed in both groups to NG conditions, and the cells were stimulated with recombinant murine soluble receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (sRANKL). Macrophage activation was confirmed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Results Compared with the NG group, MMP-9 expression in the HG group was significantly suppressed. Glucose uptake was increased in the NG group but not in the HG group during macrophage activation. To determine the mechanism of activation, we studied the expression and distribution of glucose transporters (Gluts) in the macrophages. Although Glut expression was unaffected by glucose pretreatment, membrane translocation of Glut-1 was significantly enhanced in macrophages in the NG group but not in the HG group during activation. Insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) messenger RNA, known stimulate to membrane translocation of Gluts, were both decreased by the HG condition but not by the NG condition. Conclusions HG pretreatment suppressed the macrophage activation. sRANKL increased macrophage glucose uptake at NG concentrations, which was impaired by HG pretreatment through the inhibition of Glut1 membrane translocation and the insulin receptor and IRS-1 gene transcription. These data suggest that HG suppressed macrophage activation, through attenuation of glucose uptake via the suppression of the membrane translocation of Glut1 and insulin signaling.
Evaluating operating and profitability efficiencies of hotel companies

The study of supply side of the hotel sector is rare although hotels play an important role in generating revenues in tourism industry, which has a large contribution on global economic growth. This study fills the supply-side literature gap through discussing the operating and profitability efficiencies of US listed hotel companies in the recent five years through a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. Hotels are categorised into four groups according to the stability and trend of their operating and profitability efficiencies in this five-year period. Findings suggest that hotels' operating efficiency and profitability efficiency are highly correlated. Implications for improving hotels' operating and profitability efficiencies are provided.
Seeded Laplacian in sparse subspace for hyperspectral image classification

Sparse Representation (SR) has received an increasing amount of interest in recent years. It aims to find the sparsest representation of each data capturing high-level semantics among the linear combinations of the base sets in a given dictionary. In order to further improve the classification performance, the joint SR that incorporates interpixel correlation information of neighborhoods has been proposed for image pixel classification. However, joint SR method yields high computational cost. To improve the performance and computation efficiency of SR and joint SR, we propose a seeded Laplacian based on sparse representation (SeedLSR) framework for hyperspectral image classification, where a hypergraph Laplacian explicitly takes into account the local manifold structure of the hyperspectral pixel in a spatial-type weighted graph. Given the training data in a dictionary, SeedLSR algorithm firstly finds the sparse representation of hyperspectral pixels, which is used to define the spectral-type affinity matrix of an undirected graph. Then, using the training data as user-defined seeds, the final classification can be obtained by solving the combination of spectral and spatial hypergraph Laplacian quadratic problem. To assess the efficiency of the proposed SeedLSR method, experiments were performed on the scene data under daylight illumination. Compared with SR algorithm, the classification results vary smoothly along the geodesics of the data manifold.
SLC12A7 alters adrenocortical carcinoma cell adhesion properties to promote an aggressive invasive behavior

Altered expression of Solute Carrier Family 12 Member 7 (SLC12A7) is implicated to promote malignant behavior in multiple cancer types through an incompletely understood mechanism. Recent studies have shown recurrent gene amplifications and overexpression of SLC12A7 in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). The potential mechanistic effect(s) of SLC12A7 amplifications in portending an aggressive behavior in ACC has not been previously studied and is investigated here using two established ACC cell lines, SW-13 and NCI-H295R. SW-13 cells, which express negligible amounts of SLC12A7, were enforced to express SLC12A7 constitutively, while RNAi gene silencing was performed in NCI-H295R cells, which have robust endogenous expression of SLC12A7. In vitro studies tested the outcomes of experimental alterations in SLC12A7 expression on malignant characteristics, including cell viability, growth, colony formation potential, motility, invasive capacity, adhesion and detachment kinetics, and cell membrane organization. Further, potential alterations in transcription regulation downstream to induced SLC12A7 overexpression was explored using targeted transcription factor expression arrays. Enforced SLC12A7 overexpression in SW-13 cells robustly promoted motility and invasive characteristics (p < 0.05) without significantly altering cell viability, growth, or colony formation potential. SLC12A7 overexpression also significantly increased rates of cellular attachment and detachment turnover (p < 0.05), potentially propelled by increased filopodia formation and/or Ezrin interaction. In contrast, RNAi gene silencing of SLC12A7 stymied cell attachment strength as well as migration and invasion capacity in NCI-H295R cells. Transcription factor expression analysis identified multiple signally pathways potentially affected by SLC12A7 overexpression, including osmotic stress, bone morphogenetic protein, and Hippo signaling pathways. Amplification of SLC12A7 observed in ACCs is shown here, in vitro, to exacerbate the malignant behavior of ACC cells by promoting invasive capacities, possibly mediated by alterations in multiple signaling pathways, including the osmotic stress pathway.
Invasive Species and Food Security

