cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms involved in progesterone receptor regulation of uterine function

The ovarian steroid hormone progesterone is a major regulator of uterine function. The actions of this hormone is mediated through its cognate receptor, the progesterone receptor, Pgr. Ablation of the Pgr has shown that this receptor is critical for all female reproductive functions including the ability of the uterus to support and maintain the development of the implanting mouse embryo. High density DNA microarray analysis has identified direct and indirect targets of Pgr action. One of the targets of Pgr action is a member of the Hedgehog morphogen Indian Hedgehog, Ihh. Ihh and members of the Hh signaling cascade show a coordinate expression pattern in the mouse uterus during the preimplantation period of pregnancy. The expression of Ihh and its receptor Patched-1, Ptc1, as well as, down stream targets of Ihh-Ptch1 signaling, such as the orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TF II show that this morphogen pathway mediates communication between the uterine epithelial and stromal compartments. The members of the Ihh signaling axis may function to coordinate the proliferation, vascularization and differentiation of the uterine stroma during pregnancy. This analysis demonstrates that progesterone regulates uterine function in the mouse by coordinating the signals from the uterine epithelium to stroma in the preimplantation mouse uterus.
Anesthesia technique and outcomes after hip fracture surgery.

To the Editor Dr Neuman and colleagues 1 concluded that although regional anesthesia was associated with shorter hospital stays following hip fracture surgeries than with general anesthesia, there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality. In their analysis, patients who lived closer to hospitals that specialized in regional anesthesia were matched to patients who lived closer to hospitals that specialized in general anesthesia under the assumptions that patients seek care for hip fractures at hospitals near their homes and that regional anesthesia use varies across hospitals. Although distance is a factor in a patient’s choice of hospital, it is just one of many. 2 Without exact patient addresses, Neuman et al 1 used the linear distance between the center of the patient’s zip code and the hospital. However, driving distance, hospital reputation, and insurance network participation seem more likely to be associated with a patient’s hospital choice. These assumptions and the inaccuracy of the distance calculations raise concerns about hospital proximity as a strong instrumental variable. 3 Furthermore, if hospital proximity affects mortality through channels other than through the effect of proximity to a regional anesthesia-specialized hospital on the likelihood of receiving regional anesthesia, it is not a valid instrumental variable. Neuman et al matched patients on demographic characteristics and comorbidities, 1 but research has shown that where people live affects health and mortality in myriad ways that may not have been adequately controlled. 4 Moreover, any patients who received spinal or epidural anesthesia in addition to general anesthesia were grouped with patients who received general anesthesia alone. Therefore, it is likely that the true effect of regional anesthesia on 30-day mortality was biased toward the null.
Contemporary family therapy in the United States

Major issues in contemporary family therapy in the United States are described. Issues from outside the field impacting family therapy include health care reform, family ‘values’, multiple forms of ‘family’, and the growing aging population. Issues within the field include the challenge of social construction theory, the decline of the expert, the feminist critique, sensitivity to culture, rediscovering individuals within families, focus on strengths and resources, a both–and attitude toward collaboration with other professionals, emphasis upon the person of the therapist, and convergence of ‘schools’ of family therapy. Therapists in the United States are also opening up the private process of therapy through reflecting teams, including clients in therapist thinking, multi-family groups, and through psychoeducational groups. Finally, attempts to bridge the gap between research and practice are analyzed.
Open-cell reaction bonded silicon nitride foams: Fabrication and characterization

Abstract In this study, a newly designed fabrication procedure was utilized to produce silicon nitride foams. The main goal of the present study was to obtain Si 3 N 4 foams with high levels of porosity and pore interconnectivity via an economical fabrication procedure including sacrificial template technique, gel-casting and reaction bonding processes. The fabrication procedure was studied and optimized in terms of suspension preparation and rheology, gel-casting parameters, and reaction bonding conditions. The produced foams have a precisely controlled level of porosity which can be varied up to 87 vol%. BET analysis showed that the surface area of the foam is of the order of 2.01 m 2 /g. The pore interconnectivity of the foam was investigated via polyester resin infiltration. Based on XRD and SEM analysis, the dominant nitriding reactions are the gas-phase reactions which lead to α-Si 3 N 4 in the form of whiskers.
The pedicled temporoparietal fascial flap for complex midfacial reconstruction

