cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Osteonecrosis of the Lateral Aspect of the Talar Dome After Triple Arthrodesis. A Report of three Cases

Disruption of the blood supply to the talar dome leads to bone infarction that may be segmental or involve the entire dome. There is ischemic death of the cellular constituents in the infarcted area, which leads to osteonecrosis. Histologically, this process is recognized on the basis of the disappearance of osteocytes from within the lacunae. Radiographs give the appearance of osteoporosis of the surrounding bone due to hyperemia, whereas the infarcted bone retains its density. Disruption of the blood supply can be secondary to trauma6,12,14,20, external compression, or intraluminal obstruction1,3. Disruption due to external compression can occur when a space-occupying lesion physically compresses the arterial supply and inhibits blood flow. Intraluminal obstruction occurs when there is an intravascular process that interrupts blood flow. Fat emboli can occlude blood vessels; this has been seen in histological studies performed on specimens of osteonecrotic femoral heads3. Osteonecrosis of the talus has also been reported in association with several nontraumatic factors, such as exposure to pressurized atmospheric conditions, the use of corticosteroids, alcoholism, sickle-cell disease, chronic pancreatitis, Cushing disease, Addison disease, peripheral vascular disease, and dialysis for chronic renal failure1,3,9,10,13,17. There have also been reports of osteonecrosis of the entire body of the talus after a triple arthrodesis when there has been extensive resection of the talar head and neck4,8,15,18. We report the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the lateral aspect of the talar dome after a triple arthrodesis in three patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and had been taking corticosteroids. CASE 1. A sixty-eight-year-old man who had seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosed in 1976, was first seen by us in 1992 …
ISSUES IN NATURAL LANGUAGE ACCESS TO DATABASES FROM A LOGIC PROGRAMMING PERSPECTIVE

corresponding roughly to: "What does the question mean?", "How shall I answer it?", "What is the answer?". The meaning of a NL question, and the database of information about the application domain, are both represented as statements in an extension of a subset of flrst-order logic, which we call "definite closed world" (DCW) logic. This logic is a subset of flrst-order logic, in that it admits only "definite" statements; uncertain information ("Either this or that") is not allowed. DCW logic extends flrst-order logic, in that it provides constructions to support the "closed world" assumption, that everything not known to be true is false.
Role of Uniforms in the Body Image of Female College Volleyball Players

Female student athletes often desire a muscular body to be successful in sport, but this body type does not conform to traditional cultural norms of femininity. In this study, the authors qualitatively examined the experiences of female intercollegiate volleyball players to better understand their beliefs about their bodies—both as athletes and as women outside of sport—in addition to whether perceptions about their revealing sports uniforms were related to body image. Results indicated that body image among female student athletes is a multidimensional construct. Participants reported conflicting messages about their bodies in regard to how they look on the court and how they are supposed to look off the court. In addition, results suggested that revealing uniforms contributed to decreased body esteem, and these uniforms also distracted players and impacted on-court performance. Results are interpreted within the framework of objectification theory, and implications for psychologists working with female ...
Calculating eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of hyperbolic systems

The calculation of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a class of normal operators associated with hyperbolic PDEs (partial differential equations) for which no closed-form solution to the eigenproblem is known is considered. An inverse power method is applied to this problem; it is constructed so that all calculations remain real even though the eigenvalues are imaginary. An example illustrates the practical application of the method. >
Thin-film (DE)MUX based on step-like spatial beam shifting

Using spatial beam shifting a single dielectric stack can demultiplex multiple WDM channels. We demonstrate in theory and experiment that a compact, cost-effective (DE)MUX with flat-top passbands and low loss can be achieved.
Enhanced cosmological GRB rates and implications for cosmogenic neutrinos

Gamma-ray bursts, which are among the most violent events in the Universe, are one of the few viable candidates to produce ultra high-energy cosmic rays. Recently, observations have revealed that GRBs generally originate from metal-poor, low-luminosity galaxies and do not directly trace cosmic star formation, as might have been assumed from their association with core-collapse supernovae. Several implications follow from these findings. The redshift distribution of observed GRBs is expected to peak at higher redshift (compared to cosmic star formation), which is supported by the mean redshift of the Swift GRB sample, $⟨z⟩\ensuremath{\sim}3$. If GRBs are, in fact, the source of the observed UHECR, then cosmic-ray production would evolve with redshift in a stronger fashion than has been previously suggested. This necessarily leads, through the GZK process, to an enhancement in the flux of cosmogenic neutrinos, providing a near-term approach for testing the gamma-ray burst-cosmic-ray connection with ongoing and proposed UHE neutrino experiments.
Characterization of a high-performance portable GC with a chemiresistor array detector

