cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing organizational conflict: an incompatible response approach.

Previous research indicates that anger and aggression can both be reduced by exposure to events that generate positive states incompatible with these reactions. To determine if this principle could be applied to the reduction of organizationa l conflict, male and female subjects played the role of executives and discussed important organizational issues with another person This individual was actually an accomplice who disagreed strongly with their views. Such disagreement was expressed either in a calm and reasonable manner or in an arrogant and condescending fashion. Subjects were then exposed either to one of three treatment conditions designed to induce positive states incompatible with anger (sympathy, gratitude, amusement) or to a no-treatment control. Finally, they rated their current mood, indicated then- impressions of the accomplice, and reported on their likelihood of handling future conflicts with him through collaboration, avoidance, competition, compromise, or accomodation. Results indicated that relative to the control condition, the three incompatible-response-generating treatments improved subjects' moods, enhanced their impressions of the accomplice, and increased then" preference for constructive as opposed to destructive modes of dealing with conflict. In addition, disagreement expressed in a condescending manner produced significantly more negative effects on all dependent measures than disagreement expressed in a reasonable fashion These findings were interpreted as suggesting that useful techniques for the effective management of conflict can be derived from existing knowledge about the control of human aggression Conflict is a common part of life in modern organizations. Indeed, practicing managers report that dealing with conflict and its effects occupies fully 20% of their time (Thomas & Schmidt, 1976). In the past, it was widely assumed that the effects of such conflict are uniformly negative in scope and that it is best avoided under all circumstances. More recently, however, the fact that conflict can sometimes yield positive as well as negative effects has gained increasing recognition (Robbins, 1974). For example, it may lead to the careful consideration of new ideas—ones that would be overlooked in its absence Similarly, conflict can facilitate more searching
Rapid complex mode decomposition of vector beams by common path interferometry

We have used common path interferometry for rapid determination of the electric field and complex modal content of vector beams, which have spatially-varying polarization. We combine a reference beam with a signal beam prior to a polarization beam splitter for stable interferograms that preserve intermodal phase shifts even in noisy environments. Interferometric decomposition into optical modes (IDIOM) provides a direct, sensitive measure of the complete electric field, enabling rapid modal decomposition and is ideally suited to single-frequency laser sources. We apply the technique to beams exiting optical fibers that support up to 10 modes. We also use the technique to characterize the fibers by determining a scattering matrix that transforms an input superposition of modes into an output superposition. Furthermore, because interferograms are linear in the field, this technique is very sensitive and can accurately reconstruct beams with signal-to-noise << 1.
Safety of epinephrine for anaphylaxis in the emergency setting.

Background While epinephrine is the recommended first-line therapy for the reversal of anaphylaxis symptoms, inappropriate use persists because of misunderstandings about proper dosing and administration or misconceptions about its safety. The objective of this review was to evaluate the safety of epinephrine for patients with anaphylaxis, including other emergent conditions, treated in emergency care settings. Methods A MEDLINE search using PubMed was conducted to identify articles that discuss the dosing, administration, and safety of epinephrine in the emergency setting for anaphylaxis and other conditions. Results Epinephrine is safe for anaphylaxis when given at the correct dose by intramuscular injection. The majority of dosing errors and cardiovascular adverse reactions occur when epinephrine is given intravenously or incorrectly dosed. Conclusion Epinephrine by intramuscular injection is a safe therapy for anaphylaxis but training may still be necessary in emergency care settings to minimize drug dosing and administration errors and to allay concerns about its safety.
Sarcomas in Adolescents and Young Adults

Adolescents and young adults, caught between the traditionally binary medical systems for children and adults, may be treated variably, depending on which side of the dichotomy they find themselves. As a result, their unique needs may go unmet because they occupy the fringes of the more typical child and adult patient populations. Soft tissue sarcomas in adolescents and young adults are a case in point, spanning the gap between the two fields but focusing on neither. Increasing age seems to be a poor prognosticator for soft tissue sarcomas, but is probably only a marker for other biological variables, patient characteristics, and treatment differences. This article discusses the issues unique to the management of soft tissue sarcomas in this population, pointing out what age-specific data are known and what areas are ripe for collaborative research between medical and pediatric oncologists.
Support for software performance tuning on network processors

In response to the continuous growth in network bandwidth and application requirements, specialized chips called network processors have been built to deliver high performance and flexibility at moderate cost. Network processors often employ parallelism to achieve this high performance/cost ratio. However, the same parallelism can also make the behavior of the software difficult to understand. When applications need to maintain reliable performance under heavy load, seemingly unrelated code fragments can interact with each other unexpectedly because of hardware resource contention, thereby impacting performance. To help software designers deal with this problem, we propose using software simulation to compare the impact of different design choices on performance. We show that it is possible to use relatively simple models, yet still extract information that aids in performance tuning the system.
Discovery of a novel synthetic phosphatase from a bead-bound combinatorial library

