cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Office steroid injections of the larynx.

Objective: Steroid injection into the larynx has been sporadically reported as helpful in benign lesions of the larynx. Its role in laryngology remains unclear. This study reviews the indications and results of 47 steroid injections in 34 patients in an office setting. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review of 47 injections in 34 patients. Methylprednisolone acetate suspension, USP (40 mg/mL), was injected by indirect laryngoscopy under local anesthesia Results were evaluated by stroboscopy and by perceptual evaluation of the GRABS scale before and after injection. Pre- versus postinjection ratings were compared by paired t test. Results: Indications for injection were: 1) postoperative scar with local stiffness (12 patients), 2) vocal nodules and polyp (18 patients), and 3) sarcoidosis/granuloma (4 patients). Steroid injections were done in professional singers instead of repeated oral administration of steroids and/or to avoid surgery in patients with polyps and cysts. Improvement was noted in 28 of 34 (82%). Eleven of the 18 patients with polyps and nodules had significant improvement and avoided surgery. Vocal fold scars improved after injection with an improved voice grade (P <.01), an improved amplitude (P <.05), and improved mucosal wave (P <.05). There were no complications. Only two patients could not tolerate office injection. Conclusion: Office steroid injections are a valuable adjunct in management of vocal fold scars, polyps, nodules, and granulomas.
Fanfiction Writing and the Construction of Space

In this article, a spatial lens is used to look at a popular online culture-based writing website as a means of understanding how fan authors' literacy practices and the design features of the site interact to shape a writing space that engenders affiliation with and facilitates access to literacy and language learning. Discussion also focuses on how the site, conceptualized as an affinity space, provides English-language-learning youth with multiple means of displaying expertise in and affiliating around popular culture, as well as of positioning themselves as capable and accomplished users of multiple social languages.
Progressing Toward Bibliography; or: Organic Growth in the Bibliographic Record

Much of traditional book cataloging is influenced by a touch-it-once mentality, where work is completed in as few steps as possible. By avoiding unnecessary revision, libraries can process materials quickly and benefit from economies of scale. Valuable staff time is preserved to process additional materials. However, the touch-it-once mentality is problematic when dealing with special collections materials, since they often differ between manifestations and are primary sources for research that informs their description. This paper discusses the idea of “progressive bibliography,” or proceeding from minimal to fuller descriptions, as an intellectually valid and pragmatically essential methodology. It examines some already . . .
Increasing Autism Awareness in Inner-City Churches: A Brief Report

Autism diagnosis rates trail significantly in the African American community. This pre-test post-test pilot study evaluated an African American inner-city church health ambassadors (HAs) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) awareness training session. The participants included 12 HAs who attended the 1 hour training session organized by the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Results of surveys showed higher mean scores post training for (1) HA attitudes about the potential for children to improve with applied behavior analysis therapy; (2) HA self-efficacy for having information about ASD screening materials; (3) strategies HAs could use to help parents/caregivers of children with developmental delays and challenging behaviors; (4) HA confidence in referrals for children with signs of ASD; (5) HA knowledge of measures to take to maximize a child's chance of receiving an ASD evaluation; and (6) HA comfort for talking to parents about children with challenging behaviors. Several of these effects were maintained 3 months later. Findings underscore the usefulness of the intervention for increasing the dissemination of knowledge about ASD and the opportunity to positively affect ASD screening, early intervention, and policy standards applicable to this vulnerable population.
Childcare: welfare or investment?

Conley A. Childcare: welfare or investment? Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 173–181 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. Childcare (also called day care or preschool) has generally served three purposes: to care for children while parents are employed; to provide early childhood education; and to cater to the needs of poor and disadvantaged children. This article proposes that the welfare approach to childcare be augmented by a social investment approach to enhance human and social capital investments among low income families and communities and to contribute to wider social development goals. The Head Start program in the United States and the Integrated Child Development Scheme in India are used to illustrate this argument.
Improving convergence of the PNLMS algorithm for sparse impulse response identification

A proportionate normalized least mean square (PNLMS) algorithm has been proposed for sparse impulse response identification. It provides fast initial convergence, but it begins to slow down dramatically after the initial period. In this letter, we analyze the coefficient adaptation process of the steepest descent algorithm and derive how to calculate the optimal proportionate step size in order to achieve the fastest convergence. The results bring forward a novel view of the concept of proportion. We propose a /spl mu/-law PNLMS (MPNLMS) algorithm using an approximation of the optimal proportionate step size. Line segment approximation and partial update techniques are discussed to bring down the computational complexity.
Barriers to influenza vaccine acceptance A survey of physicians and nurses

The Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) recommends that health care providers who contact high-risk patients receive influenza immunization annually. There are few available data on hospital employees' acceptance of these recommendations or their attitudes about influenza immunization. In a hospital where no formal influenza immunization program was in place, a survey of 193 nursing personnel and physicians showed that only 2.1% received the 1986-1987 trivalent influenza vaccine and 3.2% the monovalent A/Taiwan/1/86 vaccine before the 1986-1987 influenza season. An influenza-like illness developed in a total of 35.3% of hospital employees during the influenza season, and 76.6% of them cared for patients while ill. Fear of adverse reactions, avoidance of medications, and the inconvenience of vaccine administration were frequently cited reasons for declining immunization. Hospital employees would be more inclined to receive future influenza immunization if vaccine administration were more accessible and if they were informed that immunization were a national health care policy. During the influenza season, nurses and physicians should be considered a uniformly susceptible reservoir of infection capable of transmitting influenza to patients. Moreover, ACIP guidelines alone probably will not lead to acceptable immunization rates among health care providers; organized institutional efforts to promote immunization of health care providers may be required.
Birdsall Lecturer selected

Leonard F. Konikow (U.S. Geological Survey), Hydrology Program Chairman for the 1986 AGU Spring Meeting, has been selected to be the 1985–1986 Birdsall Distinguished Lecturer for the Geological Society of America. Papers that will be presented on the distinguished tour include “Modeling Solute Transport and Dispersion in Groundwater,” “Groundwater Contamination and Aquifer Reclamation at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado,” and “Predictive Accuracy of Groundwater Models: Lessons from Postaudits.” If you wish to have the Birdsall Distinguished Lecturer visit your institution either this or next year, please contact William Back, Chairman of the Hydrogeology Division, 431 National Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA 22092.
Dimers on Surface Graphs and Spin Structures. II

Partition functions for dimers on closed oriented surfaces are known to be alternating sums of Pfaffians of Kasteleyn matrices. In this paper, we obtain the formula for the coefficients in terms of discrete spin structures.
Effects of a waiting period after clopidogrel treatment before performing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Study Objective. To assess the effects of a waiting period after clopidogrel treatment before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Design. Single-center, prospective, observational study. Setting. Cardiothoracic surgery intensive care unit at a university-affiliated medical center. Patients. One hundred consecutive patients who received clopidogrel and were scheduled to undergo primary CABG. In 64 of these patients, CABG was delayed at least 5 days after clopidogrel treatment (group A). The other 36 patients received clopidogrel treatment within 5 days of undergoing CABG (group B). Measurements and Main Results. Data were collected on patient demographics, time of last clopidogrel dose, preoperative anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agents administered, surgical characteristics, intraoperative transfusions, blood products transfused, and chest tube output for 24 hours after surgery. No significant differences in baseline characteristics or intraoperative variables (number of bypasses, aortic cross-clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time) were noted between the two groups. Mean ± SD number of packed red blood cell units/patient was 1.1 ± 1.4 in group A versus 2.1 ± 2.5 in group B (p=0.009). Mean ± SD number of platelet units/patient transfused was 0.5 ± 0.9 in group A versus 1.9 ± 1.6 in group B (p <0.001). When comparing a subset of 21 patients who received clopidogrel within 72 hours of surgery with the 64 whose CABG was delayed at least 5 days after clopidogrel treatment, the transfusion rates were significantly higher (95% vs 52%, p<0.05). Specifically, the mean ± SD number of transfused units/patient of red blood cells (3.1 ± 2.8 vs 1.1 ± 1.4, p<0.005) and platelets (2.6 ± 1.5 vs 0.5 ± 0.9, p<0.007) was greater in patients who received clopidogrel within 72 hours of surgery. Conclusion. A strategy to delay CABG after clopidogrel treatment led to reduced blood product administration. The optimal waiting period after clopidogrel treatment is not known but appears to be at least 5 days before CABG.
Investigation of slow, stop, and fast light based on polariton resonances in boron nitride

Following our measurement of polariton resonances in boron nitride, we have investigated slow, stop, and fast light behaviors in mid-infrared region.
On The Analysis Of An All-Reflective Zoom Optical System For The Infrared

Recently a design was reported on a system of multiple moving mirrors which simulates an approaching or receding radiating source. Its particular features were a zoom capability of 30:1 and a total scaling range of 800:1. The mirror system operates with programmed stepper motors that provide the required mirror movements. In this paper, dynamics of the mirror system are analyzed from a different point of view which results in lower mirror velocities that are more compatible with commercially available motors and slides. Maximum velocities of the mirrors are then calculated, and the sensitivity of these maximum velocities to the simulated variables and the optical system parameters is also computed.
REDUCED NEST PREDATION OF CAVITY-NESTING WOOD DUCKS DURING FLOODING IN A BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FOREST

