cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Membrane‐Bound Protein Complexes for Photosynthesis and Respiration in Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are the evolutionarily oldest organisms with the capability of evolving oxygen, giving rise to the present day atmosphere. These prokaryotic microorganisms have the unique ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis and respiration in the same cellular compartment. Some cyanobacteria can also fix atmospheric nitrogen alongside oxygenic photosynthesis and respiration. The redox components of these electron transport pathways are known to intersect in cyanobacteria. Majority of the energy-intensive processes occur in specialised membranes known as thylakoids. The coexistence of such remarkably complex metabolic pathways in a single cyanobacterial cell provides them with the potential to thrive in a wide variety of ecosystems. This metabolic complexity has sparked significant interest towards cyanobacterial research for the production of various high-value compounds with applications in the food, feed and fuel industry. Key Concepts Cyanobacteria are the only prokaryotic microorganisms with the extraordinary capability of converting sunlight to chemical energy and evolving molecular oxygen as a byproduct. Complex metabolic processes such as photosynthesis and respiration coexist and predominantly occur in highly specialised thylakoid membranes. The photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport chain shares several components between these processes, a situation unique to oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. In ambient light conditions, photosynthetic electron transport chain has a much higher capacity for ATP synthesis than respiration. Keywords: reaction centres; photosystem I; photosystem II; cytochrome b6f complex; oxidases; electron transfer; NAD(P)H dehydrogenase; succinate dehydrogenase; ATP synthase
Trends and spatial patterns of fine-resolution aerosol optical depth-derived PM2.5 emissions in the Northeast United States from 2002 to 2013.

ABSTRACTClarifying the trends in quantity, location, and causes of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) emission changes is critical for evaluating and improving emission control strategies and reduce the risk posed to human health. According to the National Emissions Inventory (NEI) released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a general downward trend in PM2.5 emissions has been observed in the United States over the past decade. Although this trend is representative at the national level, it lacks the precision to locate emission hotspots at a finer scale. Moreover, the changes reported in the NEI are likely confounded by periodic modification of inventory methods, and imprecision for area sources. In this regard, it is imperative to acquire emission inventories with as much spatial and temporal details as possible to further our knowledge of particle emissions, exposure levels, and associated health risks. In this study, we employed the PEIRS (Particle Emission...
Modeling and Simulation

Modeling in academic and applied disciplines has many interpretations, often confusing true modeling with simulation and analogy. In this chapter, we focus on extensions of the work of the mathematical biologist Robert Rosen to examine a formal view of whole system analysis and modeling. Rosen (1993) defined modeling as the “judicious association of a formalism with such external referents” (p. 359). By judicious is meant following certain epistemological criteria that ensure good science and help resolve philosophical differences between realist and instrumentalist approaches. While adopting a primarily realist position on modeling (that models describe nature), the modeling framework also represents constructed phenomena (perceptions and agreements about nature). The resolution of these views is found in reifying models themselves in both nature and cognitive processes. Building on the PAR Holon Framework presented in Chapter 2, we describe four kinds of model, each associated with one of the quadrants in the cyclical framework, and a fifth level of meta-modeling associated with the identity cycle of a system (the framework itself). We describe the mathematical basis for relating models in the framework using category theory adapted for this purpose; and we discuss the technical differences between modeling, simulation, and analogy, giving familiar examples and recommending future development. The reader will gain basic tools to apply whole systems analysis and modeling to complex problems.
Inter-Tier Interference Mitigation in Multi-Antenna HetNets: A Resource Blanking Approach

We study the optimality of almost blank subframes (ABSs) that are used to limit interference by muting macro base stations (BSs) in multi-antenna heterogeneous networks (HetNets). In particular, we formulate a linear program to find the optimal blanking decision that maximizes the average rate of a typical user. A closed-form condition is derived, which depends on the multi-antenna transmission schemes, i.e., the number of antennas used and the number of users served simultaneously in one resource block, as well as network statistics such as the BSs' density in a tier and the coverage probability. This motivates an online implementation that uses instantaneous measurements of the number of BSs and users in the network. We prove that muting macro BSs is generally optimal in single-antenna HetNets but not in multi-antenna networks, where blanking must consider the transmission scheme. Simulation results validate the analysis and show that the throughput significantly decreases when a massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) macro BS is blanked. This renders the conventional ABSs inefficient to use for fifth-generation (5G) networks which are expected to utilize massive MIMO technology.
"Okay, One More Episode": An Ethnography of Parenting in the Digital Age