Using split/pool encoded synthesis and a colorimetric catalysis assay, a number of synthetic phosphatase catalysts were developed.
On Siegel disks of a class of entire maps

Let f : C → C be an entire map of the form f(z) = P(z)exp(Q(z)), where P and Q are polynomials of arbitrary degrees (we allow the case Q = 0). Building upon a method pioneered by M. Shishikura, we show that if f has a Siegel disk of bounded type rotation number centered at the origin, then the boundary of this Siegel disk is a quasicircle containing at least one critical point of f. This unifies and generalizes several previously known results.
Evaluation of patient perceptions and outcomes related to anticoagulation point-of-care testing in ambulatory care clinics.

Until recently, Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) measurements have typically been used to monitor patients on warfarin through institutional laboratories via venous puncture. The Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) device has revolutionized the patient care process by allowing for laboratory testing outside of the central laboratory. Objective: To analyze humanistic and clinical outcomes in patients currently treated with warfarin and monitored through a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic using point-of-care testing (POCT) device versus venipuncture within ambulatory care clinics at our institution. Methods: All patients currently treated with warfarin therapy who were managed by clinical pharmacists for anticoagulation monitoring at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Family Medicine Center and University Diagnostic Center, were enrolled. Patients were asked to complete a satisfaction survey regarding their anticoagulation monitoring. In addition, data related to emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations and percent of time in the INR therapeutic range for 6 months pre- and post-implementation of POCT device was collected. This information was obtained through an electronic patient information database, Oacis. Results: A total of 145 patients were included in the data collection from the two clinics. The majority (41%) of these patients were taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Satisfaction surveys were completed by 86 (59 %) of patients. The surveys revealed that POCT device was preferred over venipuncture in 95% of patients. Reasons for the preference included more face-to-face interaction, less wait time, less pain, less blood needed, and quicker results. Of the 145 patients who were *
The Benchmark Generator Tool: measuring Ada compilation system performance

A Benchmark Generator Tool (BGT) has been developed to generate compilation benchmarks that uncover limits in Ada compilation systems. The benchmarks, which take the form of large quantities of Ada source code, are intended to stress Ada compilers and their associated development systems. The authors describe the BT and the structure of the generated benchmarks, and discuss some of their applications. It is shown that use of the benchmarks on several vendor systems has demonstrated their effectiveness in uncovering compilation system limits. They thus provide the capability to address a significant risk area on Ada development: the ability of Ada compilation systems to handle large quantities of Ada code. >
Toward high‐performance computational chemistry: II. A scalable self‐consistent field program

We discuss issues in developing scalable parallel algorithms and focus on the distribution, as opposed to the replication, of key data structures. Replication of large data structures limits the maximum calculation size by imposing a low ratio of processors to memory. Only applications which distribute both data and computation across processors are truly scalable. The use of shared data structures that may be independently accessed by each process even in a distributed memory environment greatly simplifies development and provides a significant performance enhancement. We describe tools we have developed to support this programming paradigm. These tools are used to develop a highly efficient and scalable algorithm to perform self-consistent field calculations on molecular systems. A simple and classical strip-mining algorithm suffices to achieve an efficient and scalable Fock matrix construction in which all matrices are fully distributed. By strip mining over atoms, we also exploit all available sparsity and pave the way to adopting more sophisticated methods for summation of the Coulomb and exchange interactions. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Sampling Theory of Neutral Alleles in an Island Population of Fluctuating Size

Abstract The sampling distribution of neutral alleles under a stochastic birth, death, and immigration (BDI) process, proposed as a model of fluctuating island populations, is studied by analytical methods. A new result is presented for the distribution of allele types in a sample ofNindividuals from an island when the allele frequencies among immigrants are constant. The sampling distribution of allele types depends on the sample sizeN, the array of allele frequencies among immigrantsp, and the parameterθ=φ/λ, whereφis the immigration rate andλis the individual birth rate. The sampling distribution of alleles does not depend on time or population size, and no “genetic equilibrium” assumption is therefore needed to apply the model to natural populations. The moments of the sampling distribution of allele types are used to calculate the expectation and variance of a sample identity by descent estimate (fN0) within islands under the BDI model.
Rapid in vivo multicomponent T2 mapping of human knee menisci.