Abstract ABSTRACT The importance of flooding to birds that nest in bottomland hardwood forests is poorly understood, in part because floods are difficult to predict. A large flood occurred in 2002, during our study of cavity-nesting Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) in the Mississippi River floodplain. Nests were depredated prior to and after, but not during, the four-week flood. This observation prompted a retrospective analysis of flooding, nest predation, and nest success for our three-year study period of 2000–2002 and with a dataset extending back to 1995. Nest predation was lower and nest success was higher in the floodplain during floods. Flood conditions did not significantly affect nest success or nest predation rates in the adjacent upland, but nest success in upland forest was higher than in the floodplain during dry periods. Historically, spring flooding of riparian areas may to some extent have mitigated nest predation in bottomland forests.
Overlap of Opinion Leadership across Consumer Product Categories

This article analyzes the overlap of opinion leadership across six broad product categories; its data suggest substantial overlap—particularly across those product categories of similar interest.
Large-scale 3D inversion of EarthScope MT data from the area surrounding Yellowstone National Park

Summary We have developed an efficient method for large-scale 3D magnetotelluric (MT) inversion which addresses two common problems associated with 3D MT inversion: computational time and memory requirements. In order to minimize computational time, our modeling is based on a parallel implementation of the integral equation method. To minimize memory requirements, we have implemented a receiver footprint which dramatically reduces the memory needed for storing Frechet derivatives for large 3D models. We have applied our 3D MT inversion methodology to EarthScope data acquired over the western United States. In this paper, we present the 3D earth models of the upper mantle beneath Yellowstone National Park as independently revealed by both 3D MT inversion and 3D seismic tomography. These earth models show a highly conductive region associated with the plume of hot material rising from the mantle towards the Yellowstone volcano. The plume is identified as a west-dipping conductive structure in the 3D conductivity model of geometry similar to the low velocity structure in the 3D P-wave velocity model.
Application of fuzzy matter-element model in optimization of blasting program

In the circumstances that there are alternative options on multiple blasting programs in blasting engineering,optimization of blasting program is of great importance.Under fuzzy matter-element theory with criterion of interconnect degree,comprehensive weight is determined by linear weighted technique combining the 1-9 scale method and the entropy method in order to establish fuzzy matter-element optimization model.Finally,this model was validated by a specific instance of blasting driving in coal mine roadways.The results show that comprehensive weight is rather reasonable for the consideration of subjective and objective weight;the judge results of this model is relatively in accord with actual condition;it is practicable,simple and reasonable that fuzzy matter-element theory with criterion of interconnect degree is applied to make optimization of blasting program.
Modularization Design for Sequence Control Function in Smart Substation

The currently existing mode of sequence control function for substation is summarized.Considering the high-level integrated performance of smart substation network,modularization design is carried out with background monitor system of substation as a platform.Modeling for process status and operating configuration of sequence control is completed based on IEC 61850.In addition,status model and control model for standardization of sequence control function are designed.The information exchange mode among sequence supervision and control system,intelligent operation order generating system,block system and video supervision system are described mainly,it will be useful for modularization and standard construction of sequence control function of smart substation.
Platelet α2-Adrenergic Receptors in Treated and Untreated Essential Hypertension

1. One hypothesis to account for altered adrenergic response in hypertensive patients is alteration in adrenergic receptors on responsive cells. We therefore used radioligand binding methods to examine the alpha 2-adrenergic receptors on platelets isolated from 17 normal men and from 19 men with essential hypertension. In these studies we used the alpha 2-selective radioligand [3H]yohimbine to determine receptor number and affinity on intact platelets. 2. The median number of receptors per platelet was 265 for the hypertensive patients versus 246 for the platelets of controls. Likewise there was no difference between hypertensives and controls in the dissociation constant of the receptors for [3H]yohimbine or adrenaline. 3. Anti-hypertensive treatment with the alpha 2-agonist guanabenz or the beta-antagonist propranolol did not change the number or affinity of platelet alpha 2-receptors. 4. In untreated hypertensives the receptor number did not correlate with age, blood pressure, or 24 h urinary excretion of catecholamines or Na+. 5. We conclude that neither hypertension nor anti-hypertensive treatment alters the number of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors on human platelets. Furthermore, because therapy with an alpha 2-agonist does not alter the receptor number and because the receptor number did not correlate with urinary excretion of catecholamines (an index of sympathetic-nervous-system activity), we conclude that 'down-regulation' of human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors may not readily occur in vivo.
Spatio-temporal determinants of mental health and well-being: advances in geographically-explicit ecological momentary assessment (GEMA)

Purpose Overview of geographically explicit momentary assessment research, applied to the study of mental health and well-being, which allows for cross-validation, extension, and enrichment of research on place and health.
APPROXIMATION BASED ADAPTIVE TRACKING CONTROL OF UNCERTAIN NONHOLONOMIC MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