Reconstruction of the maxillary suprastructure, the periorbital region, and the lateral pyriform aperature are not commonly performed at the time of oncologic ablative surgery. A significant reason for this practice relates to a paucity of local vascularized soft tissue flaps that can support the reconstruction. Because the local soft tissues do not lend themselves to pedicled or rotational transfer, the most commonly used vascularized tissue for midface reconstruction had been the free tissue transfer. In this article, the pedicled temporoparietal fascial flap is described for midface reconstruction. The donor site from the undersurface of the scalp in the posterior temporal and anterior parietal regions permits the development of a highly vascular, durable, and very supple flap. This flap, pedicled on the superficial temporal artery and vein, can be rotated from the preauricular region, under the zygoma, and through the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus into the midface region for use in supporting bone or skin grafts. The temporoparietal donor site also exposes the appropriate area of the calvarium for external table bone grafts, which can be used in maxillary suprastructure replacement. With this flap, the need for microvascular transfer can be reduced or eliminated in those midface defects limited to the maxillary suprastructure, the periorbital region, and the lateral pyriform aperature.
Advantages of low-gain Hopfield neurons

Tank and Hopfield have described numerous applications for the neural paradigm proposed by Hopfield in 1984. High-gain amplifiers were used for the neurons in their simulations and hardware implementations. Simulation and experimental results will be presented that illustrate the advantages of low-gain neurons.
La cobardía en dos poemas épicos: La Chançun de Willame y el Poema de Mío Cid

La poesfa epica romanica se manifesto primeramente en Franciahacia finales del siglo XI y, durante varios siglos, goz6 degran popularidad en aquel pais, a juzgar por la gran cantidadde textos conservados. Esto ha hecho pensar a parte de la cr:iticaque la epica romanica se desarrollo en Francia y que dealii se extendi6 a los otros paises de la Romania, a los que aport6su influencia; inclusive hay eruditos que se han esmerado ense:fialar todas las analogias posibles entre los poemas epicos delas distintas lenguas romanicas, con el prop6sito de mostrarsiempre su dependencia de las composiciones francesas1•
Classification of births by birth weight and gestational age: an application of multivariate mixture models

Background: Classifications such as low birth weight, premature, and small for gestational age, i.e. compromised births, have been criticized because they depend upon arbitrary standards that may not be appropriate for all populations. Aim: This study applies multivariate Gaussian mixture models with covariates to characterize birth weight by gestational age distributions. Subjects and methods: The data consist of Asian, African, Hispanic and European American births in New York State in 1988. The analysis employs maximum likelihood methods. Results: Birth cohorts appear heterogeneous and composed of at least two sub-populations. One sub-population accounts for the majority of births, has a higher mean birth weight and gestational age but small variances. The other sub-population has a lower mean birth weight and gestational age but very large variances. As a result of the large variances this sub-population accounts for compromised births. The model also suggests that a number of compromised births occur...
Primate Models in Organ Transplantation

Large animal models have long served as the proving grounds for advances in transplantation, bridging the gap between inbred mouse experimentation and human clinical trials. Although a variety of species have been and continue to be used, the emergence of highly targeted biologic- and antibody-based therapies has required models to have a high degree of homology with humans. Thus, the nonhuman primate has become the model of choice in many settings. This article will provide an overview of nonhuman primate models of transplantation. Issues of primate genetics and care will be introduced, and a brief overview of technical aspects for various transplant models will be discussed. Finally, several prominent immunosuppressive and tolerance strategies used in primates will be reviewed.
How 'person-centered' care helped guide me toward recovery from mental illness.

A community psychiatry researcher reflects on the treatment she received in her youth for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression—and calls for more recovery-oriented care to be available nationwide.
Life Cycle, Generational and Period Effects on Protest Potential in Yeltsin's Russia

Abstract. Regime change in Eastern Europe affords an excellent opportunity for investigating linkages between age and politics in times of social turmoil. Using data from three waves of the World Values Survey, this paper explores life cycle, generational and period effects on protest potential in Yeltsin's Russia. The study finds that an individual's position in the life cycle is the strongest predictor of protest potential in the post-communist state. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that citizens socialized during periods of relative socioeconomic stability exhibit the highest protest potential under conditions of uncertainty characteristic of the transition period.Resume. Les changements de regime en Europe de l'Est permettent d'examiner la relation complexe entre l'âge et la politique pendant les periodes d'instabilite sociale. S'appuyant sur les donnees de trois vagues du World Values Survey (sondage mondial sur les valeurs), cet article explore l'incidence du cycle de vie, de la generation et de la periode sur le potentiel protestataire dans la Russie d'Eltsine. L'etude demontre que la position de l'individu dans le cycle de vie est le plus puissant facteur de prediction du potentiel protestataire dans la societe postcommuniste. En outre, les citoyens socialises pendant des periodes de relative stabilite socio-economique presentent le potentiel protestataire le plus eleve dans des conditions d'incertitude caracteristiques de la periode de transition.
The Impact of Mutual Fund Family Membership on Investor Risk