Meniscal tears are well described factors in the pathogenesis and progression of osteoarthritis (OA).1–3 The ability to noninvasively assess changes in the macromolecular matrix of meniscus would allow better understanding of the role of meniscal degeneration in the development of meniscal tears and the subsequent onset of OA. Quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) techniques have been developed to assess changes in the composition and ultrastructure of meniscus with disease progression.4–9 Among those techniques, the T2 and apparent T2 (T2*) relaxation times of meniscus have been extensively studied and have shown to be sensitive for detecting meniscal degeneration.4–7 However, changes in T2 and T2* relaxation time of highly organized musculoskeletal tissues such as meniscus and cartilage are nonspecific parameters that are influenced by multiple factors including tissue hydration, macromolecular content, and tissue anisotropy.10–12 Multicomponent T2 and T2* analysis may provide more specific information regarding separate water components associated with the different macromolecular constituents of meniscal tissue.5,6 Juras et al5 found that bicomponent T2* mapping was superior to single-component T2* mapping for distinguishing between normal, degenerative, and torn menisci in human subjects. The changes in multicomponent T2* parameters may reflect alterations in the different water components in meniscal tissue due to degeneration and tearing. However, multicomponent T2* parameters are influenced by local magnetic field inhomogeneity and inherent differences in tissue susceptibility, which may change with different stages of tissue degeneration, and thus may not reflect the true T2 characteristics of the different water components of meniscus.13 While multicomponent T2 analysis of musculoskeletal tissues has been performed using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequences, these techniques require extremely long scan times for clinical useful volume coverage, which has significantly limited their use in human subjects.14–16 Multicomponent Driven Equilibrium Single Pulse Observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) is a new technique that implements fast steady-state MRI and a two-pool water model for multicomponent T2 mapping with high spatial resolution, large volume coverage, and short scan time.17 Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using mcDESPOT to investigate the T2 characteristics specific to the fast and slow relaxing water components of the articular cartilage of the human knee joint at 3.0T.18,19 This study was performed to determine the ability of mcDESPOT to provide rapid in vivo multicomponent T2 analysis of the human knee menisci. Multicomponent T2 parameters of meniscus measured using mcDESPOT at 3.0T were compared in asymptomatic volunteers, OA patients with intact menisci, and OA patients with torn menisci to document changes in the T2 characteristics of the different water components of meniscus due to tissue degeneration and tearing.
Assessment of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene toxicity in field soils by pollution‐induced community tolerance, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and seed germination assay

Determining the toxicity of contaminants to soil organisms under field conditions is hampered by site-specific and temporal factors that modulate contaminant availability. Assessing the pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) of indigenous microbial communities integrates these complex environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to determine if the PICT response was proportional to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) concentrations in soil, if changes detected by PICT were also evident in soil microbial community composition, and if the PICT response correlated with phytotoxicity assays. Microorganisms extracted from TNT-contaminated field soils were mixed with a solution containing six different concentrations of TNT and inoculated into Biolog ECO plates. The utilization rate of substrates was determined over a 7-d period. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic analysis of a portion of the gene encoding 16S rDNA described the structure of the soil microbial community. Phytoindicators (Poa compressa and P. palustris L.) of TNT pollution were identified and used to assess TNT phytotoxicity in soil samples. The TNT (in Biolog wells) greatly inhibited microbial communities from locations with low in situ TNT exposure. The inhibition of microbial use of L-asparagine, L-phenylalanine, and D-glucosaminic acid by TNT (in Biolog wells) increased as TNT concentration in soil decreased. Locations differing in ECO-PICT response also differed in their microbial community composition and TNT phytotoxicity. Decreased phytotoxicity of field soils corresponded to decreases in PICT. The results from this study indicated that ECO-PICT is an effective assay to rapidly detect TNT exposure and toxicity in soil microbial communities.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of methylprednisolone in rat plasma and liver after intravenous administration of its liver-targeted dextran prodrug

Abstract A specific and sensitive liquid chromatography (LC)–tandem mass spectrometric method for quantitative determination of methylprednisolone (MP) in rat plasma and liver was developed and validated using triamcinolone acetonide as an internal standard. Liquid–liquid extraction using tert -butyl methyl ether was used to extract the drug and the internal standard from plasma and liver. The separation of MP was performed on a C 18 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile:0.5% formic acid aqueous solution (85:15, v/v) over 4 min. The assay was based on the selected reaction monitoring transitions at m / z 375 → 161 for MP in plasma, 375 → 357 for MP in liver, and 435 → 415 for internal standard in both plasma and liver. The lower limit of quantification was 20 ng/mL based on 100 μL of plasma or liver homogenate. Intra- and inter-day assay variations were ≤15%, and the accuracy values were between 85.8% and 118%. The extraction recoveries ranged from 76.8% to 79.2% for plasma and 76.8–80.8% for liver across the calibration curve range. The method was successfully applied to the measurement of low concentrations of regenerated MP in plasma and liver after intravenous administration of a single dose (5 mg/kg) of a liver-targeted dextran prodrug of MP to rats.
Disparate Estimates of Hypertension Control From Ambulatory and Clinic Blood Pressure Measurements in Hypertensive Kidney Disease

Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring provides unique information about day-night patterns of blood pressure (BP). The objectives of this article were to describe ABP patterns in African Ameri...
Droplet activation parameterization: the population-splitting concept revisited

Abstract. In this work, we postulate, implement and evaluate modifications to the "population-splitting" concept, introduced by Nenes and Seinfeld (2003), for calculation of water-condensation rates in droplet-activation parameterizations. The population-splitting approximation consists of dividing the population of growing droplets into two categories: those that experience significant growth after exposed to a supersaturation larger than their critical supersaturation, and those that do not grow much larger than their critical diameter. The modifications introduced here lead to an improved accuracy and precision of the parameterization-derived maximum supersaturation, smax, and droplet-number concentration, Nd, as determined by comparing against those of detailed numerical simulations of the activation process. A numerical computation of the first-order derivatives ∂ Nd/∂ χj of the parameterized Nd to input variables χi was performed and compared against the corresponding parcel-model-derived sensitivities, providing a thorough evaluation of the impacts of the introduced modifications in the parameterization ability to respond to aerosol characteristics. An evaluation of the parameterization computation of Nd and smax against detailed numerical simulations of the activation process showed a relative error of −6.0% ± 6.2% for smax, and −2.7% ± 4.8% for Nd, which represents a considerable reduction in prediction bias when compared to earlier versions of the parameterization. The proposed modifications require only minor changes for their numerical implementation in existing codes based on the population-splitting concept.
Tissue engineering strategies for promoting vascularized bone regeneration

This review focuses on current tissue engineering strategies for promoting vascularized bone regeneration. We review the role of angiogenic growth factors in promoting vascularized bone regeneration and discuss the different therapeutic strategies for controlled/sustained growth factor delivery. Next, we address the therapeutic uses of stem cells in vascularized bone regeneration. Specifically, this review addresses the concept of co-culture using osteogenic and vasculogenic stem cells, and how adipose derived stem cells compare to bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in the promotion of angiogenesis. We conclude this review with a discussion of a novel approach to bone regeneration through a cartilage intermediate, and discuss why it has the potential to be more effective than traditional bone grafting methods.
Hydroxyurea-Increased Fetal Hemoglobin Is Associated with Less Organ Damage and Longer Survival in Adults with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Background Adults with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) are inconsistently treated with hydroxyurea.
Bank Structure and Reevaluating the Case for Risk: The Icelandic Banking Crisis

Using a sample of 3 Icelandic and 153 US banks (8 of which have since failed), we construct a historical VaR framework and discuss the relative thoroughness of market risk management for US and Icelandic firms. The paper seeks to determine the drivers of provisional loan losses (PLL), a fundamental component of liquidity. The results find no homogeneity between Icelandic and US results, but significant explanatory power exists for Icelandic PLL. This paper represents the only paper, to our knowledge, that approaches Icelandic and US Banks from the structural component of risk.
Future Directions for Research on State and Local Political Parties

ment. The larger the coalition, the less it is able to gain from such transfers. Thus in a competitive two-party system where parties must try to satisfy 50% plus one of the electorate, parties are least likely to press for policies which will weaken the economy and society. Olson thus concluded that rather than seeking to make pressure groups more encompassing as suggested by neo-corporatists, it would be more beneficial to strengthen political parties.
Notes on the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera. 2. Rhopalopsyllidae, Malacopsyllidae and Vermipsyllidae.

All known species and subspecies of the siphonapteran families Rhopalopsyllidae, Malacopsyllidae, and Vermipsyllidae are listed, and their main hosts and distribution are discussed. The describer and date of description are also included for each taxon.
Threat or opportunity

The coding system upgrade can be an opportunity or disaster, depending on your hospital's preparations.
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Incidence and Prevalence

Although chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is recognized as having been an important problem during the initial introduction of chemotherapy into the antineoplastic armamentarium, the assumption that this problem has already been solved can restrict optimal management and further advances. Underestimation of nausea and vomiting may have many causes. If these toxicities are assumed to be necessary properties of chemotherapy, then their incidence may be taken for granted. If nausea and vomiting appear after discharge from the clinic several days after chemotherapy, these toxicities may not be reported because of poor recall or because of efforts by patients to avoid unnecessary complaints. Physician education may be compromised if physicians see nausea and vomiting as population problems but not problems for their own patients. Failure to recognize nausea and vomiting as two distinct entities that may appear independently of each other can also limit understanding of the prevalence of these problems and efforts at effective management. Continued attention to the impact of nausea and vomiting on the patient experience will be necessary to insure optimal maintenance of quality of life.
Outcomes and complications of angioembolization for hepatic trauma: A systematic review of the literature