In this paper, the trajectory tracking control problem of uncertain nonholonomic mechan- ical systems is investigated. By separately consider- ing kinematic and dynamic models of a nonholonomic mechanical system, a new adaptive tracking control is proposed based on neural network approximation. The proposed design consists of two steps. First, the nonholonomic kinematic subsystem is transformed into a chained form, and the corresponding optimal control is derived. Second, an adaptive neural con- trol is designed for the dynamic subsystem to make the outputs of the dynamic subsystem asymptotically track the optimal control signals chosen for the kine- matic subsystem. The proposed control is simulated on a unicycle wheeled mobile robot.
Spectral Measurements of Geosynchronous Satellites During Glint Season

Operational communication geosynchronous satellites are typically large structures with solar panels that maintain a stable attitude relative to the Earth and Sun. During the equinox periods, the geometry of the satellite, the sun, and an Earth observer is favorable for a condition to occur called a glint, or a specular reflection off the satellite. It is presumed that the glint is caused by the solar panels because those structures are solar oriented. This phenomenon was previously observed and reported using broadband photometry techniques. In this paper, glint observations from two satellites are presented, Wildblue-1 and DirecTV-12, as measured across the visible spectrum using slitless spectroscopy techniques. It is clear from the results that the wavelength where the glint maximum occurs is shifted toward the blue or shorter wavelength end of the spectrum relative to the time periods before and after the glint. It is also clear from the data that the spectral reflectance during the glint is less lik...
Phase II Study of CC-5013 (Revlimid) and Rituximab in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia: Preliminary Safety and Efficacy Results.

INTRODUCTION: In previous studies, we observed that CC-5013 enhanced rituximab mediated ADCC killing of lymphoplasmacytic cells (BJH2005; 128:192). As such, we conducted a phase II study of CC-5013 with rituximab in WM patients naive to either agent. Intended therapy was as follows: Weeks 1-48 CC-5013 (25 mg po qD for 3 weeks, then 1 week off); Weeks 2–5, 13–16 Rituximab (375 mg/m2/week). METHODS: Twelve patients were enrolled, 10 of whom were previously untreated with a median age of 65 (range 53–76 yrs), along with baseline BM involvement of 50 (range 5–90%), serum IgM of 4175 (range 1180–7130 mg/dL), hematocrit of 31.9% (range 24–36.6%), and B2M of 3.5 (range 1.8–6.0 mg/L). RESULTS: Four patients were taken off study due to intolerance to therapy (3 to CC-5013, 1 to CC-5013 and Rituximab) and were non-evaluable. Unexpected acute decreases in hematocrit occurred in 10/12 (85%) patients within the first 2 weeks of therapy, resulting in hospitalization for 4 patients. The median decrease in hematocrit, which coincided with CC-5013 administration was 4.2% (range 1.7-7.5%), and was not associated with blood loss, hemolysis, or generalized myelosuppression. Other grade 3/4 toxicities attributed to CC-5013 therapy were expected and included neutropenia (n=4); tinnitus (n=2); thrombocytopenia (1); myositis (n=1); and rash (n=1). Five patients had a spike in serum IgM levels following rituximab, accompanied with epistaxis (n=1), headaches and blurry vision (n=2) requiring plasmapheresis. Toxicities led to the discontinuation and dose reduction of CC-5013 for 8 and 4 patients, respectively, and discontinuation of rituximab in 1 patient due to recurring allergic reactions. Discontinuation of CC-5013 within the first 28 days of therapy occurred in 6 out of 8 patients. Responses among the 8 evaluable patients: PR (n=3); MR (n=4); SD (n=1); ORR 88% among evaluable patients. In two patients with bulky adenopathy and splenomegaly, a significant reduction in the node/spleen size was noted by week 12. Both of these pts have subsequently achieved a PR. With a median follow-up of 7+ months, no patient who received at least 2 months of CC-5013 have progressed. CONCLUSION: The response data achieved with CC-5013 and rituximab in this study is encouraging, though the dose and schedule of CC-5013 administration, and mechanism for the unexpected acute drops in hematocrit observed in WM patients warrants further investigation. Such studies are in progress in our laboratory.
Design, synthesis and evaluation of 1,3,6-trisubstituted-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives as ETA receptor selective antagonists using FRET assay

The endothelin axis and in particular the two receptor subtypes, ETA and ETB, are under investigation for the treatment of various diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, fibrosis, renal failure and cancer. Previous work in our lab has shown that 1,3,6-trisubstituted-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives exhibit noteworthy endothelin receptor antagonist activity. A series of analogues with modifications centered around position 6 of the heterocyclic quinolone core and replacement of the aryl carboxylic acid group with an isosteric tetrazole ring was designed and synthesized to further optimize the structure activity relationship. The endothelin receptor antagonist activity was determined by in vitro Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) using GeneBLAzer® assay technology. The most potent member of this series exhibited ETA receptor antagonist activity in the subnanomolar range with an IC50 value of 0.8nM, and was 1000-fold selective for the ETA receptor compared to the ETB receptor. Its activity and selectivity profile resembles that of the most recently approved drug, macitentan.
When DNA damage is acceptable.