Many investors confine their mutual fund holdings to a single fund family, either for simplicity or through restrictions placed by their retirement savings plan. We find evidence that mutual fund returns are more closely correlated within than between fund families. As a result, restricting investment to one fund family leads to a greater total portfolio risk than diversifying across fund families. The increased correlation is due primarily to common stock holdings, but is also more generally related to families having similar exposures to economic sectors or industries. Fund families also show a propensity to focus on high risk or low risk strategies, which leads to a greater dispersion of risk across restricted investors. An investor considering adding an additional fund either inside or outside the family would need to believe the inside fund offered an additional 50 to 70 basis points in return to achieve the same Sharpe ratio.
NEUROHUMORAL BRAIN DYNAMICS OF SOCIAL GROUP FORMATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR AUTISM

Brains are dynamic systems in which learning tends towards isolation by increasing specialization of cognitive skills. Induction of social skills for cooperative behavior requires "unlearning" in social contexts. A hypothesis is proposed by which oxytocin and related neuropeptides play a key role in meltdown of prior learning in preparation for new learning. This has implications for clinical management of disorders of the socialization processes in children.
The crew activity tracking system: leveraging flight data for aiding, training and analysis

Technological advances have made flight data a viable real-world data source for studies of human error and error prevention; hundreds of parameters are currently available for analysis. These data have enabled airlines to institute increasingly advanced Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) programs, which analyze flight data from line operations to detect "operational irregularities that can foreshadow accidents and incidents," and proactively disseminate this information to flight crews and maintenance personnel. This paper presents an intent inference technology, referred to as activity tracking, that in the future could also support flight-data-driven safety-enhancement efforts. A methodology for activity tracking has been implemented and validated in the Crew Activity Tracking System (CATS) As implemented for the flight deck, CATS uses knowledge about the pilot's task and the current operational context to predict nominal activities and interpret actual pilot actions. By analyzing pilot action data in conjunction with clearance constraints and other flight data parameters, CATS can help disambiguate errors from other causes of abnormal flight conditions, and characterize error-inducing contexts in operational terms.
Artificial Neural Networks Using Complex Numbers and Phase Encoded Weights&#8212;Electronic and Optical Implementations

The model of a simple perception using phase-encoded inputs and complex-valued weights is proposed. The aggregation function, activation function, and learning rule for the proposed neuron are derived and applied to Boolean logic functions. The complex-valued neuron (CVN) is shown to be superior to traditional perceptrons. Optical and analog circuit implementations are discussed and the CVN is shown to be very attractive for optical implementation since optical computations are naturally complex. The cost of the CVN is less in all cases than the traditional neuron when implemented optically. However, on those implementations dependent on standard serial computers, CVN will be more cost effective only in those applications where its increased power can offset the requirement for additional neurons.
Who Overreports Voting

The effects of respondent characteristics with regard to the propensity of nonvoters to report that they voted are examined by analyzing the vote validation studies conducted by the University of Michigan Survey Research Center in 1964, 1976, and 1980. Previous research has suggested that vote overreporting derives from the respondent's wish to appear to engage in socially desirable behavior. This earlier research suggests that the only respondent characteristic that is strongly related to overreporting is race; measures of socioeconomic status and of general political attitudes are said to be at most weakly related to the tendency to exaggerate voting. These earlier conclusions are incorrect. We measure the extent of overreporting for the population “at risk” of overreporting voting: those who did not actually vote. Respondents most inclined to overreport their voting are those who are highly educated, those most supportive of the regime norm of voting, and those to whom the norm of voting is most salient—the same characteristics that are related to the probability that a person actually votes. Blacks are only slightly more likely to overreport voting than whites. The pattern of relations between education and vote overreporting is opposite what would be found if those who falsely reported voting fit the typical image of the uneducated, uninvolved, “acquiescent” respondent who is concerned primarily with pleasing the interviewer.
Fatal pulseless electrical activity in an African American man with natural killer/T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and myocardial involvement

A 50-year-old previously healthy man presented with acute shortness of breath, fever, and back pain. Physical examination was normal. He rapidly developed hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and pancytopenia. An extensive infectious work up was negative. After a gallium scan showed increased uptake in the lungs, he underwent bone marrow biopsy and open lung biopsy. The lung and bone marrow biopsies revealed Natural Killer/T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. Immediately after the open lung biopsy, the patient developed cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity from which he could not be resuscitated. At autopsy, he had extensive NK/T-cell lymphoma involving multiple organs, including the heart, lung, bone marrow, adrenal glands, and lymph nodes. The heart was the most prominently affected organ with involvement of the cardiac conduction system.
The effects of shifts in magnitude of reward on runway performance in immature and adult rats

Three groups of immature rats and three groups of adult rats were each trained for 20 preshift trials with a different quantity of reward: .1, .5, or 2.5 gm of wet mash. On 25 post-shift trials, each group was rewarded with .5 gm. In preshift training, amount of reward significantly differentiated immature groups but not adult groups. On postshift trials, how ever, reward values significantly differentiated adult groups but not immature groups.
Piraha: A simplified grammar parser for component little languages

Software codes in scientific computing often implement their own little languages for expressing configuration data, interface definitions, and runtime parameters. Such languages are of particular importance for component-based frameworks. These languages can initially be somewhat ad-hoc and then expand organically.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma margin discrepancy after resection and pathologic processing.