This chapter defines invasive species, noting that they may arrive in new areas either intentionally or unintentionally, and it discusses their economic and non-economic effects. It provides examples of plant, insect, fish, and other invasive species, which have impacts on food production. Immediate environmental stressors, such as socio-economic change, cause the unintentional transmission of invasive species. In recent years, improved domestic transportation systems in China as well as rapidly growing international trade and tourism have increased opportunities for invasive species to enter China, as has climate change. China recently has strengthened regulations to better protect against the spread of invasive plants and insects, and some scientists, influenced by global guidelines issued by the World Conservation Union, recommend using the precautionary principle to eliminate threats. To the present, four methods have been used to prevent or control harmful invasives: physical, biological, chemical, and integrated pest management. Scientists and government officials also are developing research, outreach, and international cooperation strategies to counter the growing invasive species challenge.
Outcomes after carotid endarterectomy among elderly dual Medicare-Medicaid–eligible patients

Objective To determine whether patients who are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits have outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) that are comparable to the outcomes of those eligible for Medicare alone. Methods The study cohort included fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age who underwent CEA ( ICD-9-CM code 38.12) between 2003 and 2010. Beneficiaries with ≥1 month of Medicaid coverage were considered dual eligible. We fit mixed models to assess the relationship between coverage (dual eligible vs Medicare only) and outcomes over time after adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results There were 53,773 dual-eligible and 452,182 Medicare-only beneficiaries hospitalized for CEA. The percentage of dual-eligible patients receiving CEA increased from 10.1% in 2003 to 11.5% in 2010, with no change in geographic distribution across the country. In adjusted analyses, dual-eligible vs Medicare-only beneficiaries had a higher rate of 30-day ischemic stroke or death; higher in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year all-cause mortality; and higher 30-day all-cause readmission. Relative annual reductions in outcomes from 2003 to 2010 ranged from 2% to 5%, but there was no significant interaction between dual-eligible status and time. Conclusions Dual-eligible beneficiaries had worse outcomes than those eligible for Medicare alone. Additional work is necessary to understand the reasons for this difference.
Career Development Challenges for Women Pursuing Leadership in India

Women’s leadership in India continues to be an emerging topic. Women in India face many of the same challenges as women across the globe: using the education they have earned in the workforce, balancing a career with raising a family, and receiving the same benefits as men. Career development in India also faces uniquely Indian cultural hurdles: family pressures to marry rather than pursue a career, caste stereotypes, and lack of networking opportunities. However, traditional India is evolving to become an economic engine, and, with that, opportunities for Indian women are evolving. Through mentoring and other career development tools, Indian women’s leadership is advancing the future of women in India.
The Story of the NAFIP-1 Poster

The idea of forming a professional society dedicated to the advancement of Fuzzy Sets and Systems was hatched by Enrique Ruspini, Madan Gupta and myself (Jim Bezdek) on a plane trip returning to the USA from Acapulco, Mexico in December, 1980. We had all given talks about fuzzy models at the International Congress for Systems and Cybernetics , and the lure of having our own forum for technical interchange of ideas in the field was a hypnotic one.
Lost work: A comparison of water-lean solvent to a second generation aqueous amine process for CO2 capture