Viruses are known to interfere with the DNA damage response (DDR) of host cells. Adenoviruses, for example target elements of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) for ubiquitination to prevent concate...
A supervised progressive fitness program reduced pain and disability in chronic low-back pain

Source Citation Frost H, Klaber Moffett JA, Moser JS, Fairbank JC. Randomised controlled trial for evaluation of fitness programme for patients with chronic low back pain. BMJ. 1995 Jan 21;310:151-4.
Prophetic Symbols and Ambitions

The classical prophets created a new literature of social reform, but it is evident that they were deeply versed not only in the older Israelite literature, but also in the literature, including international treaties, of the entire ancient Near East (McCarthy 1978, pp. 289–90). If we are to gain a deeper understanding of these men, who they were and what their ambitions were, it is necessary to penetrate some of their apparently obscure allusions to ancient traditions. As Hosea (14:9) warned: “Whoever is wise will un­derstand these things; whoever is discerning will know them.”1
Stereocomplexation of Helical Polycarbodiimides Synthesized from Achiral Monomers Bearing Isopropyl Pendants

A high level of the permanent asymmetry was built into the poly(N-methyl-N′-(2-isopropyl-6-methylphenyl)carbodiimide) system by introducing a bulky, substituted phenyl group which revealed a very interesting phenomenological behavior upon heating. This polymer undergoes P/M racemization upon thermal annealing, thus leading to the formation of a stereocomplexed structure. Predominantly P and M helices have been obtained through helix sense selective polymerization by using chiral BINOL-Ti(IV) diisopropoxide initiator with achiral N-methyl-N′-(2-isopropyl-6-methylphenyl)carbodiimide monomer. Upon thermal annealing, the specific optical rotation (SOR) of the single-handed polymer begins to decrease but never reaches zero. The SOR plateaus at a large value (−286° for M helices or +283° for P helices), and shortly thereafter the polymer forms a precipitate. The process that polymer undergoes is attributed to stereocomplexation between two complementary strands via racemization. Inspired by the phenomena analog...
Cumulative Risk and Impact Modeling on Environmental Chemical and Social Stressors

The goal of this review is to identify cumulative modeling methods used to evaluate combined effects of exposures to environmental chemicals and social stressors. The specific review question is: What are the existing quantitative methods used to examine the cumulative impacts of exposures to environmental chemical and social stressors on health? There has been an increase in literature that evaluates combined effects of exposures to environmental chemicals and social stressors on health using regression models; very few studies applied other data mining and machine learning techniques to this problem. The majority of studies we identified used regression models to evaluate combined effects of multiple environmental and social stressors. With proper study design and appropriate modeling assumptions, additional data mining methods may be useful to examine combined effects of environmental and social stressors.
Measuring molecular mass with light

Interferometric analysis of the weak light scattered from proteins makes it possible to determine their mass.
Kinetic Processes in Vapor Phase Epitaxy

In this chapter, kinetic processes associated with thin-film growth will be presented and described. The focus will be on the atomistic and molecular processes involved in adsorption, desorption, decomposition, diffusion, nucleation and growth, and formation and motion of misfit dislocations. Case studies will be provided that annotate when such processes dominate the growth process or determine a particular physical property of the overlayer.
Integrating Geographic and Meteorological Data for Storm Surge Planning

In this chapter, we propose a system which integrates storm surge projection, meteorological, topographical, and road data to simulate storm surge conditions. The motivation behind the system is to serve local governments seeking to overcome difficulties in persuading residents to adhere to evacuation notices. The storm surge simulation system introduces an alternative to traditional evacuation advisories which are often superimposed over two-dimensional maps and distributed through television, newspaper, and other public outreach media. First, topographic data are used to construct virtual replicas of cities in the State of Florida. Storm surge data are then used to construct a virtual ocean positioned over the city models. Ambient details such as wind, vegetation, ocean waves, and traffic are animated based on up-to-date meteorological data. Videos of the storm surge visualizations are recorded and made available to coastal residents through a web-interface. The three-dimensional visualization of geographic and storm surge data provides a more visually compelling representation of the potential effects of storm surge than traditional two-dimensional models and is better able to prepare coastal residents to make potentially life-saving evacuation decisions.
Lactoferrin-Receptor Interaction