The laboratory characterization of a novel, second-generation portable gas chromatograph (GC) prototype designed for trace-level determinations of complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOC) is described. The instrument incorporates a small, multi-stage adsorbent preconcentrator/injector (PCI), two series-coupled separation columns with fast, independent temperature-programming capabilities and junction-point pressure/flow control, and a detector consisting of an array of microfabricated chemiresistor (CR) sensors coated with thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle films. Response patterns from the CR array are used in conjunction with chromatographic retention times to identify eluting mixture components. Scrubbed ambient air is used as the carrier gas. Enhancements in design relative to a previously reported first-generation prototype instrument have led to significant reductions in limits of detection as well as improvements in resolution, reliability, flexibility, and convenience. Key features of the instrument are characterized, with an emphasis on the tradeoffs in sensor array performance associated with operation at different temperatures and flow rates. The separation of a preconcentrated mixture of 31 VOCs in < 7 minutes is demonstrated. Projected detection limits are in the ppt range for most compounds, assuming a 1 L sample volume.
Culture and Interdiscursivity in Korean Fricative Voice Gestures

This paper explores the cultural significance of a type of audible gesture in Korean speech that I call the Fricative Voice Gesture (FVG). I distinguish between two forms of this gesture: the reactive FVG, which serves as a self-standing utterance that signals personally felt intensity, and the prosodic FVG, which can be superimposed upon an utterance as a form of intensification. Based on an ethnographically informed analysis of interviews, Christian sermons, and advertisements for soju, a Korean spirit, in South Korea, I view the interdiscursive link between reactive and prosodic FVGs in terms of the ongoing cultural revalorization of the sound shape. I focus in particular on the shift from harsher to softer FVGs—and their omission altogether—according to different, but related, paradigms of social differentiation such as class, gender, and age. [voice, gesture, prosody, intensification, korean, South Korea]
Child calcaneonavicular coalitions: MRI diagnostic value in a 19-case series

Summary Introduction In case of hindfoot pain, diagnosis of calcaneonavicular tarsal coalition may be missed on X-ray due to the absence of any visible synostosis. All other possible etiologies (too-long anterior process (TLAP) of the calcaneum, synchondrosis, syndesmosis) must be investigated. The literature tends to recommend imaging associating standard X-ray and CT, and possibly bone scintigraphy. MRI is, however, also worth assessing, due to the many non-osseous forms calcaneonavicular pain may take. Material and methods Thirty-two cases of surgically treated calcaneonavicular tarsal coalition were studied. Nineteen cases, in 14 children, over a 10-year period, showed no visible synostosis on initial standard X-ray. In seven cases, bone scintigraphy was performed, CT in seven and MRI in 12. On the basis of the literature, our attitude was in favor of X-ray associated to CT in our early experience. Repeated diagnostic difficulties, however, led us to replace CT by MRI in case of foot pain combined to symptomatology suggestive of coalition. Results The series comprised four cartilaginous forms, four fibrous forms and eight TLAPs. In 10 of the 19 feet, radiology was strictly normal, the others showing indirect osseous signs. Only three of the seven scintigraphies showed hyperfixation. CT-scan enabled diagnosis in seven cases (two synchondroses and five rudimentary forms), and missed diagnosis in four (two cartilaginous and two fibrous forms). Second intention MRI showed two synchondroses and two syndesmoses. In the light of these 11 cases, a subsequent series of eight feet was assessed by MRI in first intention, obtaining systematic diagnosis. In all the feet of the series, the symptomatic coalition was treated by surgery, allowing peroperative findings to be compared with the imaging data. Discussion Given a rigid and painful foot syndrome suggestive of tarsal coalition, two diagnostic situations arise: (a) the clinical aspect is suggestive and standard X-ray enables diagnosis; (b) the clinical aspect is suggestive, but radiography proves non-contributive, in which case we recommend MRI with sagittal, frontal and axial slices in gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted and fat-sat T2-weighted sequences, revealing direct (cartilaginous or fibrous coalition) or indirect signs (peripheral inflammation, osteomedullary edema, chondral lesion) unobtainable on CT scans. MRI is particularly effective in as much as most of the children concerned will not have reached bone maturity. Conclusion We consider MRI to be the most effective means of precise diagnosis (causes and consequences) of tarsal coalition, especially for calcaneonavicular locations. It entails minimal invasion and irradiation, at a lower cost than CT associated to scintigraphy. Level of evidence IV. Diagnostic study.
Sexting Behaviors among Adolescents in Rural North Carolina: A Theoretical Examination of Low Self-Control and Deviant Peer Association

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of sexting among high school students as well as examine the theoretical foundation toward explaining this type of behavior. Specifically, we examined data from a sample of high school students in rural North Carolina to determine if low self-control and deviant peer association are constructs for explaining sexting among youth. Results indicated that both theoretical constructs are in fact predictors of the behavior, as well as other variables.
Fibrinogen–fibrin conversion. The mechanism of fibrin-polymer formation in solution