Background The liver is one of the most frequently injured abdominal organs. Hepatic hemorrhage is a complex and challenging complication following hepatic trauma. Significant shifts in the treatment of hepatic hemorrhage, including the increasing use of angioembolization, are believed to have improved patient outcomes. We aimed to describe the efficacy of angioembolization in the setting of acute hepatic arterial hemorrhage as well as the complications associated with this treatment modality. Methods A systematic review of published literature (MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library) describing hepatic angioembolization in the setting of trauma was performed. Articles that fulfilled the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. We analyzed the efficacy rate of angioembolization in the setting of traumatic hepatic hemorrhage as well as the complications associated with hepatic angioembolization. Results Four hundred fifty-nine articles were identified in the literature search. Of these, 10 retrospective studies and 1 prospective study met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Efficacy rate of angioembolization was 93%. The most frequently reported complications following hepatic angioembolization included hepatic necrosis (15%), abscess formation (7.5%), and bile leaks. Conclusion Although the outcomes of hepatic angioembolization were generally favorable with a high success rate, the treatment modality is not without associated morbidity. The most frequently associated major complication was hepatic necrosis. Rates of complications were affected by study heterogeneity and should be better defined in future studies. Level of evidence Systematic review, level III.
Melody L. Hoffmann, Bike lanes are white lanes: bicycle advocacy and urban planning

In Bike Lanes are White Lanes, Melody Hoffman challenges, from her own pro-bicycling standpoint, the notion that bicycling is “positive, progressive, and [a] good thing for all people” (3). Using a...
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw or Maxilla after Intravenous Bisphosphonates for Multiple Myeloma and Breast Cancer: Long-Term Follow-Up Shows a Slow Rate of Healing.

Abstract Osteonecrosis of the jaw or maxilla (ONJM) is a rare but clinically significant disorder recently reviewed in a large retrospective study by our group (Hoff et al, 27th ASBMR Meeting 2005, Presentation #1218). A subset of the ONJM patients with breast cancer or myeloma was followed at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) dental clinic. This analysis describes the natural history of ONJM in this subset. Thirteen of 29 ONJM patients treated with intravenous bisphosphonates (IVBP) at UTMDACC and 1 ONJM patient treated elsewhere were evaluated in the dental clinic for more than 6 months (myeloma, n=7; breast cancer, n=7). Measurement of the maximum length of exposed bone was documented at each visit. Each patient received a standard regimen of conservative dental care with debridement only when indicated. All patients received zoledronic acid (mean cumulative dose 80mg; range 24–152mg) and 10 patients also received pamidronate (mean cumulative dose 1665mg; range 90–2700mg). This subset was followed for a median duration of 18.2 months (range: 7.1–67.3 months). The mean length of exposed bone at initial evaluation was 11 mm (range: 2–29 mm). The lesion from baseline to the most recent clinic visit progressed in 7 patients (50%), remained stable in 2 (14%), regressed in 2 (14%), and resolved in 3 (21%). Persistent ONJ was seen if IVBP was stopped (n=8), decreased in frequency (n=1), or continued at the same dose/frequency (n=2) (Graphs 1, 2). Complete resolution occurred in 3 multiple myeloma patients; IVBP was decreased in one and discontinued in 2 of the resolved cases (heavy lines on Graph 1). Our experience shows that ONJM is a disorder with slow resolution in most patients, lasting as long as 5 years. In the oncologic setting where there is clear benefit of bisphosphonate therapy, studies to optimize the dosing regimen may be needed. Download : Download high-res image (89KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (86KB) Download : Download full-size image
Learning causal information flow structures in multi-layer networks

We study causal influence structures between the patterns of a multilayer network. Multi-layer networks are networks in which different types of activities between users represent different types of edges, i.e., layers. We measure the causal influence between network patterns via directed information, and investigate how to learn the influence patterns when users can engage in interactions in multiple contexts. We evaluate the proposed methods using both synthetic and real-world datasets, and demonstrate that directed information measures can be utilized to identify the causal relations between network structures.
Critique de Livre: Timothy Morton, Ecology without Nature: Rethinking Environmental Aesthetics. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2007), 262 p.

Critique de Livre: Timothy Morton, Ecology without Nature: Rethinking Environmental Aesthetics. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2007), 262 p.
Harmonization of Civil Procedure: Is the United States a Model for the European Union?