Purpose Resecting oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with an appropriate margin of uninvolved tissue is critical in preventing local recurrence and making the decision regarding postoperative radiation therapy. This task can be difficult due to the discrepancy between margins measured intraoperatively and those measured microscopically by the pathologist after specimen processing. The goal of this study is to quantify and compare the amount of margin discrepancy observed based on tumor location and staging. Materials and Methods Forty-one patients who underwent resective surgery with curative intent for primary oral SCC were included in this study. All patients underwent resection of the tumor with a measured 1 cm margin by one attending surgeon. Specimens were then submitted for processing and reviewing and histopathologic margins were measured. The closest histopathologic margin was compared with the in situ margin (1 cm) to determine percentage discrepancy. Percent discrepancies were grouped by locations (buccal mucosa, mandibular alveolar ridge, and retromolar trigone in group 1; maxillary alveolar ridge and palate in group 2; and oral tongue in group 3) and analyzed. Percent discrepancies grouped by stages T1/T2 or T3/T4 were compared. Results The mean discrepancy for all patients was a statistically significant 59.02% (P < .0001). The mean discrepancy was 71.90% for group 1, 53.33% for group 2, and 42.14% for group 3 (P = .0133). The mean discrepancy in T1/T2 tumors was 51.48% and in T3/T4 tumors was 75.00% (P = .0264). Conclusions Oral SCC margin discrepancies after resection and specimen processing are highly significant. Tumors located in the buccal mucosa, retromolar trigone, and mandibular alveolar ridge show significantly greater discrepancies than tumors of the maxilla or oral tongue. Late stage tumors also show significantly greater margin discrepancies. These findings suggest that it might be prudent to consider oral site and staging when outlining margins to ensure adequacy of resection.
Surgical repair of a congenital lateral abdominal wall hernia in a neonatal foal

Summary A 16-hour-old Quarter Horse filly presented for evaluation of a soft mass in the right caudoventral lateral abdominal wall. Radiography and ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a nonreducible lateral abdominal wall hernia with small intestine located between the skin and body wall. The size of the defect itself could not be imaged and the filly was taken to surgery. A 4 cm vertical defect that appeared congenital was found in the transverse abdominal muscle and was repaired by primary apposition. This case report describes the repair and outcome of this unusual type of congenital hernia.
Techniques for evaluating optical flow for visual odometry in extreme terrain

Motion vision (visual odometry, the estimation of camera egomotion) is a well researched field, yet has seen relatively limited use despite strong evidence from biological systems that vision can be extremely valuable for navigation. The limited use of such vision techniques has been attributed to a lack of good algorithms and insufficient computer power, but both of those problems were resolved as long as a decade ago. A gap presently yawns between theory and practice, perhaps due to perceptions of robot vision as less reliable and more complex than other types of sensing. We present an experimental methodology for assessing the real world precision and reliability of visual odometry techniques in both normal and extreme terrain. This paper evaluates the performance of a mobile robot equipped with a simple vision system in common outdoor and indoor environments, including grass, pavement, ice, and carpet. Our results show that motion vision algorithms can be robust and effective, and suggest a number of directions for further development.
Homeostasis in C. elegans sleep is characterized by two behaviorally and genetically distinct mechanisms

Biological homeostasis invokes modulatory responses aimed at stabilizing internal conditions. Using tunable photo- and mechano-stimulation, we identified two distinct categories of homeostatic responses during the sleep-like state of Caenorhabditis elegans (lethargus). In the presence of weak or no stimuli, extended motion caused a subsequent extension of quiescence. The neuropeptide Y receptor homolog, NPR-1, and an inhibitory neuropeptide known to activate it, FLP-18, were required for this process. In the presence of strong stimuli, the correlations between motion and quiescence were disrupted for several minutes but homeostasis manifested as an overall elevation of the time spent in quiescence. This response to strong stimuli required the function of the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor in neurons, but not that of NPR-1. Conversely, response to weak stimuli did not require the function of DAF-16/FOXO. These findings suggest that routine homeostatic stabilization of sleep may be distinct from homeostatic compensation following a strong disturbance.
Acknowledging the Narcissist and the Voyeur: The Emerging New Discourses of the Away Message System

Acknowledging the Narcissist and the Voyeur: The Emerging New Discourses of the Away Message System
Russia's Pension Reform: Intermediate Results