Parenting is a complex and morally loaded endeavor, especially in our technologically saturated world. Popular culture, news articles, and children's groups regularly suggest that parents should monitor and control children's experiences with media. Parents are thus encouraged to establish clear rules around technology exposure, screen time, and access to content. HCI parenting research tends to reflect these general messages and often assumes that media 'rules' are the norm, or at least the goal, in families. Through a two-year ethnographic study of nine families we find that the presence of technology rules is not as straightforward as literature and mainstream media suggest. In particular, our data proposes that media rules are highly variable across and within families, regularly undermined in practice, and more often around exposure than content. Further, we find that the impetuses for various family policies around media use are related to how rules are enacted in practice. Given the loaded emotional stakes that parents in this study place on negotiating media use and exposure, we argue that it is important for designers to take a more situated perspective on parenting practices.
Bi2–xCaxIr2O6+y Pyrochlore Phases: Structure and Properties with Varied Ir Oxidation State from 3.9+ to 4.3+

Pyrochlore phases Bi2–xCaxIr2O6Oy′ with x from 0.0 to 1.0 have been evaluated based on Rietveld analysis of neutron diffraction data, electrical resistivity and thermopower data from 3 to 756 K, and magnetic susceptibility data from 3 to 298 K. The average Ir oxidation state is less than 4+ at low x, above 4+ for high x, and is very close to 4+ at x = 0.5. All samples show metallic properties with an electrical resistivity of ∼10–3 Ω·cm at room temperature. For low x, the sign of the Seebeck coefficient is negative at low temperature but becomes positive at high temperature. For high x, the sign of the Seebeck coefficient is positive from 3 to 756 K. Magnetic measurements indicate no magnetic ordering down to 3 K for all values of x. All Bi is in its ideal position for all values of x, but much of the Ca is strongly displaced from the ideal A cation site. This displacement of Ca apparently only occurs when there is an adjacent vacancy at the O′ site.
User space memory management for post-copy migration

Post-copy migration allows reduction of application down-time and reduces overall network bandwidth used for application migration [4]. Migration can be used to help optimize several aspects of operations such as power efficiency[3]. The userfault technology recently introduced to the Linux kernel allows post-copy migration of virtual machines. However, this technology is missing essential features required for post-copy migration of Linux containers.
Automated scene understanding via fusion of image and object features

Scene understanding is an important component of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems as well as autonomous vehicles. Scenes are composed of objects and their surrounding environment, both of which should be useful for a vision system to recognize the type of scene. A fusion system architecture that combines features from a whole image and detected objects, analogous to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up processing, is presented. The bottom-up pipeline uses a deep convolutional neural network to extract visual features from the whole image. The detected objects from the top-down pipeline are converted into a bag-of-words feature space that is combined with the visual feature space. The two streams can be fused either at the feature level or at the class probability level; these two methods are compared. A support vector machine classifier is trained with supervised learning on the combined feature space and used to produce a scene type label. We evaluate the system on an aerial imagery dataset that contains a variety of outdoor scene and object combinations. Applications that require both scene understanding and object detection can benefit from this fused architecture, especially when generalizing trained networks to domains with less available training data.
Advanced tools for operators at amazon.com

Despite significant efforts in the field of Autonomic Computing, system operators will still play a critical role in administering Internet services for many years to come. However, very little is know about how system operators work, what tools they use and how we can make them more efficient. In this paper we study the practices of operators in a large-scale Internet service Amazon.com and propose a new set of tools for operators. The first tool lets the operators explore the health of system components and dependencies between them; the other monitors the actions of operators and automatically suggests solutions to recurring problems.
Cardiovascular disease risk reduction in diabetes through conventional and natural approaches

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant cause of premature complications and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). In addition to lifestyle modifications, conventional treatment of DM consists of oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin sensitizers, and subcutaneous insulin. In diabetic individuals with or at risk for CVD, aspirin and statin therapy reduce CVD morbidity and mortality. Several natural or herbal supplements have shown potential benefit in patients with CVD and DM. We provide an overview of the current guidelines for treatment of DM and CVD. We then review the literature to describe the efficacy of natural approaches to CVD risk reduction in diabetic patients, with a focus on physical activity, dietary modification, and natural/herbal supplements. Activity and diet improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CVD and DM. Natural and herbal supplements have potential for benefit but require further research to determine their efficacy and safety.
Gastric cancer: The gastric microbiota - bacterial diversity and implications.

Although Helicobacter pylori is associated with gastric cancer, bacterial communities that reside in the stomach are mostly unacknowledged. A new study shows that some gastric bacterial communities have emigrated from our mouth, prefer certain neighbours and prefer certain environments. By understanding the interactions of these bacteria, we hope to understand the environment most conducive to gastric cancer carcinogenesis.
Topical Bixin Confers NRF2-Dependent Protection Against Photodamage and Hair Graying in Mouse Skin.