Abstract Energy use is a critical parameter for CO2 capture from flue gas. Proponents of water-lean solvents claim that they will provide better energy performance than aqueous amine solvents, but papers on water-lean solvents frequently fail to compare their energy performance to second-generation (2 G) aqueous amine systems. These papers claim that the weakest point of aqueous amine systems is the energy loss associated with boiling and condensing water. However, unlike first generation processes, 2 G scrubbing processes use innovative stripper configurations to minimize the loss of heat as excess water vapor from the top of the stripper. Proponents of water-lean solvents also claim that these solvents reduce sensible heat losses because of the lower specific heat of the organics that replace the water. In 2 G aqueous systems, the sensible energy of heating the solvent is minimized by high efficiency plate-and-frame exchangers where the optimized energy and capital cost is proportional not only to the specific heat of the solvent, but also to the viscosity and the thermal conductivity: C A P E X , O P E X , T C ∝ m ˙ k n - 1 2 C p 1 - n 2 μ m - n 2 Δ T c r x 0.5 ∝ m ˙ * k - 0.325 C p 0.825 μ 0.175 * Δ T c r x 0.5 Because water-lean solvents typically have higher viscosity and lower thermal conductivity, they do not provide significantly better exchanger performance than 2 G aqueous solvents. This paper develops a method to estimate the energy use of 2 G aqueous solvents by summing the minimum work of separation and lost work (irreversibility) of each process unit. This method allows the comparison of energy use for different solvents (aqueous or water-lean) on the same basis without rigorous process simulation. The results demonstrate that a representative water-lean solvent does not provide significantly better energy performance than a representative 2 G aqueous solvent with an advanced stripper configuration.
An Improved Patient-Derived Xenograft Humanized Mouse Model for Evaluation of Lung Cancer Immune Responses

Human tumor xenograft models do not replicate the human immune system and tumor microenvironment. We developed an improved humanized mouse model, derived from fresh cord blood CD34+ stem cells (CD34+ HSC), and combined it with lung cancer cell line-derived human xenografts or patient-derived xenografts (Hu-PDX). Fresh CD34+ HSCs could reconstitute detectable mature human leukocytes (hCD45+) in mice at four weeks without the onset of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Repopulated human T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DC), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) increased in peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow over time. Although cultured CD34+ HSCs labeled with luciferase could be detected in mice, the cultured HSCs did not develop into mature human immune cells by four weeks, unlike fresh CD34+ HSCs. Ex vivo, reconstituted T cells, obtained from the tumor-bearing humanized mice, secreted IFNγ upon treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or exposure to human A549 lung tumor cells and mediated antigen-specific CTL responses, indicating functional activity. Growth of engrafted PDXs and tumor xenografts was not dependent on the human leukocyte antigen status of the donor. Treatment with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors pembrolizumab or nivolumab inhibited tumor growth in humanized mice significantly, and correlated with an increased number of CTLs and decreased MDSCs, regardless of the donor HLA type. In conclusion, fresh CD34+HSCs are more effective than their expanded counterparts in humanizing mice, and do so in a shorter time. The Hu-PDX model provides an improved platform for evaluation of immunotherapy.
Learning to Manage a Patient's Erotic Feelings in Psychotherapy

Abstract Beginning therapists are often ill-prepared when faced with sexual and loving feelings in their work with patients. Using psychody-namic theory as a basis, erotic feelings between therapist and patient are discussed not as obstacles to treatment, but as valuable opportunities to better understand a patient's dynamics, the therapeutic relationship, and the treatment process. Sexual feelings of patient toward therapist are specifically addressed in context of the case example of a psychotic man. Recommendations are offered to beginning therapists for managing these feelings that are both ethically sound and therapeutically meaningful.
Propionylation-modified chitin with improved solubility in green ethanol/water binary solvents for sustainable film and coating applications