Over several recent months, the key issue in the discussion on the Strategy of Long-Term Development of the Pension System of the Russian Federation prepared by the RF Ministry of Labor was reform of the funded component of pension. The critics of the mandatory funded component in Russia usually point to its following drawbacks: low yield on investment; absence of any funding sources for the transition period (the contemporary employed generation has to bear a ‘double burden’: provide financing for the contemporary generation of pensioners and accumulate resources for their own retirement), and lack of any mechanism that can guarantee a yield on accumulated pension savings.
Risk of Developing Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Atypical-Mole Syndrome: New York University Experience and Literature Review

The presence of atypical moles (AM) is considered to be a marker for an increased risk of developing cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM). The extent to which individuals with the atypical-mole syndrome (AMS) are at risk for developing MM is unknown. We present a review of the world literature and of our experience at New York University. We conclude that the presence of AMS in Caucasians significantly increases the risk of developing MM, regardless of geographic location. A further increase in MM risk is noted if there is a personal and/or family history of MM.
Targeted Polymersome Delivery of siRNA Induces Cell Death of Breast Cancer Cells Dependent upon Orai3 Protein Expression

Polymersomes, polymeric vesicles that self-assemble in aqueous solutions from block copolymers, have been avidly investigated in recent years as potential drug delivery agents. Past work has highlighted peptide-functionalized polymersomes as a highly promising targeted delivery system. However, few reports have investigated the ability of polymersomes to operate as gene delivery agents. In this study, we report on the encapsulation and delivery of siRNA inside of peptide-functionalized polymersomes composed of poly(1,2-butadiene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide). In particular, PR_b peptide-functionalized polymer vesicles are shown to be a promising system for siRNA delivery. PR_b is a fibronectin mimetic peptide targeting specifically the α5β1 integrin. The Orai3 gene was targeted for siRNA knockdown, and PR_b-functionalized polymer vesicles encapsulating siRNA were found to specifically decrease cell viability of T47D breast cancer cells to a certain extent, while preserving viability of noncancerous MCF10A breas...
Simultaneous fluorescence and high-resolution bright-field imaging with aberration correction over a wide field-of-view with Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM)(Conference Presentation)

We present a method to acquire both fluorescence and high-resolution bright-field images with correction for the spatially varying aberrations over a microscope’s wide field-of-view (FOV). First, the procedure applies Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) to retrieve the amplitude and phase of a sample, at a resolution that significantly exceeds the cutoff frequency of the microscope objective lens. At the same time, FPM algorithm is able to leverage on the redundancy within the set of acquired FPM bright-field images to estimate the microscope aberrations, which usually deteriorate in regions further away from the FOV’s center. Second, the procedure acquires a raw wide-FOV fluorescence image within the same setup. Lack of moving parts allows us to use the FPM-estimated aberration map to computationally correct for the aberrations in the fluorescence image through deconvolution. Overlaying the aberration-corrected fluorescence image on top of the high-resolution bright-field image can be done with accurate spatial correspondence. This can provide means to identifying fluorescent regions of interest within the context of the sample’s bright-field information. An experimental demonstration successfully improves the bright-field resolution of fixed, stained and fluorescently tagged HeLa cells by a factor of 4.9, and reduces the error caused by aberrations in a fluorescence image by 31%, over a field of view of 6.2 mm by 9.3 mm. For optimal deconvolution, we show the fluorescence image needs to have a signal-to-noise ratio of ~18.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Physical exam revealed an enlarged spleen and right axillary lymph node. Her bloodwork is remarkable for an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of 550 U/L and a creatinine of 2.0 mg/dL. Mrs. Reynolds is a retired actress and lifelong nonsmoker who drinks 1 to 2 glasses of wine a week and denies illicit drug use. Her health history includes the vaginal delivery of two healthy babies in her 20s and hypercholesterolemia, which has been controlled by diet.
Nonlinear Ballistic Transport in an Atomically Thin Material.

Ultrashort devices that incorporate atomically thin components have the potential to be the smallest electronics. Such extremely scaled atomically thin devices are expected to show ballistic nonlinear behavior that could make them tremendously useful for ultrafast applications. While nonlinear diffusive electron transport has been widely reported, clear evidence for intrinsic nonlinear ballistic transport in the growing array of atomically thin conductors has so far been elusive. Here we report nonlinear electron transport of an ultrashort single-layer graphene channel that shows quantitative agreement with intrinsic ballistic transport. This behavior is shown to be distinctly different than that observed in similarly prepared ultrashort devices consisting, instead, of bilayer graphene channels. These results suggest that the addition of only one extra layer of an atomically thin material can make a significant impact on the nonlinear ballistic behavior of ultrashort devices, which is possibly due to the ...
Perioperative complications and outcomes in children with cerebral palsy undergoing scoliosis surgery.