Environmental exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes acute photodamage, premature aging, and skin cancer, attributable to UV-induced genotoxic, oxidative, and inflammatory stress. The transcription factor NRF2 [nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2] is the master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response protecting skin against various environmental stressors including UV radiation and electrophilic pollutants. NRF2 in epidermal keratinocytes can be activated using natural chemopreventive compounds such as the apocarotenoid bixin, an FDA-approved food additive and cosmetic ingredient from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). Here, we tested the feasibility of topical use of bixin for NRF2-dependent skin photoprotection in two genetically modified mouse models [SKH1 and C57BL/6J (Nrf2+/+ versus Nrf2-/- )]. First, we observed that a bixin formulation optimized for topical NRF2 activation suppresses acute UV-induced photodamage in Nrf2+/+ but not Nrf2-/- SKH1 mice, a photoprotective effect indicated by reduced epidermal hyperproliferation and oxidative DNA damage. Secondly, it was demonstrated that topical bixin suppresses PUVA (psoralen + UVA)-induced hair graying in Nrf2+/+ but not Nrf2-/- C57BL/6J mice. Collectively, this research provides the first in vivo evidence that topical application of bixin can protect against UV-induced photodamage and PUVA-induced loss of hair pigmentation through NRF2 activation. Topical NRF2 activation using bixin may represent a novel strategy for human skin photoprotection, potentially complementing conventional sunscreen-based approaches.
THz spectroscopy of 12CH+, 13CH+, and 12CD+: A combined Dunham analysis of Terahertz lines and A1Π-X1Σ+ transitions

Abstract The THz rotational lines of CH+ and its isotopologues have been observed in the range of 0.9–2.6 THz with JPL frequency multiplication chains. They were analyzed together with the known A 1 Π - X 1 Σ + band system data by using the Dunham formulation and the conventional vibration–rotation energy formula. The Λ -doubling in 1 Π states was reexamined, and the doubling or shifts were found to be different for the e- and f-parity levels. In this investigation, the e- and f-parity states were treated as two separate states. The major molecular constants were determined accurately for these two states separately, and were compared with the values obtained previously.
Effects of Cigarette Smoke and Nicotine on Platelets and Experimental Coronary Artery Thrombosis

The first study linking smoking with predicted risk of cardiovascular disease was published in 1958 (1), and this has been confirmed by numerous epidemiologic studies from around the world. The major forms of coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease associated with smoking are the result of progressive development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques and fatty streaks can occur early in life as shown in the Korean war autopsy studies in 1953 (2), and confirmed by several other studies (3,4). By some unknown mechanism smoking appears to accelerate the development of the atherosclerotic process.
The Effect of Cornstarch Levels on the Surface Quality of Extruded Soy Protein Plastic

The ratio of soy protein isolate to cornstarch was studied in the extrusion of four different formulations of soy protein plastic in order to qualitatively examine the surface quality upon extrusion.Levels of glycerol and moisture were constant across all samples, and no other additives were used in the mixtures.Mixtures were made using a planetary mixer, and then extruded using a single-screw extruder equipped with a 10.16 centimeter sheeting die with a 0.152-centimeter opening.The surface of the extruded plastic became smoother with increasing starch content, but the processability became too difficult with very high starch levels.
Staging and following common pediatric malignancies: MRI versus CT versus functional imaging

Most pediatric malignancies require some form of cross-sectional imaging, either for staging or response assessment. The majority of these are solid tumors and this review addresses the role of MRI, as well as other cross-sectional and functional imaging techniques, for evaluating the most common pediatric solid tumors. The primary emphasis is on neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma and Wilms tumor, three of the most common non-central-nervous-system (CNS) pediatric solid tumors encountered in young children. The initial focus will be a review of the imaging techniques and approaches used for diagnosis, staging and early post-treatment response assessment, followed by a discussion of the role surveillance imaging plays in pediatric oncology and a brief review of other emerging imaging techniques. The lessons learned here can be applied to most other pediatric tumors, including rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma, as well as germ cell tumors, neurofibromatosis and other rare tumors. Although lymphoma, in particular Hodgkin lymphoma, represents one of the more common pediatric malignancies, this is not discussed in detail here. Rather, many of the lessons that we have learned from lymphoma, specifically with regard to how we integrate both anatomical imaging and functional imaging techniques, is applied to the discussion of the other pediatric solid tumors.
Abstract TP8: Process Modification to Reduce Door to Puncture Time for Patients With Large Vessel Ischemic Stroke

Numerous studies have demonstrated the paramount importance of rapid treatment of large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke. We sought to improve our door to reperfusion times (DTRt) so as to ensure w...
Transitional Justice Pre-Transition: The International Community's Efforts in Syria