The fibrin polymers formed in solution during the earliest phase of the fibrinogen-fibrin conversion are shown to be stable soluble molecules at pH7.4 and 0.15m- or 0.3m-NaCl. The various sequential soluble fibrin polymers produced from the fibrinogen-thrombin reaction can be observed by gel chromatography and can be isolated for characterization. The mechanism of fibrin polymerization proposed from the present studies suggests that the initial event is the thrombin activation at only one of the Aalpha-chains in fibrinogen. The resulting highly reactive intermediate is the true fibrin monomer and it rapidly, and irreversibly, self-associates to form the stable fibrin dimer (s(20.w)=12S). Fibrin dimer possesses the N-terminal pattern alanine/glycine/tyrosine (1:1:2) per 340000 molecular weight, and possesses the chain structure [(alpha)Aalpha)(Bbeta)(2)(gamma)(2)](2). The fibrin dimer is a soluble inert molecule, but additional thrombin activation of its remaining intact Aalpha-chains leads to new associations into larger inert soluble fibrin polymers. In this manner progressively larger fibrin oligomers are constructed with thrombin continually in control of the process because of the necessity to repeatedly re-activate the various fibrin polymers in solution. The inert character of the soluble fibrin polymers can be explained by the reciprocal alignment of the associating molecules, which mutually consumes their active surfaces and leaves an intact Aalpha-chain at either end of each fibrin oligomer. The soluble fibrin polymers will proceed to further association only if thrombin activates these remaining Aalpha-chains, otherwise the fibrin molecules are stable indefinitely. The intermolecular associations within the soluble fibrin polymers are essentially irreversible under these nearly physiological conditions. However, the bonding is not covalent. This mechanism accounts for the clinical observations of stable fibrinogen-derived polymers in the plasma from patients undergoing thrombotic processes. Since it is shown that the intermediate fibrin polymers, themselves, are stable soluble molecules, it is no longer necessary, nor warranted, to invoke hypothetical ;fibrinogen-fibrin complexes' to explain observations of fibrin solubility.
A monoclonal antibody targeting the human urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) combined with bevacizumab inhibits the growth of colon cancer metastases in the liver: Differential effects mediated by tumor burden.

A65 The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has been implicated in a number of processes that contribute to tumor progression and metastasis including tumor cell proliferation, invasion, adhesion and angiogenesis. Thus, uPAR represents an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. We have developed a novel antibody, ATN-658, that targets uPAR. In contrast to previous therapeutic approaches targeting uPAR, ATN-658 does not inhibit the binding of uPA to uPAR and can bind to uPAR regardless of whether it is occupied by uPA. In addition, ATN-658 can bind to the residual fragment of uPAR frequently observed in tumors that remains attached to the membrane after proteolysis. We have previously demonstrated that ATN-658 significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer growth, invasion and metastasis in an orthotopic xenograft model (Bauer et al., Cancer Res 65:7775-81, 2005). In this study, we extend the results obtained in this pancreatic cancer model to a model of colon cancer metastasis to the liver combining ATN-658 with another biologic agent, bevacizumab, instead of chemotherapy. HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells, which express uPAR, were injected directly into the livers of nude mice to mimic seeded metastatic lesions. In the first study, cells were allowed to seed and establish tumors for 4 days prior to initiating treatment. ATN-658 (10 mg/kg 2X/ week) and bevacizumab (5 mg/kg 2X/week) were administered intraperitoneally (IP) as monotherapies as well as in combination until 25% of the mice in the vehicle control group became moribund (usually around day 28), at which time all the mice were euthanized and the volume of their liver tumors determined using caliper measurements. Bevacizumab monotherapy inhibited tumor growth by ~85% (p
Neutron Diffraction Study of the Type I Clathrate Ba8AlxSi46–x: Site Occupancies, Cage Volumes, and the Interaction between the Guest and the Host Framework

Samples with the type I clathrate structure and composition Ba8AlxSi46–x, where x = 8, 10, 12, 14, and 15, were examined by neutron powder diffraction at 35 K. The clathrate type I structure contains Ba cations as guests in a framework derived from tetrahedrally coordinated Al/Si atoms. The framework is made up of five- and six-membered rings that form dodecahedral and tetrakaidecahedral cages. The change in distances between tetrahedral sites across the series is used to develop a model for the mixed Al/Si occupancy observed in the framework. The calculated volumes of the cages that contain the Ba atoms display a linear increase with increasing Al composition. In the smaller dodecahedral cages, the Ba atomic displacement parameter is symmetry constrained to be isotropic for all compositions. In the larger tetrakaidecahedral cages, the anisotropic atomic displacement of the Ba atom depends upon the composition: the displacement is perpendicular (x = 8) and parallel (x = 15) to the six-membered ring. This ...
Tolerance induction with aggregated bovine gamma globulin in C57B1-6 mice.