Abstract The use of less-toxic solvents is highly desirable for biopolymer processing and applications to meet sustainability while alleviating environmental burdens. In this study, chitin was propionylated to improve its solubility. The highly propionylated chitin exhibited considerably improved solubility (up to 96%) in a binary ethanol/water solution as compared to almost insolubility in a single solvent (either ethanol or water). Transparent films were prepared with acidified solutions and possessed excellent mechanical properties with a tensile strength up to 40 MPa and Young’s modulus of 1.3 GPa. When the solution of the chitin propionate solution was employed as a coating on a paper substrate, the chitin propionate coating was found to improve the tensile strength of the paper from 64 MPa up to 84 MPa, and it also significantly decreased the surface energy to improve water resistance. These results suggest that chitin propionate that is dissoluble in ethanol/water binary solvents has potential use for new sustainable bio-based films and coatings in practical applications.
The Urothelium: Life in a Liquid Environment

The urothelium, which lines the renal pelvis, ureters, urinary bladder, and proximal urethra, forms a high-resistance but adaptable barrier that surveils its mechanochemical environment and communi...
A context-augmented deep learning approach for worker trajectory prediction on unstructured and dynamic construction sites

Abstract Predicting workers’ trajectories on unstructured and dynamic construction sites is critical to workplace safety yet remains challenging. Existing prediction methods mainly rely on entity movement information but have not fully exploited the contextual information. This study proposes a context-augmented Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) method, which integrates both individual movement and workplace contextual information (i.e., movements of neighboring entities, working group information, and potential destination information) into an LSTM network with an encoder-decoder architecture, to predict a sequence of target positions from a sequence of observations. The proposed context-augmented method is validated using construction videos and the prediction accuracy achieved is 8.51 pixels in terms of final displacement error (FDE), with an observation time of 3 s and prediction time of 5 s—5.4% smaller than using the position-based method. Compared to conventional one-step-ahead predictions, the proposed sequence-to-sequence method predicts trajectories over multiple steps to avoid error accumulation and effectively reduces the FDE by 70%. In addition, qualitative analysis is conducted to provide insights to select appropriate prediction methods given different construction scenarios. It was found that the context-aware model leads to better performance comparing to the position-based method when workers are conducting collaborative activities.
Variation in prevalence and intensity of infection of a trematode parasite in shorthead sculpin in Birch Creek, Idaho

Euryhelmis cotti (Simon, 1972) is an intestinal fluke with a complex life history with three hosts; in the metacercarial stage, E. cotti infects fish in the family Cottidae. Our objective was to determine the distribution, prevalence, and intensity of infection of E. cotti in shorthead sculpin (Cottus confusus Bailey and Bond, 1963) in Birch Creek, Idaho. We collected shorthead sculpin at five sites in Birch Creek with a backpack electrofisher and determined prevalence and intensity of infection on sculpin by counting metacercariae on the fins and body of each fish. We found shorthead sculpin with metacercariae at all sites. Prevalence of the parasite was lowest at the downstream sites (33.9% – 41.0%) and was higher at the upstream sites (> 83.2%). Mean intensity of infection on each fish ranged from 1.2 metacercariae per fish (S.E. = 0.08) at the site furthest downstream to 215.1 metacercariae per fish (S.E. = 19.06) at the site furthest upstream. High prevalence and intensity of infection in shorthead sculpin at upstream sites may have negative effects on fitness of the fish (e.g., reductions in growth, reproduction, survival, swimming performance) and warrants further research.
Grocery food taxes and U.S. county obesity and diabetes rates

Grocery food taxes represent a stable tax revenue stream for state and municipal government during times of adverse economic shocks such as that observed under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Previous research, however, suggests a possible mechanism through which grocery taxes may adversely affect health. Our objectives are to document the spatial and temporal variation in grocery taxes and to empirically examine the statistical relationship between county-level grocery taxes and obesity and diabetes. We collect and assemble a novel national dataset of annual county and state-level grocery taxes from 2009 through 2016. We link this data to three-year, county-level estimates based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on rates of obesity and diabetes and provide a nation-wide spatial characterization of grocery taxes and these two health outcomes. Using a county-level fixed effects estimator, we estimate the effect of grocery taxes on obesity and diabetes rates, also controlling for a subset of potential confounders that vary over time. We find a 1 percentage point increase in grocery taxes is associated with 0.588 and 0.215 percentage point increases in the county-level obesity and diabetes rates. Counties with grocery taxes have increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes. We estimate the economic burden of increased obesity and diabetes rates resulting from grocery taxes to be $5.9 billion. Based on this estimate, the benefit-cost ratio of removing grocery taxes across the United States only considering the effects on obesity and diabetes rates is 1.90.
Faith, social prestige and violence against surgeon in India and subcontinent: a narrative review