This chapter focuses on the role of the international community in fostering pre-transition transitional justice. This is a project that can take multiple forms, including documentation efforts initiated by states, the UN Human Rights Council, and the General Assembly. States and NGOs also surveyed and trained Syrian actors to prepare them for undertaking a program of transitional justice, including the psychosocial rehabilitation of victims and perpetrators. With access to the International Criminal Court effectively barred by Russia’s veto, accountability alternatives included promoting a potential regional tribunal or specialised chambers that could be inserted within the Syrian judicial system, as well as national trials under principles of extraterritorial jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the pre-transition work that has been achieved to date, much will remain to be done once the war is at a close. What can be achieved from the perspective of transitional justice will depend on the composition of the next Syrian regime and the role of Bashar al-Assad, who has become a symbol of sectarian repression and is unlikely to countenance robust justice or truth-telling processes. Whether he will be open to making a genuine commitment to reconciliation and the rehabilitation of victims remains to be seen. In any case, the most enduring legacy of the international community’s pre-transition transitional justice enterprise will likely prove to be twofold. First, the international community has invested heavily in the documentation of abuses with an eye towards preserving a cache of evidence that can be tapped into as accountability processes go forward. Second is the creation of a cadre of Syrian practitioners with enhanced skills in the challenges and possibilities of transitional justice. It will be for these actors to decide what is feasible and what is desirable and whether and how to involve the international community to achieve the optimal balance between the two. With Assad still in power, there may be limited opportunities for international engagement in this regard, so Syrians across the political spectrum will have to determine for themselves whether the field of transitional justice has anything to offer as they work to rebuild their society and body politic.
Age-dependent pulmonary reactivity to house dust mite allergen: a model of adult-onset asthma?

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease differentiated by factors like allergen sensitivity, inflammation, sex, and age at onset. The mouse model is widely used to study the early-life development of all...
Opportunities and Challenges in Interpreting and Sharing Personal Genomes.

The 2019 “Personal Genomes: Accessing, Sharing and Interpretation” conference (Hinxton, UK, 11–12 April 2019) brought together geneticists, bioinformaticians, clinicians and ethicists to promote openness and ethical sharing of personal genome data while protecting the privacy of individuals. The talks at the conference focused on two main topic areas: (1) Technologies and Applications, with emphasis on personal genomics in the context of healthcare. The issues discussed ranged from new technologies impacting and enabling the field, to the interpretation of personal genomes and their integration with other data types. There was particular emphasis and wide discussion on the use of polygenic risk scores to inform precision medicine. (2) Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications, with emphasis on genetic privacy: How to maintain it, how much privacy is possible, and how much privacy do people want? Talks covered the full range of genomic data visibility, from open access to tight control, and diverse aspects of balancing benefits and risks, data ownership, working with individuals and with populations, and promoting citizen science. Both topic areas were illustrated and informed by reports from a wide variety of ongoing projects, which highlighted the need to diversify global databases by increasing representation of understudied populations.
Does Medicaid expansion improve access to care for the first-time shoulder dislocator?

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of individual state Medicaid expansion status on access to care for shoulder instability. Methods Four pairs of Medicaid expanded (Louisiana, Kentucky, Iowa, and Nevada) and unexpanded (Alabama, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Utah) states in similar geographic locations were chosen for the study. Twelve practices from each state were randomly selected from the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine directory, resulting in a sample size of 96 independent sports medicine offices. Each office was called twice to request an appointment for a fictitious 16-year-old first-time shoulder dislocator with either in-state Medicaid insurance or Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) private insurance. Results A total of 91 physician offices in 8 states were contacted by telephone. An appointment was obtained at 36 (39.6%) offices when calling with Medicaid and at 74 (81.3%) offices when calling with BCBS (P Conclusion For a first-time shoulder dislocator, access to care is more difficult with Medicaid insurance compared with private insurance. Within Medicaid insurance, access to care is more difficult in Medicaid expanded states compared with unexpanded states. Medicaid patients in unexpanded states are twice as likely as those in expanded states to obtain an appointment.
“Traditional Mexican Midwifery” tourism excludes indigenous “others” and threatens sustainability

Drawn by the allure of “ancient cultures,” tourists inadvertently consume deauthenticated indigenous practices, including ethnomedical traditions such as midwifery. This is especially true in the c...
Stress-localization induced toughening in CNT–silica nanocomposites