SummaryBovine γ-globulin aggregated by treatment with bis-diazotized benzidine was fractionated by Na2SO4 precipitation and elution from a Bio-Gel A column to give a highly aggregated though soluble fraction with a molecular weight of about 107. This material administered to C57B1/6 mice still produced tolerance in doses above 0.2 mg comparable to that produced by aggregate-free BGG. By contrast, Balb/C mice require totally monomeric BGG for tolerance induction. The difference in behavior to BGG of these strains is reflected by the differences in ability of their reticuloendothelial systems to filter and clear BGG.
Towards full-scale numerical simulations of a traveling-wave thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine

We have carried out the first three-dimensional numerical simulation of a thermoacoustic Stirling heatengine (TASHE). The goal is to lay the groundwork for full-scale, time-resolved Navier-Stokes simulations that allow for the direct description of the non-linear processes limiting the overall efficiency of such devices. The TASHE model adopted for the present study is a double-Helmholtz resonator with the engine module at one end. The latter is composed of an infinitely thin annular tube holding the heat-exchanger/regenerator (HX/REG) unit – the only component not directly resolved. All walls are modeled as adiabatic, no-slip boundaries with a local wall-normal resolution resolving the boundary layer thickness. An imposed temperature difference across the regenerator of ∆T = 200K is sufficient to initiate the thermoacoustic instability leading to the generation of acoustic energy in the system. After the application of the heat source, the acoustic fluctuations in the engine rapidly settle towards an exponentially amplified pure tone at 59.8 Hz. By tracking a fluid parcel in the regenerator it is shown how the thermoacoustic instability intensifies exclusively plane waves traveling in the direction of the imposed temperature gradient. The Lagrangian thermodynamic history of the fluid parcel resembles a Stirling heat-engine cycle, unveiling the conversion mechanisms of heat into mechanical work central to any TASHE. A well-defined acoustic network of traveling waves looping around the HX/REG unit is established and analyzed with the aid of the time-resolved data. A simple lumped-parameter model is used to investigate the linear stability properties of the initial acoustic perturbation revealing, in particular, that the acoustic energy growth is maximized at the lowest resonant frequencies of the system. Non-linear effects are detectable from the very beginning and become dynamically important only after the first two seconds of operation. It is shown that intense acoustic fluctuations in the feedback loop component drive complex system-wide streaming flow patterns responsible, in particular, for the mean advection of hot fluid away from the HX/REG (thermal leakage) in the direction of the imposed temperature gradient and around the annular tube. This unwanted effect is contained by the introduction of a second ambient heat-exchanger, commonly found in the design of real TASHEs, allowing for the establishment of a dynamical thermal equilibrium in the system. A limit cycle in fully non-linear conditions is finally obtained for an acoustic amplitude of 178 dB.
A Positivist Study of the Utilization of the Educational Resources of the Civilian-run Non-schooling Record Higher Education Institution of Beijing City

The utilization of educational resources is an important subject studied by civilian-run education.The utilization condition of the resources of Beijing private non-schooling record higher education institution is different from that of the private regular higher education.The former has its own features with respect to the utilization of man power,material power and finance power.In order to guarantee the supply of the educational resources and promote the continuant development of their cause,the private-run colleges and universities on the one hand must enlarge the income of their fund,on the other hand must effectively and reasonably use the present educational resources so as to enhance the utilization of the resources.
Somadendritic Backpropagation of Action Potentials in Cortical Pyramidal Cells of the Awake Rat

Buzsaki, Gyorgy and Adam Kandel. Somadendritic backpropagation of action potentials in cortical pyramidal cells of the awake rat. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1587–1591, 1998. The invasion of fast (Na+) sp...
Fluorescence Measurement of Pericellular Oxygen

Under normal physiological conditions, the mitochondrial electron transport chain consumes cellular/mitochondrial oxygen (O2) to generate a proton motive force (ΔΨm) which powers ATP synthesis. Thus, many cellular processes that depend on [ATP] are either directly or indirectly regulated by the availability of O2 to the cells. Restriction of tissue blood flow disrupts the O2 supply to cause ischemia, and is detrimental to virtually all cell types. Nevertheless, the cellular, organellar, and molecular processes that enable cells to survive episodes of ischemia remain largely unknown. This is due in part to our inability to control and to accurately measure local pericellular O2, particularly during high-resolution single cell measurements. Here we present a fluorescent O2-probe comprising silica-supported O2 micro sensors integrated in an O2-permeable silicon matrix. A micro-layer (20-50 μm) of the probe serves as a substrate beneath adherent single cells. This enables us to measure the pericellular partial pressure of O2 (ppO2) without disrupting the flow of extracellular solutions. The O2 probe responds rapidly to abrupt changes of ppO2 at rates approximately 100 times faster than Clark-type microelectrodes. Since the ppO2 microsensors and the cell are spatially resolved, calibrated changes of pericellular ppO2 and intracellular events can be imaged simultaneously with high spatiotemporal resolution. We have used this technique to measure the pericellular ppO2 of cardiomyocytes, which are extremely vulnerable to O2 deprivation, owing to their heavy reliance on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP. During time-lapse experiments, the ΔΨm in different subcellular regions is monitored. Dynamic cytosolic [Ca2+] levels are also measured during electrically stimulated cell contractions and their sensitivity to O2 is tested. This new probe provides a direct means of measuring pericellular ppO2 in real-time, and thus opens new avenues to investigate the physiological and pathophysiological responses to hypoxia at the single-cell level.
The Political Economy of Nature