Specific receptors for lactoferrin (Lf) have been identified in the small intestine brush-border membrane and on lymphocytes. Little is known about the mechanism of Lf interaction with its receptor protein. Because of the pH dependence of this interaction, the possible involvement of surface exposed histidine residues was explored. His residues on purified human milk Lf were progressively modified by carboxyethylation with diethyl pyrocarbonate; the reaction was monitored by UV absorbance and by affinity chromatography on immobilized Cu(II) ions. Human infant brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) were prepared by differential centrifugation and precipitation methods. Human peripheral lymphocytes were prepared by Ficoll centrifugation and stimulated by mitogen (PHA) exposure in culture. A competitive receptor binding assay was performed with 59Fe- and/or 125I-labelled native Lf and His-modified Lf. Binding assays with labelled native Lf were conducted in the presence of a 10–200 fold molar excess of DEPC-Lf, the DEPC-Lf was not competitive. A 100-fold molar excess of native Lf completely blocked the interaction of labelled Lf with the receptor. Similar results were obtained for receptor proteins on BBMVs and lymphocytes. Thus, Lf receptors on these two different cell types appear to require His residues for Lf binding.
Shifting the Perfectionistic Mindset: Moving to Mindful Excellence.

This article explores some of the common causes and solutions to perfectionism in gifted children. We highlight practical implications from studies examining perfectionism in gifted students, inclu...
Inventing Primitive Society in Chinese Historiography and Ethnology

Primitive society was a main research field where Chinese Marxist historians and anthropologists intersected. The traditional Chinese historiography and the myth of Golden Age were debunked in the 1920s by the modern “scientific” historiography. The invention of a Chinese primitive society reflected Chinese Marxist historians’ aspiration to place China into the universal scheme of human evolution and to legitimize the Communist revolution, who later reconciled the sage king myths with the study of primitive society. Anthropologists began to research Chinese primitive society after 1949, drawing upon their empirical studies of some minority nationality communities. The studies, however, was tainted by a series of politicized assumptions such as the exaggeration of Communist egalitarianism and women’s high status in a matrilineal society. The use of non-Han minority groups to exemplify primitiveness, wittingly or unwittingly, reinforced Han urban knowledge elites’ cultural imagination of the “primitive” other.
Supporting Teaching Faculty as Scholars: A Developmental Model

Professors from across the academic disciplines at Council for Christian College & Universities (CCCU) institutions have traditionally excelled in their teaching. In recent years, CCCU faculty have...
Turing Tumble Is P(SPACE)-Complete

Turing Tumble is a toy gravity-fed mechanical computer (similar to the classic Open image in new window , but including additional types of pieces such as gears), in which marbles roll down a board, along paths determined by the locations of ramps, toggles and gears, which are placed by the “programmer,” and by their current states, which are altered by the passing marbles. Aaronson proved that a Open image in new window decision problem (viz., will any marbles reach the sink?) is Open image in new window -Complete, i.e., equivalent to evaluating comparator circuits, and posed the question of what additional functionality would raise the machine’s computational power beyond Open image in new window , speculating that a capability for toggles to affect one another’s states (which Open image in new window gears happen to provide) might suffice. This turns out to be so: we show, though a simple reduction from a variant of the circuit value problem ( Open image in new window ), that the Open image in new window decision problem is Open image in new window -Complete. The two models also differ in complexity when exponentially (or unboundedly) many marbles are permitted: while Open image in new window remains in Open image in new window , Open image in new window becomes Open image in new window -Complete.
Emerging role of extracellular vesicles in the regulation of skeletal muscle adaptation.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were initially characterized as “garbage bags” with the purpose of removing unwanted material from cells. It is now becoming clear that EVs mediate intercellular commun...
The Safety of Multimodality Monitoring Using a Triple-Lumen Bolt in Severe Acute Brain Injury.

Background Multimodality monitoring is used frequently to guide care of patients with severe acute brain injury. The aim of this study was to examine the safety and reliability of multimodality monitoring. Methods From a prospective observational database at a Level I trauma center, 501 patients, including 300 men and 201 women (mean age 58 ± 39 years) were identified retrospectively. Each patient received a triple-lumen bolt and 3 monitors: intracranial pressure, brain temperature, and brain oxygen. Intensive care unit and hospital records were examined to identify complications, reasons for device replacement, malfunction and infection. Head computed tomography (CT) scans performed before and after the monitors were inserted were examined for evidence of monitor-related adverse effects. Results A total of 696 triple-lumen bolts were placed. Median duration of monitoring was 78.88 hours (interquartile range, 33.0–133.2 hours). Bilateral monitors were inserted in 22 (3.16%) patients. Ten (1.43%) monitors were replaced to allow magnetic resonance imaging, and 40 (5.74%) monitors were replaced to facilitate additional cranial surgery. Of 35 (5.02%) monitors that were replaced because they were thought to not be functioning properly, 19 (54.29%) were subsequently found to be functioning normally. Follow-up CT scans were compared with CT scans obtained before insertion of monitors; 9 (2.13%) small contusions and 10 (2.36%) extra-axial hematomas associated with the devices were identified. Based on the CT findings, the hematomas were thought to be associated with the insertion technique rather than the device; 4 hematomas required treatment. Twenty-two (3.16%) devices were incorrectly placed (e.g., the probe was in an infarct or an already existing contusion). Only 1 associated infection was identified. Conclusions Placement of intracranial monitors for multimodality neuromonitoring using a triple-lumen bolt appears to be safe. The complication rate is similar to published complication rates for single-lumen bolts and single monitors.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Optimal Medical Therapy for Chronic Total Occlusion: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