Applying a combination of atomistic and continuum scale simulations, we show that stress-localization forms the fundamental basis for toughening in “carbon nanotube reinforced amorphous silica” ( CNT − aSiO 2). Depending on the cohesive strength of the interface, a propagating crack renders three distinct types of failure conditions: (i) with stronger cohesive interactions both silica and nanotube undergo catastrophic failure, (ii) with moderate cohesive interactions the nanotube debonds from the matrix and undergoes severe mechanical deformation but fracture remains in the matrix, and (iii) with lower cohesive strengths the nanotube debonds from the matrix easily and allows quicker failure of the matrix, compared to the previous two failure conditions. For either of the cases, continued propagation of the crack requires renucleation at the opposite side of the nanotube. However, the renucleation criteria are mostly unaffected by the strength of interfacial interactions. Also, the effective toughness of the nanocomposite increases nonlinearly with increasing interfacial strength and the maximum possible toughness enhancement is strictly controlled by the strength of elastic interactions between the nanotube and the matrix. The overall toughening behavior of the nanocomposite is governed primarily by stress-localization at the nanotube–silica intersections along the projected crack path direction in the composite. The observations highlight the dramatic role of site-selective interatomic interactions that can affect the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the nanocomposite substantially.
Longitudinal Analysis of Neurodiagnostic Testing Utilization in Emergency Department Patients Presenting With Seizures or Epilepsy.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to assess neurodiagnostic testing utilization in US emergency department (ED) patients presenting with seizures or epilepsy between 2006 and 2014. Methods Using the largest publicly available all-payer ED database, patients presenting to US EDs between 2006 and 2014 with seizures or epilepsy were identified. Utilization of both pediatric and adult neurodiagnostic testing (head CT, brain MRI, and electroencephalography [EEG]) was assessed. Factors associated with utilization were identified using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results A weighted cohort of 9,089,843 patients (27% pediatric, 73% adult) were included. Between 2006 and 2014, annual pediatric ED visits decreased by 1.2%, and adult visits increased by 8.2%. In pediatric patients, head CT utilization increased by 27.8% (from 9% to 11.5% of all visits), MRI increased by 300% (from 0.25% to 1%), and EEG increased by 220% (from 0.5% to 1.6%). In adults, CT, MRI, and EEG increased by 95% (from 12.0% to 23.4%), 400% (from 0.3% to 1.5%), and 650% (from 0.2% to 1.5%), respectively. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, neurodiagnostic testing utilization was higher in both subgroup populations with male sex, private insurance (versus nonprivate), higher median household income, in the Northeast and South (versus West), and nonteaching hospitals (versus teaching hospitals; all P Conclusions Between 2006 and 2014, the use of ED neurodiagnostic testing for seizure and epilepsy increased disproportionately to the frequency of visits. Compared with pediatric patients, neurodiagnostic testing utilization in adults was higher and grew more. Several patient-level and hospital-level factors were associated with higher testing utilization rates.
A Switched Lyapunov-Passivity Approach to Motorized FES Cycling Using Adaptive Admittance Control

For individuals with neuromuscular disorders (NDs) affecting the coordination and control of their legs, motorized functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling serves as a rehabilitation strategy and offers numerous health benefits. A motorized FES cycle is an example of a hybrid exoskeleton involving cooperative physical human-robot interaction where both the cycle's motor and rider's muscles (through electrical stimulation) must be controlled to achieve desirable performance. A robust sliding-mode cadence controller is developed for the rider's muscles, while an adaptive admittance controller is employed on the cycle's motor to preserve rider comfort and safety. A switched systems stability analysis using Lyapunov and passivity-based methods is conducted to ensure global asymptotic stability of the admittance error system and that the cadence error system remains passive. Experiments are conducted on one able-bodied participant and four participants with NDs to illustrate the performance of the control design. For the participants with NDs, the controller achieved an average admittance tracking error of -0.08±1.05 rpm at an average cadence of 47.85±1.13 rpm for the desired cadence of 50 rpm.
Activation of AhR-NQO1 Signaling Pathway Protects Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury by Improving Redox Balance

Background & Aims Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a liver-enriched xenobiotic receptor that plays important role in detoxification response in liver. This study aimed to investigate how AhR signaling may impact the pathogenesis of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Methods Chronic alcohol feeding animal studies were conducted with mouse models of hepatocyte-specific AhR knockout (AhRΔhep) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) overexpression, and dietary supplementation of the AhR ligand indole-3-carbinol. Cell studies were conducted to define the causal role of AhR and NQO1 in regulation of redox balance and apoptosis. Results Chronic alcohol consumption induced AhR activation and nuclear enrichment of NQO1 in hepatocytes of both alcoholic hepatitis patients and ALD mice. AhR deficiency exacerbated alcohol-induced liver injury, along with reduction of NQO1. Consistently, in vitro studies demonstrated that NQO1 expression was dependent on AhR. However, alcohol-induced NQO1 nuclear translocation was triggered by decreased cellular oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-to-NADH ratio, rather than by AhR activation. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo overexpression NQO1 prevented alcohol-induced hepatic NAD+ depletion, thereby enhancing activities of NAD+-dependent enzymes and reversing alcohol-induced liver injury. In addition, therapeutic targeting of AhR in the liver with dietary indole-3-carbinol supplementation efficiently reversed alcoholic liver injury by AhR-NQO1 signaling activation. Conclusions This study demonstrated that AhR activation is a protective response to counteract alcohol-induced hepatic NAD+ depletion through induction of NQO1, and targeting the hepatic AhR-NQO1 pathway may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for ALD.
Laparoscopic cholangiography and Liver Biopsy

Minimally invasive liver biopsy is used in neonates and children to diagnose and track progression of a variety of liver diseases. Laboratory values and imaging obtained preoperatively for hyperbilirubinemia help to guide in forming a differential diagnosis. Special anesthetic considerations include lower insufflation pressures in neonates. Operative approach includes an umbilical port and working ports to obtain a sample and perform an intraoperative cholangiogram if indicated. Cautery, sharp biopsy with scissors, or using the core needle method can be used in conjunction with laparoscopy.
A case report of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) associated with heart failure.