This article explores the dialectics of land use and livelihoods to formulate a political economy of nature approach to studying the production of nature. Rather than solely postulate “drivers” and...
Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recordings

The patch-clamp recording technique, which measures ionic currents under voltage clamp, was designed to study small patches of membranes in which near perfect control of the transmembrane voltage can be achieved readily. The recent application of patch-clamp methodology to the analysis of whole-cell current actually defies many of the original design requirements. Nevertheless, whole-cell recordings are used routinely in electrophysiology laboratories to study electrical currents carried by ions through ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and electrogenic transporters in cell types of virtually any origin. Since the introduction of the patch-clamp technique in 1981 (Hamill et al., 1981) and the subsequent rapid development of commercial amplifiers, this method of intracellular recording has nearly replaced sharp electrode recordings, particularly in the study of cultured cells. This procedure and its applications have been the topics of numerous excellent reviews and book chapters (see Recommended Readings). In addition to summarizing some basic concepts, this chapter specifically emphasizes handson procedures and protocols. It is hoped that the chapter will effectively complement previous accounts of the patch-clamp technique.
Modeling of thermoelectric effects in phase change memory cells

Phase change memory (PCM) is an emerging fast and non-volatile memory technology. PCM devices are based on the resistivity contrast between the amorphous (high resistivity) and crystalline (low resistivity) phases. Amorphization (Reset) is achieved by by a large and short electrical pulse which melts a small volume of material and allows fast cooling. Crystallization (Set) is achieved by heating the amorphized region above the crystallization temperature for a sufficiently long duration [1]. These devices operate at high current densities and high temperature gradients which give rise to significant thermoelectric effects observed as asymmetric heating and amorphization of the structures [2]. These effects have been observed in silicon microwires [3] and p-type SbTe [4], doped SbTe [5] and GST phase-change memory cells [6]. Numerical modeling of PCM devices has been performed using approximated analytical solutions to the electro-thermal equations and constant physical parameters [4][6].
IPSS Independent Prognostic Value of Plasma CXCL10, IL-7 and IL-6 Levels in De Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes,

Abstract Abstract 3795 Recent studies suggest a powerful prognostic value for plasma cytokine levels in primary myelofibrosis (IL-2R, IL-8, IL-12, IL-15 and CXCL10) and large cell lymphoma (IL-2R, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, CXCL9 and CXCL10). In order to examine the possibility of a similar phenomenon in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), we used multiplex ELISA to measure 30 plasma cytokines in 78 patients with primary MDS. Compared to normal controls (n =35), the levels of 19 cytokines were significantly altered. Multivariable analysis identified increased levels of CXCL10 (p Download : Download high-res image (17KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure: . Survival data for 78 patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) stratified based on plasma levels of CXCL10, IL-7 and IL-6: (i) normal levels of all 3 cytokines (top curve), or (ii) increased (> 3 standard deviations of the normal mean level) level(s) of one or more of the aforementioned cytokines (bottom curve) (p=0.002). Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Preclinical development of G1T38: A novel, potent and selective inhibitor of cyclin dependent kinases 4/6 for use as an oral antineoplastic in patients with CDK4/6 sensitive tumors

Inhibition of the p16INK4a/cyclin D/CDK4/6/RB pathway is an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. Although efficacious, current treatment regimens require a dosing holiday due to severe neutropenia potentially leading to an increased risk of infections, as well as tumor regrowth and emergence of drug resistance. Therefore, a next generation CDK4/6 inhibitor that can inhibit proliferation of CDK4/6-dependent tumors while minimizing neutropenia could reduce both the need for treatment holidays and the risk of inducing drug resistance.Here, we describe the preclinical characterization and development of G1T38; a novel, potent, selective, and orally bioavailable CDK4/6 inhibitor. In vitro, G1T38 decreased RB1 (RB) phosphorylation, caused a precise G1 arrest, and inhibited cell proliferation in a variety of CDK4/6-dependent tumorigenic cell lines including breast, melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma cells. In vivo, G1T38 treatment led to equivalent or improved tumor efficacy compared to the first-in-class CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib, in an ER+ breast cancer xenograft model. Furthermore, G1T38 accumulated in mouse xenograft tumors but not plasma, resulting in less inhibition of mouse myeloid progenitors than after palbociclib treatment. In larger mammals, this difference in pharmacokinetics allowed for 28 day continuous dosing of G1T38 in beagle dogs without producing severe neutropenia. These data demonstrate G1T38 has unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, which result in high efficacy against CDK4/6 dependent tumors while minimizing the undesirable on-target bone marrow activity, thus potentially allowing G1T38 to be used as a continuous, daily oral antineoplastic agent.
Teacher agency and policy response in English language teaching