It is tempting to view the United States as a model for the harmonization of rules of civil procedure. This chapter argues that there may be lessons to learn from the US experience, but that there are reasons to be skeptical about the usefulness of the US model for efforts to harmonize the procedural rules of EU members. The rules of civil procedure are not as harmonized in the United States as commonly assumed. Judicial cooperation in the United States is in any event based less on extensive harmonization than on a system of interjurisdictional deference made possible by the twin foundations of full faith and credit and minimum procedural standards—foundations that do not yet appear to be sufficiently well developed in the EU to make this model immediately workable there. Finally, for reasons of legal and political culture, the process of making rules of civil procedure in the United States is politicized, seemingly to a greater extent than in the EU. A more technical path toward procedural harmonization might be possible, and more desirable, in the EU.
Reducing rates of operative intervention for pediatric post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Objectives/hypothesis The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of rebleeding in patients admitted for observation after presentation for nonactive hemorrhage in the post-tonsillectomy period, compare rebleeding rates between patients managed with observation versus initial operative control, and describe the complication profile associated with observation as a management strategy for post-tonsillectomy bleeding. Study design Case series with retrospective review of patients. Methods Patients presenting from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2015 for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage to a tertiary pediatric care center were evaluated for inclusion in the study. Inclusion criteria included patients ≤18 years of age without active bleeding at the time of the initial examination. Proportions were compared using χ2 and Fisher exact tests, whereas continuous data were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results Of 3,866 tonsillectomy patients, 285 (7.4%) presented with concern for oropharyngeal bleeding in the postoperative period, of whom 224 were admitted for nonactive bleeding. Of patients with nonactive bleeding, 203 (90.6%) were managed with observation and 21 (9.4%) with operative intervention. Rate of rebleeding was 26/203 (12.8%) after inpatient observation and 3/21 (14.3%) after operative intervention (P = 1.000). Frequency of rebleeding requiring operative control in patients undergoing initial observation was 14/203 (6.9%). Conclusions In our pilot study, rates of rebleeding in patients observed for nonactive post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage was not statistically different than those managed with initial operative exploration. Although preliminary in nature, our data suggest observation may have comparable safety and efficacy when compared to operative management for pediatric patients presenting with nonactive post-tonsillectomy bleeding. Further data collection to establish an optimal management algorithm is ongoing. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 1958-1962, 2018.
Impact of interactive online units on learning science among students with learning disabilities and English learners

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to document the design, classroom implementation, and effectiveness of interactive online units to enhance science learning over 3 years among students with learning disabilities, English learners, and general education students. Results of a randomised controlled trial with 2,303 middle school students and 71 teachers across 13 schools in two states indicated that online units effectively deepened science knowledge across all three student groups. Comparing all treatment and control students on pretest-to-posttest improvement on standards-based content-specific assessments, there were statistically significant mean differences (17% improvement treatment vs. 6% control; p < .001); no significant interactions were found between treatment condition and learning disability or English learner status, indicating that these two groups performed similarly to their peers; students with learning disabilities had significantly lower assessment scores overall. Teachers and stude...
Loss of Rictor in Monocyte/Macrophages Suppresses Their Proliferation and Viability Reducing Atherosclerosis in LDLR Null Mice.

Background Rictor is an essential component of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 2 (mTORC2), a conserved serine/threonine kinase that may play a role in cell proliferation, survival and innate or adaptive immune responses. Genetic loss of Rictor inactivates mTORC2, which directly activates Akt S473 phosphorylation and promotes pro-survival cell signaling and proliferation. Methods and results To study the role of mTORC2 signaling in monocytes and macrophages, we generated mice with myeloid lineage-specific Rictor deletion (MRictor-/-). These MRictor-/- mice exhibited dramatic reductions of white blood cells, B-cells, T-cells, and monocytes but had similar levels of neutrophils compared to control Rictor flox-flox (Rictorfl/fl) mice. MRictor-/- bone marrow monocytes and peritoneal macrophages expressed reduced levels of mTORC2 signaling and decreased Akt S473 phosphorylation, and they displayed significantly less proliferation than control Rictorfl/fl cells. In addition, blood monocytes and peritoneal macrophages isolated from MRictor-/- mice were significantly more sensitive to pro-apoptotic stimuli. In response to LPS, MRictor-/- macrophages exhibited the M1 phenotype with higher levels of pro-inflammatory gene expression and lower levels of Il10 gene expression than control Rictorfl/fl cells. Further suppression of LPS-stimulated Akt signaling with a low dose of an Akt inhibitor, increased inflammatory gene expression in macrophages, but genetic inactivation of Raptor reversed this rise, indicating that mTORC1 mediates this increase of inflammatory gene expression. Next, to elucidate whether mTORC2 has an impact on atherosclerosis in vivo, female and male Ldlr null mice were reconstituted with bone marrow from MRictor-/- or Rictorfl/fl mice. After 10 weeks of the Western diet, there were no differences between the recipients of the same gender in body weight, blood glucose or plasma lipid levels. However, both female and male MRictor-/- → Ldlr-/- mice developed smaller atherosclerotic lesions in the distal and proximal aorta. These lesions contained less macrophage area and more apoptosis than lesions of control Rictorfl/fl → Ldlr-/- mice. Thus, loss of Rictor and, consequently, mTORC2 significantly compromised monocyte/macrophage survival, and this markedly diminished early atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that mTORC2 is a key signaling regulator of macrophage survival and its depletion suppresses early atherosclerosis.
Outcome age-based prediction of successful cognitive aging by total cholesterol