Background Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a systemic inflammatory condition where various body organs, such as the heart, kidney, gastrointestinal organs, become inflamed. Several cases have been reported in children linking MIS-C with novel corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19); however, few cases have been reported in adults [multi-system inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A)]. Case summary A case of a 20-year-old male patient with a history of COVID-19 infection 2 months before presentation who presented with fever and acute right lower quadrant pain. Workup revealed right-sided mesenteric lymphadenopathy and mild colitis that was non-responsive to antibiotics. The patient was found to have significantly elevated inflammatory markers. He also developed myocarditis resulting in acute systolic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The diagnosis of MIS-A was made by exclusion. The patient showed improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin and pulse steroids. Based on the available literature, MIS-C was defined till the age of 21; however, we think it is a misnomer for adults more than 18. Hence, we prefer to use MIS-A for our patient. Conclusion It is essential to diagnose and treat patients with the multi-system inflammatory syndrome at an early stage; the management of these patients, especially with heart disease, should include immune-modulatory therapy as well as guideline-directed therapy.
Conclusion: Trends and Predictions for Genetic and Developmental Biological Research on Scoliosis

Developmental and genetic studies of the spine, genetic linkage to vertebral anomalies, and family-based association studies have led to advances in understanding the genetic causes of idiopathic and congenital scoliosis. Chapters in this volume have been prepared by research leaders who have been working to identify the genetic and developmental causes of idiopathic and congenital scoliosis. Technological advances in high-throughput sequencing, genotyping, bioinformatics, and medical imaging continue to push forward the limit of possible advances in scoliosis research. Combined with changes in the scale of human genetics research, we anticipate that the next decade could see an exponential increase in the number of genes associated with congenital and idiopathic scoliosis, and a greater understanding of the developmental mechanisms underlying “idiopathic” scoliosis.
The effects of political orientation on attributions of co-worker success/failure

This paper explores the field of organizational politics and its application to worker attributions for co-worker performance outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that worker awareness of political behaviors among their co-workers may provide additional informational cues for the attributions they form for co-worker success/failure. It is proposed in this paper that individuals maintain an orientation toward political activity, and that orientation is a source of information for the determination of cause.
Discrimination by Default: How Racism Becomes Routine

Acknowledgments1 Discrimination by Default, Discrimination as Default 2 Situational Racism 3 Self-Ful?lling Stereotypes 4 Failures of Imagination 5 Discrimination by and as Default in Medical Care 6 Overriding the Default Notes Index About the Author
Liquid surfaces and interfaces : synchrotron X-ray methods

The availability of synchrotron x-ray sources and the subsequent developments described in this book have led to substantial progress in our understanding of molecular ordering at liquid interfaces. This practical guide enables graduate students and researchers working in physics, chemistry, biology and materials science to understand and carry out experimental investigations into the basic physical and chemical properties of liquid surfaces and interfaces. The book examines the surfaces of bulk liquids, thin wetting films and buried liquid-liquid interfaces. It discusses experiments on simple and complex fluids, including pure water and organic liquids, liquid crystals, liquid metals, electrified liquid-liquid interfaces and interfacial monolayers of amphiphiles, nanoparticles, polymers and biomolecules. A detailed description of the apparatus and techniques required for these experiments is provided, and theoretical approaches to data analysis are described, including approximate methods such as the Master formula, the Born approximation, Parratt's algorithm and the Distorted Wave Approximation.
Jean Malaquais: A French Orwell?