Teacher agency and policy response in English language teaching is an edited volume by Patrick C. L. Ng and Esther F. Boucher-Yip. Given the scarce literature on language teacher agency, the book m...
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the myosin mesa: viewing an old disease in a new light

The sarcomere is an exquisitely designed apparatus that is capable of generating force, which in the case of the heart results in the pumping of blood throughout the body. At the molecular level, an ATP-dependent interaction of myosin with actin drives the contraction and force generation of the sarcomere. Over the past six decades, work on muscle has yielded tremendous insights into the workings of the sarcomeric system. We now stand on the cusp where the acquired knowledge of how the sarcomere contracts and how that contraction is regulated can be extended to an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of sarcomeric diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In this review we present a picture that combines current knowledge of the myosin mesa, the sequestered state of myosin heads on the thick filament, known as the interacting-heads motif (IHM), their possible interaction with myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C) and how these interactions can be abrogated leading to hyper-contractility, a key clinical manifestation of HCM. We discuss the structural and functional basis of the IHM state of the myosin heads and identify HCM-causing mutations that can directly impact the equilibrium between the 'on state' of the myosin heads (the open state) and the IHM 'off state'. We also hypothesize a role of MyBP-C in helping to maintain myosin heads in the IHM state on the thick filament, allowing release in a graded manner upon adrenergic stimulation. By viewing clinical hyper-contractility as the result of the destabilization of the IHM state, our aim is to view an old disease in a new light.
Sociology in Russia: Studies in Social Stratification

Les AA. examinent de facon critique deux ouvrages publies en 1995, qui etudient les phenomenes de stratification sociale en Russie : «Sotsial'naia stratifikatsia» de V. V. Radaev et O. I. Shkaratan et «Sotsial'naia struktura i stratifikatsia v ysloviyakh formirovaniya grazhdanskogo obshestva» de Z. Golenkova. Ils comparent, d'une part, les conceptions de la notion de structure sociale developpees dans ces deux livres et, d'autre part, la typologie des categories sociales qui forment la societe russe proposee par chacun d'eux
Effect of renal denervation on urine angiotensinogen excretion in prenatally programmed rats.

Prenatal programming results in an increase in blood pressure in adult offspring. We have shown that compared to control adult offspring whose mothers were fed a 20% protein diet, programmed adults whose mothers were fed a 6% protein diet during the last half of pregnancy have an increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity and urinary angiotensinogen/creatinine levels. We hypothesized that the increase in urinary angiotensinogen was mediated by renal sympathetic nerve activity in programmed rats. In this study performed in 3 month old rats, renal denervation resulted in normalization of blood pressure in the 6% programmed group (150 ± 3 Hg in 6% sham vs. 121 ± 4 Hg in 6% denervated, P < 0.001), and a reduction in blood pressure in the 20% group (126 ± 2 Hg 20% sham vs. 113 ± 4 Hg 20% denervated (P < 0.05). We confirm that the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system assessed by urinary angiotensinogen/creatinine is upregulated in offspring of rats fed a 6% protein diet rats compared to 20% controls. To determine if sympathetic nerve activity was mediating the increase in urinary angiotensinogen in programmed rats, we compared denervated to sham-operated control and programmed rats. Renal denervation had no effect on urinary angiotensinogen/creatinine ratio in the 20% group and no effect on the increased urinary angiotensinogen/creatinine ratio found in programmed rats. This study demonstrates that the increase in urinary angiotensinogen in programmed rats is not mediated by renal sympathetic nerve activity.
Gradient method in Hilbert–Besov spaces for the optimal control of parabolic free boundary problems

Abstract This paper presents computational analysis of the inverse Stefan type free boundary problem, where information on the boundary heat flux is missing and must be found along with the temperature and the free boundary. We pursue optimal control framework introduced in Abdulla (2013, 2016), where boundary heat flux and free boundary are components of the control vector, and optimality criteria consist of the minimization of the quadratic declinations from the available measurements of the temperature distribution at the final moment, phase transition temperature on the free boundary, and the final position of the free boundary. We develop gradient descent algorithm based on Frechet differentiability in Hilbert–Besov spaces complemented with preconditioning or increase of regularity of the Frechet gradient through implementation of the Riesz representation theorem. Three model examples with various levels of complexity are considered. Extensive comparative analysis through implementation of preconditioning and Tikhonov regularization, calibration of preconditioning and regularization parameters, effect of noisy data, comparison of simultaneous identification of control parameters vs. nested optimization is pursued.
Learning and the technology of instruction

THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT lack of fruitful interaction between education and the developing science of learning. Experimental psychologists concerned with learning theory and educational psychologists concerned with instructional techniques and devices have been trained in different academic worlds and in different universes of discourse. One result is the uneasy feeling that educational psychology and the instructional methodologies it generates have not been closely nurtured by a basic mother science. Indeed, it has been a rarity to find a single individual actively concerned both with the development of the basic science of learning and with its technological applications to educational practice. Increasingly, however, current activities indicate that more experimental psychologists who are learning-theory oriented are working on education and training problems. The general question posed by this movement concerns the nature of an applied psychology of learning and the development of a technology of instruction. Applied research can be defined as research that is oriented toward the development and application of a practical technology. It is a meeting ground where applied and basic endeavors mingle, and where solutions to both theoretical and practical issues are attempted, often in the same experimental program. It appears,
Unresolved Childhood Sexual Abuse and Older Adults: Late-Life Vulnerabilities