Abstract Introduction Some associations of high total cholesterol with dementia risk diminish as the outcome age—age at cognitive assessment—increases. Methods The Framingham Heart Study provided 1897 participants with intact cognition at entry. Cox regression analysis for incident marked cognitive decline included "time-dependent" coefficients, with associations between total cholesterol and covariates changing by outcome age. Decline within age categories of 75–84 and 85–94 years was also examined. Results Significant associations of rising total cholesterol linear slope, low entry age, low education, and statin nonuse with risk diminished significantly by outcome age. At 85–94 years, falling linear slope was significant. Discussion The protected survival model posits a minority subpopulation with protection against mortality and cognitive decline associated with total cholesterol risk factors. It predicts the observed diminished or reversed cholesterol associations with increasing age. Protection is particularly likely for successful cognitive aging—intact cognition at very old age—despite increased risk from cholesterol.
Basic Endovascular Techniques: Direct, Balloon-Assisted, and Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization

Abstract Devices and techniques for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms have rapidly progressed since their clinical debut nearly three decades ago. However, mastery of basic embolization techniques remains the cornerstone of successful endovascular therapy. Commonly employed techniques include direct, balloon-assisted, and stent-assisted coil embolization. The neuroendovascular field continues to innovate and coil embolization may not remain at the forefront of endovascular aneurysm treatment in the future. The introduction of innovative and promising new devices that do not utilize a coil platform may diminish the future importance of coil embolization techniques leading to a new age in aneurysm embolization where the coil is no longer the dominant device. In this chapter, we will discuss the basics of coil embolization focusing on standard direct, balloon-assisted, and stent-assisted techniques as they remain the workhorse options for aneurysm embolization.
INTRODUCTION TO NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN THE CONTROL OF ANTERIOR PITUITARY FUNCTION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of neurotransmitters in the control of anterior pituitary function. In the early 50s, the first evidence for peptidergic control of anterior pituitary secretion emerged with the finding that commercial extracts containing vasopressin and even synthetic vasopressin could release ACTH in animals in which the ubiquitous stress response was blocked by median eminence lesions or by pharmacological treatments, which would inhibit the stress response. It was also observed that neurohypophyseal extracts would release ACTH from pituitaries incubated in vitro but only in the presence of norepinephrine. It was at this point that Saffran, Schally ,and Benfey claimed separation of a substance different from vasopressin by chromatography of posterior pituitary fractions that would release ACTH in vitro and named the putative neurohormone as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). With the discovery of CRF, the search for other putative releasing factors to control the release of other pituitary hormones was intensified. To make a long story short, an LH releasing hormone (LRH) was soon observed that would deplete ovarian ascorbic acid on systemic administration and evoke ovulation following its injection directly into the pituitary.
History and Biology of Erythropoietin in Hematopoietic and Non-Neural Tissues

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone, which is produced in kidney and liver, and is mainly involved in regulating proliferation and maturation of red blood cells. EPO gene expression is induced by hypoxia through the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1, which has been found to be the main regulator of oxygen homeostasis in the body. Suppression of apoptosis is the principle mechanism of action of EPO in maintaining erythropoiesis. It has been recently recognized that EPO is a member of the cytokine type I superfamily and it has multiple effects in organs and tissues different from the hematopoietic system. Recent evidence of EPO as a protective factor in various injury models in the nervous system and heart has raised the possibility that EPO can exert protective effects in many organs in the body. However, whether the mechanism of protective action involves inhibition of apoptosis remains to be seen.
Formalizing Language Teacher Association Leadership Development