SummaryIntroduction Neuromuscular scoliosis is a known risk factor for postoperative complications after corrective spine surgery. Few studies have looked at the preoperative factors affecting postoperative complications in children with cerebral palsy. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the factors that might influence postoperative course in patients with cerebral palsy undergoing spine surgery for scoliosis. Methods Nineteen case notes of children with cerebral palsy who had spine surgery (2008–2014) were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative comorbidities and postoperative complications were noted and complications were classified as major and minor. Results Thirteen out of 19 (68.4%) patients had two or more systemic comorbidities. Most common comorbidities included reflux and seizure disorder. Nine patients (49%) had at least one major complication. About 5/19 patients had respiratory complications requiring ventilation and 4/19 had massive blood loss. A higher incidence of postoperative major complication was recorded in the group with two systemic comorbidities as compared to those with less than two systemic comorbidities (47% vs 16%). Both patients who had a single-stage anterior release and posterior fixation had a major complication. Conclusion Presence of two or more comorbidities and thoracotomy are risk factors for perioperative complications in children with cerebral palsy undergoing surgery for scoliosis correction.
Of Ancient Curses, Microbes, and the ASM

On July 1, 2010, when I started my term as ASM president, I was reminded of three ominous curses of dubious ancient origin:
Effect of Growth of Individual Meat Bacteria on pH, Color and Odor of Aseptically Prepared Vacuum-Packaged Round Steaks.

Large increases in counts cf Leuconostoc spp., Lactobacillus coryneformis , Lactobacillus plantarum , Lactobacillus viridescens and Lactobacillus curvatus occurred over a 28-d display period when aseptically fabricated steaks were inoculated with 103 to 104 cells/cm2 of these species and then were vacuum-packaged. With Lactobacillus cellobiosus 2, Serratia liquefaciens or Hafnia alvei as inoculum, increases in count were much smaller. Counts of L. cellobiosus 1, Brochothrix thermosphacta , a Moraxella sp. and Alteromonas putrefaciens of inoculated steaks decreased during display. With a higher inoculum (106 cells/cm2), increases in counts of lactic acid bacteria usually were smaller. Some lactic acid bacteria caused marked decreases (0.2 to 0.5) in the pH of the meat surface. Changes in surface discoloration of uninoculated and inoculated steaks over a 28-d display period were not significant (P>0.05). Off-odor scores of both uninoculated and inoculated steaks were lower (more off-odor) after display but few of the differences were significant. Off-odors of steaks inoculated with lactic acid bacteria were described as "sour", "buttermilk", "sulfur-like" and "H2S".
Dropping the Debt: A New Conundrum in Kant's Rational Religion

In this article, I argue that Immanuel Kant fails to provide a satisfactory account of ‘moral debt’ in Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason. More precisely, he fails to answer the question of why we should assume that a debt exists in the first place. In light of recent scholarship on this area of his thought, I sketch some possible readings of Kant on the nature of moral transformation that suggest how he might account for this debt. I then argue that these accounts fail to justify its existence within Kant's project.
Mark Vygodsky: several episodes from the life of a scholar

The subject of this paper is Mark Vygodsky, a prominent Soviet mathematician, one of the founders of the Soviet school of the history of mathematics. The paper draws on Vygodsky's surviving archive to develop a better understanding of how the life of a scholar unfolded within the context of Soviet reality. Discussion in the paper is confined to several episodes connected with Vygodsky's work as the author of books for secondary school students and as a mathematics teacher educator. It is argued that an examination of these episodes adds to the existing picture of the time when they took place, by shedding light not only on the significance of the political in a field seemingly distant from politics, but also on the position of the mathematics community and of people interested in mathematics education in general.
Design of Materials Processing Using Computational Thermodynamics

This chapter presents the use of computational thermodynamics in the design of materials processes. It begins by discussing the philosophy of using computational thermodynamics for the design of new materials and materials processing in reducing the trial-and-error research activities. The evolution of the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) approach is discussed from the development of thermodynamic databases and new software to the extension of to the modeling of other properties such as the kinetic and elastic properties. The Gibbs energy models and evaluations of model parameters in the CALPHAD approach are presented, particularly in terms of the contributions from first-principles calculations based on density functional theory which provides key thermochemical data in each sublattice. Next, additive manufacturing is introduced, and the use of how computational thermodynamics has assisted in the additive manufacturing of Ti-6Al-4V and gradient alloys is presented. Finally, the process design on growth conditions of compounds is shown for MgB2, SnS, and complex oxides with the challenges discussed and the effectiveness of computational thermodynamics in addressing these challenges demonstrated.
Interpreting perceived constraints to ethnic and racial recreation participation using a recreation systems approach

Ethnic and racial minority groups continue to experience limited access to leisure activities, resources, and services. To reverse this trend, leisure scholars have developed numerous models of con...
Uniaxial strength of a composite array of overlaid and aligned prepreg platelets