Several long-term correlates of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) have been identified, including depression, fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, and poor interpersonal functioning (e.g., Browne and Finkelhor, 1986). However, little is know about how CSA survivors fare in old age. This article addresses the impact of unresolved CSA on late-life (emotional, cognitive, and behavioral) functioning. Three case studies of older adults ages 60 and older who were struggling with unresolved CSA are presented. Two observed stressors (loss of social support and declining health) and one developmental task (reminiscence or life-review) appear to be linked to exacerbated vulnerabilities in older survivors. Specifically, because CSA may arrest specific childhood developmental tasks (e.g., ability to form secure attachments, autonomy) or facilitate development of coping strategies that are maladaptive when outside of an abusive environment (e.g., generalized interpersonal distrust, avoidance, dissociation), the survivor may be at risk for developmental vulnerabilities for dysfunction in adulthood. These vulnerabilities may exacerbate unresolved CSA, particularly when the adult encounters stressors or developmental tasks that exceed his or her capacity for adaptive coping. Recommendations for mental health professionals and future research are suggested.
Palliative radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer patients with bone metastases at diagnosis: A hospital‐based analysis of patterns of care, RT fractionation scheme, and overall survival

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies associated with bone metastases, and palliative radiation therapy (RT) is an effective treatment option. A total of 2641 patients were identified with PCa and bone metastases at diagnosis from 2010 to 2014 in the NCDB. Fractionation scheme was designated as short course ([SC-RT]: 8 Gy in 1 fraction and 20 Gy in 5 fractions) vs long course ([LC-RT]: 30 Gy in 10 fractions and 37.5 Gy in 15 fractions). Patient characteristics were correlated with fractionation scheme using logistic regression. Overall survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, Cox proportional hazards models, and propensity score-matched analyses. A total of 2255 (85.4%) patients were included in the LC-RT group and 386 (14.6%) patients in the SC-RT group. SC-RT was more common in patients over 75 years age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-2.20), treatment at an academic center (OR: 1.76, 1.20-2.57), living greater than 15 miles distance to treatment facility (OR: 1.38, 1.05-1.83), treatment to the rib (OR: 2.99, 1.36-6.60), and in 2014 (OR: 1.73, 1.19-2.51). RT to the spine was more commonly long course (P .5). LC-RT remains the most common treatment fractionation scheme for palliative bone metastases in PCa patients. Use of palliative SC-RT is increasing, particularly in more recent years, for older patients, treatment at academic centers, and with increasing distance from a treatment center.
Human perception-motor decision-making is not optimal

Economic decision-making under risk often fails to maximize expected value, perhaps reflecting cognitive biases and heuristics. A line of recent work argues that when economic decisions are reformulated as decisions about where to aim rapid reaching movements, the resulting decisions are optimal (i.e. maximize expected value), in dramatic contrast to the standard findings obtained with decisions among gambles. These arguments for optimality rely on a comparison between human performance and the performance of an ideal agent in a reaching task with a narrow range of incentive values. Here, we improve on this methodology, both empirically and analytically, by devising a task with a wider range of incentive values, and by performing trial-level comparisons of participant behavior to the Ideal Model and two plausible alternative models. The first alternative, the Loss-averse Model, incorporates participant-level loss aversion, and the second alternative, the Heuristic Model, embodies a simple satisficing heuristic that is invariant to incentive magnitudes. Across two experiments, we find that participants movement outcomes are more likely under the Heuristic Model than the Ideal or Loss-averse models, especially when the risk of financial loss is high. The present work provides evidence against the claim that perceptuo-motor decision making is optimal and demonstrates the fruitfulness of including alternative models in analyses of human behavior.
Return Predictability and Market Efficiency: Evidence from the Bulgarian Stock Market

We applied three well-known technical indicators and one neglected indicator to the daily data for the Bulgarian Stock Index from November 21, 2003 to March 1, 2018. The results strongly support th...
Clinical management decisions for adults with prolonged acute cough: Frequency and associated factors.