Like many boards of directors, TESOL International Association has a system in place to support new board members, and to help them take on and carry out their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The informal and voluntary coaching-mentoring arrangement is known as a ‘buddy system’; an idea which goes back at least 50 years (Freyberg, 1967). In this Association, the arrangement is open-ended and flexible, based on a second-year Board member accompanying a new Board member, during the first Board meeting attended by the first-year member. In recent years, these pairings have been more carefully matched, but the problem has been that both parties are often already extremely busy professionals, even before joining the Board, and more so afterwards. Therefore, after that initial Board meeting, in spite of the best intentions of both parties, little or no follow-up usually takes place. In light of the limitations of such a ‘buddy system’, this chapter will present a case study on the success of a more systematic and structured—but still open-ended and flexible—approach to leadership coaching-mentoring, involving a recent Past-President and a recent President-Elect of the Association, in a mutually beneficial and enlightening, professional teaching-learning relationship over a year.
Genetic Tools for Streamlined and Accelerated Pathway Engineering in Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica is an industrial oleaginous yeast that has many attractive physiological and metabolic characteristics for various biotechnological applications. Although it has a long history of industrial applications, the number of genetic tools available to effectively and efficiently engineer Y. lipolytica still falls behind the vast number of tools available for common organisms such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this protocol, we have developed a complete and versatile genetic toolkit tailored for facile genetic manipulation in Y. lipolytica. We created a versatile DNA assembly platform YaliBrick, which can streamline the cloning of large multigene pathways with reused genetic parts. We established a sensitive luciferase reporter assay to characterize a set of 12 native promoters. In addition, we used YaliBrick to generate different gene configurations in multigene constructs. The five-gene biosynthetic pathway of the anticancer, antimicrobial pigment violacein was rapidly assembled in 1 week to demonstrate the simplicity and effectiveness of integrating pathway-balancing strategies with our YaliBrick vectors. In the end, we incorporated CRISPR-Cas9 into our YaliBrick vectors and achieved indel mutation and frameshift gene deletion at the CAN1 (arginine permease) genomic loci of Yarrowia lipolytica. The reported protocol provides a standard procedure to streamline and accelerate metabolic pathway engineering in Yarrowia lipolytica.
Environmental inactivation and irrigation-mediated regrowth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on romaine lettuce when inoculated in a fecal slurry matrix

Field trials were conducted in July-August and October 2012 to quantify the inactivation rate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 when mixed with fecal slurry and applied to romaine lettuce leaves. Lettuce was grown under commercial conditions in Salinas Valley, California. One-half milliliter of rabbit, chicken, or pig fecal slurry, containing an average of 4.05 × 107 CFU E. coli O157:H7 (C0), was inoculated onto the upper (adaxial) surface of a lower leaf on 288 heads of lettuce per trial immediately following a 2.5 h irrigation event. To estimate the bacterial inactivation rate as a function of time, fecal matrix, irrigation and seasonal climate effects, sets of lettuce heads (n = 28) were sampled each day over 10 days and the concentration of E. coli O157:H7 (Ct) determined. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on 100% of heads during the 10-day duration, with concentrations ranging from ≤340 MPN/head (∼5-log reduction) to >3.45 × 1012 MPN/head (∼5-log growth). Relative to C0, on day 10 (Ct = 12) we observed an overall 2.6-log and 3.2-log mean reduction of E. coli O157:H7 in July and October, respectively. However, we observed relative maximum concentrations due to bacterial growth on day 6 (maximum Ct = 8) apparently stimulated by foliar irrigation on day 5. From this maximum there was a mean 5.3-log and 5.1-log reduction by day 10 (Ct = 12) for the July and October trials, respectively. This study provides insight into the inactivation and growth kinetics of E. coli O157:H7 on romaine lettuce leaves under natural field conditions. This study provides evidence that harvesting within 24 h post irrigation has the potential to increase the concentration of E. coli O157:H7 contamination, if present on heads of romaine lettuce; foliar irrigation can temporarily stimulate substantial regrowth of E. coli O157:H7.
Electricity Generation and Electric Power in Chile Before 1975

This chapter analyses the characteristics of the Chilean electricity sector from its beginnings until the 1970s. Its development occurred in two long stages, with very different business dynamics in each. From the early years of the twentieth century until the 1930s, private initiative was in sole control, and state regulation was weak. Moreover, this was a period when firms generating electricity for their own use, like the mining companies, were just as important as those producing for public consumption. From the 1930s onwards, as a result of the impact of the Great Depression on Chile, the private sector, which had a large foreign component, proved incapable of sustaining the investment required, and the state became the dominant body in the industry. The chapter analyses the proposals that the technocrats then coming to the fore were making about the restructuring of the electricity industry. In this second stage, ENDESA, the public-sector electricity supplier, became the most dynamic actor, leading to a much higher rate in installed capacity, although Chilectra, the major supplier to the cities in the centre of the country, remained in private (foreign) hands until 1970, when it became a subsidiary of CORFO.