Abstract The tensile strength of a discontinuous composite system consisting of aligned, unidirectional prepreg platelets is predicted by performing progressive damage analyses in a periodic representative volume element. Interlaminar and in-plane damage mechanisms are combined to yield failure characteristics of the meso-structure. The length-to-thickness ratio of the platelet was found to be the primary variable for control of system strength and failure mode. A critical platelet aspect ratio was determined as that ratio wherein system strength is maximized. Further, composite strength variability was shown to be vary inversely with aspect ratio, while attaining a minimum at the critical aspect ratio.
Quantum coarse-grained entropy and thermalization in closed systems

We investigate the detailed properties of observational entropy, introduced by \ifmmode \check{S}\else \v{S}\fi{}afr\'anek et al. [Phys. Rev. A 99, 010101 (2019)] as a generalization of Boltzmann entropy to quantum mechanics. This quantity can involve multiple coarse grainings, even those that do not commute with each other, without losing any of its properties. It is well-defined out of equilibrium, and for some coarse grainings it generically rises to the correct thermodynamic value even in a genuinely isolated quantum system. The quantity contains several other entropy definitions as special cases, it has interesting information-theoretic interpretations, and mathematical properties---such as extensivity and upper and lower bounds---suitable for an entropy. Here we describe and provide proofs for many of its properties, discuss its interpretation and connection to other quantities, and provide numerous simulations and analytic arguments supporting the claims of its relationship to thermodynamic entropy. This quantity may thus provide a clear and well-defined foundation on which to build a satisfactory understanding of the second thermodynamical law in quantum mechanics.
Antigen Presentation Keeps Trending in Immunotherapy Resistance

Through a gain-of-function kinome screen, MEX3B was identified as a mediator of resistance to T-cell immunotherapy not previously identified using CRISPR-based screens. MEX3B is a posttranscriptional regulator of HLA-A, validating the critical role of tumor-intrinsic antigen presentation in T-cell immunotherapy and indicating a new putative molecular target. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3239-41. ©2018 AACRSee related article by Huang et al., p. 3366.
Testimonials on the web: Evidence for violations of the professional and ethical compliance code for behavior analysts.

The Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) prohibits the solicitation of testimonials from current clients and provides specific requirements regulating the use of testimonials from former clients. These regulations protect current clients from undue influence and prospective clients from unsc
Convolution Operators in Spaces of Nuclearly Entire Functions on a Banach Space

We shall be concerned with the theorem stated below. Its proof depends on the two propositions indicated afterwards.
THE IMPACT OF PARASITES ON WILD ANIMAL POPULATIONS

Infectious agents can exert important effects on host population dynamics both when they are endemic or epidemic. For parasites to regulate host populations, they must have demonstrable density-dependent effects on either host reproduction or survival. In addition, both parasite and host distributions must be described to determine population level effects. Approaches and methodologies, and the limitations associated with them in investigating parasitism of free-living wild animals are reviewed.
Lead in the marine environment: some biochemical considerations

ABSTRACT Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that there is a correlation between the standard reduction potential for inorganic complexes and the mechanism for biomethylation of representative heavy metals. In the case of inorganic lead salts we have shown that electrophilic attack on the cobalt-carbon bond of methyl-B12 occurs, facilitating methyl-transfer from cobalt to lead. This reaction is important in that methyl-B12 has been shown to be the only methyl-transfer coenzyme capable of transferring methyl-groups as CH3−, S-adenosylmethionine and N5-methyltetrahydrofolate transfer methyl-groups as CH3+, and this rules out chemical or biochemical transfer to lead by these alternative methyl-donors. At this point in our research effort we have been unable to synthesize a monomethyllead complex which is stable in aqueous solution, although we have demonstrated methyl-transfer to diethyl-lead dichloride by the mechanism shown in equation (1).
The assessment of teaching in higher education: A critical retrospect and a proposal