This essay discusses the uncanny parallels, paradoxes, and puzzles in the lives and careers of author of Nineteen Eighty-Four, the famous George Orwell, and the virtually unknown French writer and political radical, Jean Malaquais. The striking affinities between Orwell and Malaquais, both of whom came to literary maturity in the 1930s, involve both their themes and genres. Both men fully engaged the issues of their times as independent leftists. Both also wrote political novels, documentary reportage, war diaries, and anti-utopias that addressed the conditions of the poor and working class (especially miners), the agonies of war-torn Europe, and the dangers of a totalitarian dystopia in the near future. Their remarkable affinities even extended to participation as volunteer soldiers in the same militia during the Spanish Civil War, the POUM (United Marxist Workers’ Party). Yet no biographer or scholar has ever compared the two men or even noted their numerous, arresting similarities. The divergent “afterlives” of Orwell and Malaquais raise large questions about cultural memory, the literary Zeitgeist, and Clio’s caprice.
Infections Complicating Congenital Immunodeficiency Syndromes

Nothing is more challenging to the physician than the management of a serious infection in an immunocompromised host. Under such circumstances, the clinician must bring to bear all of his knowledge of microbiology and antimicrobial therapy, but in addition, he must have a firm understanding of the host defense abnormality underlying that individual patient’s disease. As indicated by Stollerman in a recent review,1 we can no longer have a primarily parasite-oriented approach to infectious diseases but must include host factors in the data on which we make potentially life-saving decisions.
Consumption and Social Welfare: Living Standards and their Distribution in the United States

1. Introduction 2. Measuring economic welfare 3. An initial look at the data 4. The cost of living 5. The standard of living 6. Inequality 7. Poverty in America 8. Conclusion.
Further characterization of eukaryotic initiation factor 5 from rabbit reticulocytes. Immunochemical characterization and phosphorylation by casein kinase II.

Abstract Eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-5, isolated from rabbit reticulocyte lysates, is a monomeric protein of Mr = 58,000-62,000. Immunochemical methods were employed to identify eIF-5 in crude cell lysates. Antisera against purified denatured eIF-5 were prepared in rabbits and characterized by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation techniques using native and denatured eIF-5 as antigens. Monospecific antibodies to denatured eIF-5 were affinity-purified using eIF-5 blotted onto aminophenylthioether paper. Rabbit reticulocytes, HeLa cells and mouse L cells were lysed directly into a denaturing buffer containing 3% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The denatured proteins were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting with anti-eIF-5 antibodies. With each lysate, one major immunoreactive polypeptide was observed whose molecular weight corresponded to that of purified eIF-5 (Mr = 58,000-62,000). No degradation products or precursor forms of molecular weight higher than 62,000 were detected in any lysate. These results indicate that isolated eIF-5 is the same size as that found in crude lysates. Additional characterization of eIF-5 indicates that purified eIF-5 can be phosphorylated at serine residues in vitro by casein kinase II. Furthermore, in vitro phosphorylated eIF-5 retains full biological activity in catalyzing the joining of 60 S ribosomal subunits to a preformed 40 S ribosomal initiation complex to form an 80 S initiation complex. Based on its specific activity, we demonstrate that 1 pmol of rabbit reticulocyte eIF-5 mediates the formation of approximately 180 pmol of 80 S initiation complex under the conditions of in vitro initiation reactions.
Advanced substation data collecting and processing for state estimation enhancement

Many functions within a substation can be performed more efficiently if all the substation data is collected from and shared among intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). Gathered measurements and apparatus statuses can be processed by (local) substation computer(s). Processing includes data consistency checking, switching sequence monitoring, predicting switching outcomes, etc. Processed data may be used locally and/or communicated to remote sites (neighboring substations and/or control centers). Substation data integration is facilitated by existence and appropriate connection of IEDs. The paper presents an approach to implementation of substation data integration and information exchange. The emphasis is on the utilization of local data redundancy to enhance power system state estimation, especially topology error detection.
Enhancing Cross-cultural Competence in Multicultural Teacher Education: Transformation in Global Learning

Teacher education needs to engage teacher candidates in developing cross-cultural competence so that they may be able to transmit global learning to their future students. This study theorizes cross-cultural competence (CCC) from the perspectives of multicultural and global education. During a four-year project at a mid-western US university, utilizing Web 2.0 technologies, the authors implemented and evaluated a pedagogical approach intended to foster cross-cultural competence with an emphasis on dispositional transformation. A mixed-method design assessed students on CCC standards and found that they developed affective as well as cognitive CCC. By implication, the model can be adapted in other teacher education classrooms to foster cross-cultural, multicultural global learning.
An examination of the relationship between obtaining AACSB accounting accreditation and certified public accountant (CPA) exam pass rates

This is an exploratory study that examines the relationship between obtaining accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International and CPA exam pass rates. We examined CPA exam results for a thirteen year period (1991-2003) for 19 schools that received initial accounting accreditation during 1997-1999. During this timeframe, the exam was administered in a paper-based format. We compared overall exam scores and scores for individual sections of the exam for the years preceding the year of initial accounting accreditation and for the years following the year of initial accreditation. We found that obtaining accounting accreditation had no effect on CPA exam pass rates.
Microprobe design using a liquid gallium ion source

Abstract The beam from an EHD ion source using liquid gallium has been shown to have a brightness of 1.4 · 106 A cm−2 sr−1 at 21 kV. A microprobe has been designed to operate at 100 kV with a beam current of 6 · 10−11 A and a spot diameter of 15 nm (or 3.4 · 10−10 A and 40 nm).
Contamination of Ultra-High-Purity (UHP) Gas Distribution Systems by Back Diffusion of Impurities