Violence against surgeons is universal problem but unique in India. It is reported on a daily basis across India. A lot of literature is available. Analysis and review are required. This article is about the best solutions to violence’s against surgeon. Various books, conference presentation and proceedings, workshop lectures, various electronic databases, symposium lectures, research papers and talks have been selected. Selected full articles were reviewed (total-13 article). This review is conducted for the practical knowledge to prevent violence against surgeon and hence patient-doctor satisfaction. Poor patient surgeon communication and lack of faith in medical system are major reasons for violence. There are more reasons which are discussed in details. Poor image of surgeons, cost of healthcare, poor quality of healthcare and poor communication is major factor for violence against surgeons. Low health literacy and lack of faith in the judicial procedure are also important factor. Media can explain all these things but they are not interested. Surgeon should understand the nature of patient and their relatives and act accordingly. Proper explanation in people’s language can change things in tremendous way.
Unobserved heterogeneity in transportation equity analysis: Evidence from a bike-sharing system in southern Tampa

Abstract Assessing the equity impacts of transportation systems/policies has become a crucial component in transportation planning. Existing statistical modeling approaches for transportation equity analysis have typically assumed that parameter estimates are constant across all observations and used data aggregated to certain geographic units for the analysis. Such methods cannot capture unobserved factors that are not contained in the dataset, i.e., unobserved heterogeneity, which is likely to be present in the increasingly popular disaggregated datasets. To investigate whether there is unobserved heterogeneity in transportation equity impacts, this study carries out an empirical study focusing on the distribution of individual accessibility to activity locations via bike-sharing in southern Tampa. A disaggregated dataset containing information on individual bike-sharing accessibility and socio-economic factors is modeled with a random parameters logit model that allows for the investigation of possible unobserved heterogeneity. Further, models are estimated using data aggregated to parcel- and TAZ-levels to explore the impacts of data aggregation on model estimation results. The models unveil the unobserved heterogeneity in bike-sharing accessibility among populations in different groups defined by different sociodemographic factors in southern Tampa. These results shed insights into how the inconsistent disparity direction of transportation outcomes across individuals in a population group can be measured from the heterogeneity effects. Finally, a comparison between different models show that to capture such inconsistency, the use of disaggregated data with heterogeneity models is highly recommended for transportation equity analysis.
Thematic analysis of free-text responses to the 2018 survey of AABP members about gender bias

The percentage of women in veterinary medicine passed 50% in 2009, but the percentage of women in bovine practice has not reached that level. Reasons for this are not completely clear, and discussions within and outside AABP have led to speculation about the extent and perception of gender bias among bovine practitioners. Therefore, in 2018, AABP members were surveyed to learn their perceptions about gender bias in clinical practice settings.
Cytosolic Free Calcium and Cell Injury in Hepatocytes

Formation of cell surface blebs is an early event in hypoxic and toxic injury to liver (Lemasterset al., 1981, 1983; Jewellet al., 1982). Many authors have proposed that a rise of cytosolic free Ca2+ is the stimulus for bleb formation and the initiating factor in a sequence of events leading to irreversible injury and cell death (see Schanneet al., 1979; Trumpet al., 1980; Bellomo and Orrenius, 1985). Recently, we applied the technique of digitized video microscopy to quantitate changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ in relation to blebbing and other cellular parameters during “chemical hypoxia” with metabolic inhibitors in single cultured hepatocytes (Lemasterset al., 1987). Here we present new data examining the relation of bleb formation to the onset of cell death during cellular injury induced by a variety of toxic chemicals. We also determine whether changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ occur during cellular injury which might initiate bleb formation and lead to cell death. The results indicate that the onset of cell death is a very rapid event initiated by rupture of a large plasma membrane bleb leaving the cell in a hyperpermeable state. An increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ is not a necessity for the progression of bleb formation or the onset of cell death.
A Strategic Intervention for Enabling Students with Learning Disabilities to Identify and Change their Ineffective Beliefs1