Abstract Background Uncomplicated episodes of prolonged acute cough are usually viral and self-limited, but despite evidence and recommendations to the contrary, they are often treated with antibiotics. Methods Mixed cross-sectional and prospective observational study of adults 18 years or older presenting to two urgent care centers with a cough of 7 to 56 days as their chief complaint. Factors associated with cough duration and clinical decisions were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Of the 125 enrolled patients, 118 (94%) received an antibiotic, 97 (78%) a cough suppressant, 87 (70%) a systemic corticosteroid, and 39 (31%) a chest X-ray (CXR). Longer duration of cough was associated with the presence of self-reported wheezing or noises (adjusted odds ratio 6.29, 95% CI 1.36–29.16) while the presence of both wheezing and crackles on a clinician chest exam was associated with shorter duration (aOR 0.03, 95% CI 0.00–0.27). A clinician was more likely to order a CXR in patients with dyspnea (aOR 3.01, 95% CI 1.21–7.49), less likely to prescribe a systemic corticosteroid in patients with crackles (aOR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09–0.82), and more likely to prescribe a cough suppressant to older patients (1.04 per additional year of age, 95% CI 1.01–1.07). Conclusions Systemic corticosteroids and cough suppressants are being prescribed at high rates in patients with uncomplicated acute cough in the urgent care setting. Additional studies to determine if similar rates are seen in other urgent care centers, or in other contemporary ambulatory settings are warranted.
Copyright in culinary presentations

This chapter explores culinary presentations and copyright law, including the creative designs, plating, or presentations of food to be eaten, with an up-to-date analysis of this issue under the recent U.S. Supreme Court's decision on copyright of useful articles in Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc. To explore copyright in culinary presentations and illustrate the copyright hurdles for culinary presentations, this chapter uses examples of three different styles of culinary presentations as case studies: Duff Goldman's presidential inaugural cake, Thomas Keller's famous salmon cornets, and a bowl of Vietnamese pho.
Effects of weather factors on recreation participation in a humid subtropical region

This study examines effects of weather, temporal factors, and gasoline price on outdoor recreation participation by using a time series model. We obtained more than 5 years of daily outdoor recreation visitation data by using infrared mechanical counters on a section of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST). Results showed that days with daily maximum temperatures of 16–22 °C brought the largest number of visitors, which suggests this is the most comfortable range of daily maximum temperatures to recreate on the FNST. Daily maximum temperatures below 6 °C and above 31 °C and heat index values above 38 °C brought significantly lower visitor numbers, suggesting these values are temperature thresholds for this region in a recreation context. A seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model showed significant negative effects of temperature, relative humidity, cold snaps, and gasoline price and a positive effect of weekends and public holidays on recreational visitations to this trail. Days with heavy rainfall (> 2.54 cm) or a high heat index (≥ 35 °C) were likely to negatively affect recreation participation not only on the same day, but also on the next normal weather day. These findings imply that managers of facilities that need staffing and other resources should expect to receive fewer visitors on days following adverse weather conditions, even if that day has normal weather conditions.
Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili on the Juridical Status of Native American Polities

Over the course of the sixteenth century, Europeans writing about the ius gentium went from treating indigenous American rulers as the juridical equals of Europe's princes to depicting them as little more than savage brutes, incapable of bearing dominium and ineligible for the protections of the law of peoples. This essay examines the writings of Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili to show how this transformation in European perceptions of Native Americans resulted from fundamental changes in European society. The emergence of a novel conception of sovereignty amid the upheavals of the Protestant Reformation was central to this shift and provided a new foundation for Europe's continued imperial expansion into the Americas.
Human Figuration and Fragmentation in Preclassic Mesoamerica: From Figurines to Sculpture

In this book, Julia Guernsey examines the relationship between human figuration, fragmentation, bodily divisibility, personhood, and community in ancient Mesoamerica. Contending that representation of the human body in the pre-classic period gradually became a privileged act, she argues that human figuration as well as the fragmentation of both human representations and human bodies reveals ancient conceptualizations of personhood and the relationship of individual to the community. Considering ceramic figurines and stone sculpture together with archaeological data, Guernsey weaves together evidence and ideas drawn from art history, archaeology, and anthropology to construct a rich, cultural history of Mesoamerican practices of figuration and fragmentation. A methodologically innovative study, her book has ramifications for scholars working in Mesoamerica and, more generally, those interested in the significance of human representation.
Library Programming Made Easy: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Libraries are no longer exclusively repositories of information. A visit to nearly any library finds announcements for a wide variety of activities such as yoga, crafting days, comic cons, budgetin...
Watershed scale evaluation of an improved SWAT auto-irrigation function

Abstract The SWAT model is a well-documented hydrologic model. However, some studies report that the existing SWAT auto-irrigation methods are unable to represent actual irrigation management, particularly in intensively irrigated regions. In the U.S. Great Plains, the SWAT model does not reproduce the management allowed depletion (MAD) irrigation scheduling commonly used by researchers and producers. To this purpose, the SWAT source code has been modified to include the MAD auto-irrigation function. This study evaluated the performance of the soil water content (SWC), corrected soil water content (CSWC), plant water demand (PWD), and MAD auto-irrigation methods in streamflow and irrigation simulations by comparison with observed data. The CSWC and MAD methods performed the best in streamflow simulations with NSE > 0.75 and PBIAS within ±11%. Comparisons of simulated irrigation with the field irrigation also indicated the CSWC and MAD methods outperformed other methods with the NSE > 0.75 and PBIAS within ±5%.