The first part of this paper (published in Higher Education, Vol. 4, No. 3) summarized fundamental defects in three contemporary approaches to the evaluation of teaching in higher education: assessment of learning outcomes, analysis of teacher characteristics and analysis of pedagogical behavior. The absence of a cumulative coherent theoretical framework for analysis obviated use of data from these sources in support of professional development or productive personnel decisions. A normative conception of teaching was argued as a necessity to justifiable evaluation. In this second essay, the required conception is developed in a context of development of a capacity for critical norm-oriented human action as a central goal of higher education. In developing this conception, teaching is distinguished from other activities frequently incorporating the same techniques: conditioning, indoctrinating, brainwashing, training, informing and instructing. Intent is stipulated as the key factor. The stipulated intent is not to produce learning, but to “bring about” a specified sequence of intervening activities necessary to intellectual development required for attainment of desired general educational goals. A “gnometectonic” sequence integrates pedagogical and student activities which are the foundation of the intended intellectual development. The gnometectonic sequence and a model of intellectual development constitute the essential structure of a potential theory of teaching and the basis for a Teacher Assessment Program. This structure is realized in the construction of student and instructor report forms as a first step in the development of such a program. Data derived from these forms are based on minimal assumptions beyond those implied by the normative teaching model. Preliminary results from trial use of forms-in-development indicate the effectiveness of the model in discriminating teachers in terms of intent, course arrangements in support of that intent and student perceptions of consequences of these arrangements as related to instructor expectations. In addition, reports about relevant pedagogical aspects of a course are differentiated from preference-related reports of course “atmosphere”.
Advanced Neuroimaging of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Penumbra and Collateral Assessment

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurs when there is a sudden loss in cerebral blood flow due to embolic or thromboembolic occlusion of a cerebral or cervical artery. Patients with AIS require emergent neuroimaging to guide treatment, which includes intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT). Recent advances in AIS treatment by EMT has been driven in part by advances in computed tomography (CT) and MR imaging neuroimaging evaluation of ischemic penumbra and pial collateral vessels. The authors review advanced noninvasive brain imaging by CT and MR imaging for the evaluation of AIS focusing on penumbral and collateral imaging.
Theory and Examples of Quantum Mechanics on Phase Space

We review the problems with quantum mechanics. We then obtain the theory of quantum mechanics on phase space which is immune to these problems. We give some examples which are not treatable with the "ordinary" quantum mechanics.
Using visual and textual metaphors to explore teachers’ professional roles and identities

In this study, teachers explored their professional identities by reflecting on their teaching role(s) and contexts through elicitation of textual (written) metaphors and visual (drawn) metaphors o...
Novel and Controversial Methods in the Social Sciences: Introduction to Special Issue

Editing this special issue of Society and Natural Resources was especially challenging, as it forced us to grapple with the ways we – as editors, reviewers, and scholars – read, interpret, and ultimately evaluate the scientific endeavors engaged in by our colleagues. We suggest that social scientists are now living in an era of comparative ease with regard to accumulating quantitative and qualitative data from human participants, though, as Stedman et al. point out in this issue, perhaps not via mail surveys. Not only do we now have easier ways of reaching human participants across the globe using online crowdsourcing platforms, we also have many institutions specializing in recruiting representative survey samples across seemingly limitless population subsets. Furthermore, online user generated content from social media sites, discussion forums, blogs and specialized web-based applications allow social scientists to reach and study people where they are, more conveniently than ever before. Yet, this does not diminish the need for or significance of smaller-scale case studies or methodologies like ethnography or community-based participatory research. Such approaches may become even more important for demonstrating precisely the gaps in our knowledge generated by more technologically – not necessarily methodologically – innovative data collection sources.
Optimal Planning of Battery-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station Networks

This paper develops a novel, two-stage optimization framework for the planning of electric vehicles charging stations powered by batteries. Genetic algorithm is used at the first stage to minimize the EV transportation energy losses, which selects the best charging station locations in the case of Corpus Christi, TX where a population of ~10,000 electric vehicles is assumed. At the second stage, linear programming is employed to minimize the costs of investment, operations, and maintenance of the charging facilities which results in the optimum numbers of slow and fast charging facilities required to meet charging demands. With the design, this paper also evaluates the daily energy consumption and annual revenue at each charging station. The work will have impacts on future designs of green transportation infrastructure.
Regulation of Integrin Expression and Activation by VEGF in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells: Implication of α6 Integrin in Angiogenesis.

The precise role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the regulation of integrins is not well elucidated due to their high redundancy. Here, we examined the effects of VEGF on the expression and activation of integrins in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). Using human cDNA arrays and Ribonuclease (RNase) protection assays which cover most of the known integrins, we observed that VEGF significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of α1, α2, and α6 integrins in HBMECs. While VEGF was reported to induce α1 and α2 integrins, the observation of α6 integrin induction by VEGF is novel. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotides for α6 integrin, we observed downregulation of the cell surface expression of α6 integrin in HBMECs. This downregulation resulted in inhibition of both HBMEC capillary morphogenesis and of the VEGF-induced adhesion and migration of the cells. VEGF also induced the activation of α6 integrin in the HBMECs. Functional blocking of α6 integrin by its specific antibody led to inhibition of VEGF-induced adhesion and migration as well as of in vivo angiogenesis, and significantly suppressed tumor angiogenesis and breast carcinoma cell growth in vivo. These results indicate that VEGF can modulate the in vitro angiogenesis of HBMECs via increased expression and activation of the α6 integrin, and that this integrin participates in VEGF-driven angiogenesis in vivo.