This study evaluated the effects of a strategy intervention designed to teach students with learning disabilities (LD) how to understand, identify, discuss, and transform ineffective beliefs. Multiple-probe and control-group designs were employed simultaneously and in combination. The 23 students with learning dis- abilities who participated in the study were randomly divided into two groups, ex- perimental and control. The BELIEF Strategy, a strategy based on the professional literature, expert advice, and practice, was taught to the experimental group. The multiple-probe design was utilized to demonstrate students' mastery of the BELIEF Strategy. The results indicate that students with LD can be taught to apply the BE- LIEF Strategy. The control-group design was used to compare the performance of students who learned the BELIEF Strategy to that of students who did not learn the strategy. All analyses indicated that students who learned the strategy performed the strategy steps significantly better and had more knowledge of the strategy than students who did not participate in the instruction. Students reported satisfaction with certain aspects of the training but not with others. The results support the conclusion that students with LD can be taught skills associated with examining present beliefs and specifying new beliefs.
Post‐diagnostic kinetics of the (1 → 3)‐β‐d‐glucan assay in invasive aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

Abstract The kinetics of serum (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan (BG) following the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease and administration of antifungal therapy are poorly characterized. It is unknown whether early BG changes have prognostic implications. We assessed the post-diagnostic kinetics of BG in patients with an initial serum BG ≥80 pg/mL and at least one additional post-diagnostic BG value in the setting of invasive aspergillosis (IA, n = 69), invasive candidiasis (IC, n = 40), or Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP, n = 18), treated with antifungal therapy. Clinical failure of antifungal therapy and mortality were assessed at 6 and 12 weeks, and Cox modelling was used to assess the hazard of initial BG and change in BG at 1 or 2 weeks for these outcomes. In patients with at least two BG values, median initial BG was >500 pg/mL (interquartile range (IQR) 168 to >500; range 80 to >500) in IA, 136 pg/mL (IQR 88 to >500; range 31 to >500) in IC and >500 pg/mL (IQR 235 to >500; range 86 to >500) in PCP. In patients with at least two BG values through to 1 week after diagnosis, overall 1-week decline in BG was 0 pg/mL (IQR 0–53) in IA, 0 (IQR – 65 to 12) in IC and 17 (IQR 0–82) in PCP. Most patients with BG values through 6 and 12 weeks had persistent levels >80 pg/mL. Initial BG and the early trajectory of BG were not predictive of 6-week or 12-week clinical failure or mortality. Whereas BG eventually declines in patients with IA, IC and PCP, it lacks prognostic value within a clinically meaningful time frame.
The Dedekind-Mertens Lemma and the contents of polynomials

We prove a sharpening of the Dedekind-Mertens Lemma relating the contents of two polynomials to the content of their product. We show that for a polynomial g the integer 1 +Fdeg(g) in the Dedekind-Mertens Lemma may be replaced by the number of local generators of the content of g. We also raise a question concerning the converse.
Next to Normal and the Persistence of Pathology in Performances of Psychosocial Disability

The award-winning musical Next to Normal is widely lauded for addressing the stigma of mental illness. However, the play uses a medical model of psychosocial disability in a way that narrows and sanitizes the representation of people who have such disabilities. Analyzing Next to Normal’s performances , critical reviews, artist commentary, and audience reactions, this article argues that the musical fails to remove stigma associated with people with psychosocial disabilities and overlooks an ecological perspective that would better honor their experiences. Keywords: psychosocial disability, madness, mental illness, theater, performance
Temporal Horizons of Justice

Soulignant l'importance des horizons temporels (passe, present, futur) dans l'elaboration de la conception de la justice (corrective, distributive et relationnelle), l'A. montre qu'une approche politique et liberale de la justice relationnelle, fondee sur la relation de dignitite comme modele de l'experience vecue, apporte une solution d'ordre metaphysique au debat opposant monistes et dualistes sur l'idee meme de justice