A combination of experimental investigation and process simulation was used to analyze the effect of various operational parameters on impurity back diffusion into ultra-high-purity (UHP) gas distribution systems. The process model developed in this work was validated by comparing its predictions with data from the experimental test bed. Surface diffusion as well as convection and dispersion in the bulk fluid played a strong role in the transport of moisture from vents and lateral branches into the main line. Parametric studies on the effect of key operational and design parameters were performed experimentally and with the application of a process simulator. In this analysis, a dimensionless number (Peclet Number) was derived and applied as the key indicator of the relative significance of various transport mechanisms in moisture back diffusion. Guidelines and critical values of Peclet Number were identified for assuring the operating conditions meet the purity requirements at the point of use while mini...
Tone as a function of presupposition in technical and business writing

Current treatments of tone rely on a hit-list approach in which writers are presented with lists of words to avoid and a few do and don't examples. Such treatments, however, do not constitute a theory of why certain linguistic elements create problems in tone. The linguistic concept of presupposition can be used to construct such a theory. Presuppositions are unstated propositions conveyed by the use of certain linguistic expressions called presupposition triggers. These presupposition triggers may convey the writer's beliefs about the truth of a proposition or the writer's value judgments about a proposition. Many problems in tone can be traced to one of two types of conflict between reader and writer: different beliefs about the truth of an implied proposition, and different attitudes toward a proposition whose truth is agreed upon.
Spectral Exponents of Kinetic and Magnetic Energy Spectra in Solar Wind Turbulence

Kinetic and magnetic energy spectra in the ecliptic plane near 1 AU are found to exhibit different power-law behaviors in the inertial range, with the magnetic spectrum often having a power-law exponent near 5/3 and the kinetic energy spectrum often having a power-law exponent near 3/2 (the inertial range extends from approximately 5 × 10-4 to 10-1 Hz). The total energy, kinetic plus magnetic, has a power-law exponent that lies between 3/2 and 5/3, with a value near 1.6. The Alfven ratio, the ratio of kinetic to magnetic energy, is found to be a slowly increasing function of frequency in the inertial range, increasing from roughly 0.5 to 0.9 in the frequency range from 10-3 to 10-1 Hz. These conclusions are based on the analysis of four distinct time intervals of solar wind magnetic field and plasma data obtained by the Wind spacecraft near the end of solar cycle 22 and at different times throughout solar cycle 23. Three 54 day intervals and one 81 day interval are used to compute power spectra in the range from 10-5 to 1.7 × 10-1 Hz. Power-law exponents are estimated from linear least-squares fits to the logarithm of the power spectral density versus the logarithm of the frequency over the frequency interval from 10-3 to 10-2 Hz. To prevent errors due to spectral aliasing, the last decade of the spectrum is omitted from the calculation of the power-law exponents. The results show that a measurable difference exists between the power-law exponents of velocity and magnetic field fluctuations and that this difference persists throughout the solar cycle.
Review of Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repairs With Regional Nerve Blocks

Purpose This article compared the outcomes of pediatric patients undergoing ACL repairs receiving intravenous opioids versus regional nerve blocks for pain management. It was hypothesized that compared to intravenous opioids the use of regional nerve blocks would decrease pain, opioid consumption, and opioid-related side effects. Method A random retrospective chart review was conducted on a total of 93 pediatric patients who underwent ACL repairs either in 2004 prior to the implementation of regional nerve blocks for pain management [pre-protocol cohort, (n = 44)] or in 2009/2010, after the implementation of regional nerve block use [post-protocol cohort, (n = 49)]. Findings The two cohorts were comparable in age, weight and gender. The post-protocol cohort had a significantly lower total opioid consumption (p Conclusions There was evidence that regional nerve blocks reduced opioid consumption and also impacted pain reduction on POD 1 but demonstrated no significant change on opioid-related side effects or readiness for discharge. In view of the retrospective nature of the study the potential benefits of regional nerve blocks suggested a clinical equipoise to conduct a controlled trial in children.
Relationships of media use to political cynicism and efficacy: A preliminary study of young South Korean voters

The role of mass media in political campaigns has been extensively studied in the United States, but there is little knowledge of how media influence the Korean political campaign process. This study focuses on young Korean voters and investigates the relationships of their media behaviour (use of traditional media and the Internet) to political cynicism and political efficacy. A pencil‐and‐paper survey was administrated to 297 students in a Korean university. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression analyses show that use of radio and the Internet for political information reduces cynicism, use of radio increases inefficacy, and use of newspapers lowers inefficacy. The findings also indicate that media content‐related negativism increases cynicism and decreases inefficacy.