The optimal treatment strategy for coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) has not been well established. The benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was inferred mainly from observational studies comparing successful versus failed PCI without a control group receiving optimal medical therapy (OMT). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing PCI using drug-eluting stent (DES) versus OMT alone in patients with CTO. Eight studies were identified: 3 RCTs and 5 observational studies. Among a total of 4784 included patients, 2461 patients underwent PCI and 2323 patients received OMT. There was a significant association between PCI and lower cardiac mortality (odds ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.93; P = .02). There was no significant difference between PCI and OMT regarding major adverse cardiac events, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), repeat revascularization, or stroke. In the RCT subset (1399 patients), there was no significant difference between PCI and OMT regarding clinical outcomes. Compared with OMT alone, PCI with DES for CTO was associated with lower cardiac mortality, mainly driven by observational studies, without significant difference in recurrent MI or repeated revascularization. Further RCTs are needed to investigate the role of PCI for management of patients with CTO.
KIDS OR CASH? EXPLORING CHARTER SCHOOL RESPONSES TO DECLINING GOVERNMENT REVENUES

While the literature is extensive on school districts' revenue sources, less research has been done on the impact of donations on school district funds. In this paper, we extend the theoretical literature on crowding out of private donations by government grants for one type of nonprofit firm, namely charter schools. The theoretical model leads us to focus on the key relationships among fundraising effort, enrollment (which is tied to federal and state funding) and donations. Using a dataset on Texas charter schools we adopt a two‐stage approach to examine the empirical relationship between changes in nondonor revenues and the donations received by charter schools. Like the extensive empirical estimates of the effects of government grants on donations for other types of nonprofit firms, we find evidence of crowding‐out with respect to our sample of charter schools. We also find a significant, positive effect of fundraising on donations with a $1 increase in fundraising associated to a $0.58 increase in donations, a pattern consistent with overinvestment in fundraising. Enrollments exhibit a robust inverse relationship to changes in nondonor revenues. (JEL H00, H32, H50)
Pediatric Palliative Care in Oncology.

Pediatric palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life of children with serious disease and increase support for their parents and other family members. Integration o...
Acceptability of a Phone App-Based Motivational Interviewing Intervention for Young Men’s Health

Motivational interviewing (MI), an effective communication style for facilitating behavior change, paired with a smartphone app is a unique approach to engage young men in health promotion. We assessed young men’s experiences with a pilot intervention using a smartphone app paired with phone-based MI coaching by trained community health coaches. App activities included goal setting, health behavior tracking, and educational materials. The app and coaching addressed sexual health or fitness. Fourteen black and/or Hispanic men, ages 15–19 years, were interviewed about their experiences. Interviews were transcribed and coded using framework analysis. Participants found the app activities and coaching acceptable and felt comfortable discussing health behaviors. They reported gaining knowledge about sexual health and fitness, which some shared with others. Most preferred phone rather than in-person or video coaching due to it feeling “safer,” travel barriers, ease of rescheduling sessions, and increased privacy regarding sensitive subjects. Some found phone coaching preferable to a healthcare visit. Obstacles to participation included phone replacement, parental monitoring, and restriction of phone privileges. Over time, participants felt positively about their relationship with their coach but sometimes viewed them as having medical expertise beyond their training. Smartphone app-based MI with community health coaches has great potential for use with young men for a variety of health issues. However, it has unique obstacles: phone accessibility may restrict participant’s ability to engage fully and perceptions of a coach’s expertise should be regularly clarified. Future studies should continue assessing acceptability and rigorously evaluate effectiveness and scalability.
Reid on Language and the Culture of Mind

Thomas Reid draws a distinction between the social and solitary operations of mind—acts of mind that require other intelligent beings versus those that may performed on one’s own. Yet his distincti...
Intraoperative use of FLIP is associated with clinical success following POEM for achalasia

Esophagogastric junction distensibility index (DI), measured using the functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP), correlates with symptomatic outcomes after interventions for achalasia. The objective of this study was to determine if the intraoperative measurement of DI using FLIP was associated with improved clinical outcomes following per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia when compared with procedures in which FLIP was not utilized. Patients undergoing POEM from 2012 to 2017 at a single institution by a single surgeon were studied. Use of FLIP during this time period was based on catheter and technician availability, resulting in two patient cohorts. In patients in whom FLIP was used, operative video recordings were reviewed to determine when DI measurements led to the performance of additional myotomy. Postoperative Eckardt symptom scores (ES) at 12 months and postoperative physiologic studies were compared between patients with and without intraoperative FLIP. Associations were assessed using Mann–Whitney U and Chi-square tests. 143 patients were included in the analysis (61 with intraoperative FLIP and 82 without FLIP). Video recordings were available for 85% of the FLIP cohort. Review of these operative recordings revealed that 65% of patients who underwent FLIP had additional myotomy performed following the initial postmyotomy FLIP measurement. At 12 months after POEM, the FLIP cohort had significantly more clinical successes (defined as ES ≤ 3) than patients in whom FLIP was not used (93% vs. 81%, p < 0.05). Use of intraoperative FLIP during POEM resulted in the surgeon performing additional myotomy in over half of cases and was associated with improved clinical outcomes. This study demonstrates the potential for a FLIP-tailored myotomy to improve outcomes in patients undergoing surgical myotomy for achalasia.
Ideology and the Court’s Work

This concluding chapter addresses the developments in the ideological composition and direction of the Court in recent years. With the replacement of Anthony Kennedy by Brett Kavanaugh, the Court has shifted to a majority of conservatives. However, within the conservative and liberal blocs considerable variations have emerged in recent years, including the tendency of Chief Justice Roberts to side with the liberal Justices. Another division is emerging on the left, with Justices Breyer and Kagan more likely to rule with the conservatives on some controversies, showing a clear distinction from Justices Ginsburg and Sotomayor. This chapter reexamines those patterns in regard to the year’s cases, concluding the book with a discussion of the current state of ideological divisions on the Court.
A Method to Prove the Nonrationality of Some Combinatorial Generating Functions

We are presenting a new method to prove that certain combinatorial generating functions are not rational. We show several applications of our method, such as permutation patterns, t-stack sortable permutations, and classic examples of algebraic generating functions, such as lattice paths.
The Dark Side of Development: A Systems Characterization of the Negative Mentoring Experiences of Doctoral Students

A characterization of the negative mentoring doctoral students experience during their graduate research is presented. Students attributed their negative mentoring experiences to interacting factor...
Closed-Loop Dynamic Modeling of the Heart-Rate Reflex to Concurrent Spontaneous Changes of Arterial Blood Pressure and CO2 Tension: Quantification of the Effects of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective : To extend closed-loop modeling of the heart-rate reflex (HRR) by including the dynamic effects of concurrent changes in blood CO2 tension. This extended dynamic model can be used to generate physio-markers of “baroreflex gain” (BRG) and “chemoreflex gain” (CRG) that allow quantitative assessment of the possible impact of pathologies upon HRR. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is used as an example. Methods : The proposed data-based closed-loop modeling methodology estimates the forward and reverse dynamic components of the model via Laguerre kernel expansions of two open-loop models using spontaneous time-series data collected in 45 MCI patients and 15 controls. The BRG and CRG physio-markers are subsequently computed for each subject via simulation of the obtained closed-loop model for unit-step change of arterial pressure or blood CO2 tension, respectively. Results : Both open-loop and closed-loop HRR modeling revealed that MCI patients exhibit significantly smaller CRG relative to controls (p Conclusion : The extended HRR model, incorporating the dynamic effects of concurrent changes of blood CO2 tension, revealed significantly reduced chemoreflex gain (but not baroreflex gain) in MCI patients. Furthermore, the closed-loop model captured the sympathetic influence around 0.1 Hz. Significance : Multivariate closed-loop dynamic modeling is valuable for understanding physiological autoregulation.
Kirle from quarantine: An introduction to the bruce kirle memorial debut panel, 2020

Because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the fate of the annual Association for Theatre in Higher Education conference and the twelfth annual Bruce Kirle Memorial Debut Panel hung in the balance. By sheer will and determination, those at the helm of the ATHE machine managed to pull off a virtual conference, bringing scholars from across the world together from the comfort and safety of their own digital devices. This introduction explores the context of the conference, theatre’s unique COVID-era connection to Kirle’s notion of ‘unfinished busi-ness’ and the work of the 2020 Kirle scholars Lindsey Barr, Samantha Lampe and Trystan Loustau. © 2020 Intellect Ltd Article. English language.
Clinical Manifestation and Management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

ABSTRACT Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in death in 2 to 4 years in most cases. There are several clinical subtypes of ALS depending on the degree of upper and lower motor neuron involvement, and recognition of these subtypes is important because certain subtypes have better prognosis. Without a reliable biomarker, ALS is a clinical diagnosis supported by laboratory investigations. The etiology of ALS remains unknown. However, mutations in certain genes cause ALS in about 5–8% of cases and understanding molecular pathogenetic pathways in these cases may pave a way for effective therapies. There is currently no cure or meaningfully effective therapy for ALS. Supportive and palliative measures in multidisciplinary ALS clinics are exceedingly important to maintain and improve the quality of life in patients with ALS. This chapter summarizes the clinical features and management of ALS.