cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy: results for 30 consecutive cases

Most patients requiring bilateral adrenalectomy have adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Some of these patients are severely debilitated from the chronic effects of cortisol overproduction. This study aimed to analyze the indications, safety, efficacy, and outcomes for laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy from the authors’ experience. A retrospective review was conducted at a university tertiary referral center. Between March 1996 and August 2006, 30 consecutive patients underwent simultaneous laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy. The patient records were analyzed to obtain patient demographics, disease etiology, surgical approach, operating room information, postoperative complications (30 days), hospital length of stay (LOS), and follow-up information. The 30 participants (22 women and 8 men) had a mean age of 44 years. The indications for bilateral adrenalectomy were refractory Cushing’s disease (n = 16), occult ectopic ACTH syndrome (n = 9), and bilateral pheochromocytoma (n = 5). A mean of 53 months elapsed between onset of symptoms and adrenalectomy. Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy was completed for all the patients with no intraoperative complications. Four patients (13%) experienced six complications. The mean postoperative LOS was 3.5 days (range, 1–12 days). Seven patients required a preoperative LOS, for a mean of 7.1 days (range, 1–20 days), and a postoperative LOS, for a mean of 5 days (range, 2–12 days). The 23 patients who did not require preoperative hospitalization had a mean postoperative LOS of 3 days (range, 1–7 days). All the patients received postoperative steroid replacement and appropriate follow-up assessment with an endocrinologist. At this writing, the patients with Cushing’s syndrome available for follow-up evaluation continue to receive steroid replacement, and all the pheochromocytoma patients have experienced a documented postoperative biochemical cure. Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy is safe and effective for this high-risk patient population. Although patients should be monitored closely in the postoperative period, most are discharged with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement in a short time without complications.
The Whole is Greater: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches in Evaluation Studies.

There are circumstances in which the evaluator can and should choose to use multiple methods and approaches to answer evaluative questions.
An analysis of using high-frequency sinusoidal illumination to measure the 3D shape of translucent objects

Using optical triangulation methods to measure the shape of translucent objects is difficult because subsurface scattering contaminates measurements of the “direct” reflection at the surface. A number of recent papers have shown that high-frequency sinusoidal illumination patterns allow isolating this direct component [16], which in turn enables accurate estimation of the shape of translucent objects [4]. Despite these encouraging results, there is currently no rigorous mathematical analysis of the expected error in the measured surface as it relates to the parameters of these systems: the frequency of the projected sinusoid, the geometric configuration of the source and camera, and the optical properties of the target object. We present such an analysis, which confirms earlier empirical results and provides a much needed tool for designing 3D scanners for translucent objects.
Coalification patterns of the Pennsylvanian coal measures in the Appalachian foreland basin, western and south-central Pennsylvania

Detailed vitrinite reflectance (Ro) profiles have been constructed for nine boreholes penetrating the Pennsylvanian coal measures of the Appalachian foreland basin in western and south-central Pennsylvania. A revised regional coal rank map was compiled with new and pre-existing data. By comparing the calculated Ro profiles with those of measured Ro maximum burial depth, coalification temperature, heat flow, and geothermal gradient were estimated for the coal measures using a one-dimensional transient heat-conductive model combined with the Lopatin-Waples, diagram. The results indicate that increase in coal rank (0.7%-1.9% Ro) and in Ro gradient (0.38%-1.45% Ro/km) across the study area coincides regionally with variation in calculated maximum burial depth (3-5 km), paleotemperature (90-155 °C), paleoheat flow (53 to >75 mW/ m2), and geothermal gradient (26 to >33 °C/ km), and that the region represents different burial and thermal regimes as well as different structural provinces. At the western margin of the Intraplateau Structural Front, coalification continued after the Alleghanian orogeny. Regional geothermal heating due to depositional burial is thought to have been the dominant heat source responsible for the coalification level in the area. Closer to the eastern edge of the Intraplateau Front, both regional geothermal heating due to burial and advective heating due to the fluid flow accompanying the Alleghanian orogeny were important in creating the observed coalification patterns. A higher coal rank and reflectance gradient, together with a concentric isorank pattern centred in northern Somerset County, appear to represent an area where advective heating due to fluid flow was the dominant heat source.
Symmetry breakage in the development of one-armed gonads in nematodes

Whereas the hermaphrodite gonad of Caenorhabditis elegans has two symmetric arms (didelphy), the female/hermaphrodite gonad of many nematode species features a single anterior arm (monodelphy). We examined how gonadal cell lineages and intercellular signalling evolve to generate these diverse structures. In C. elegans, the two arms develop symmetrically from two somatic precursor cells, Z1 (anterior) and Z4 (posterior). Each first gives rise to one distal tip cell (which promotes arm growth and germ line proliferation), two ovary precursors and three uterine precursors in the center of the developing gonad. In monodelphic species, Z1 and Z4 have different fates. The first visible asymmetry between them is in the relative timing of their divisions, followed by asymmetric cell movements. The putative posterior distal tip cell is then eliminated in all but one species by programmed cell death. In some species the posterior ovary precursors form a small vestigial posterior arm, the post-vulval sac; in other species, they stay undivided, or die. In Cephalobus sp. PS1197, the specific fate of Z4 progeny is induced by Z1 (or its daughters). In the uterus in C. elegans, symmetric lateral signalling between Z1.ppp and Z4.aaa renders them equally likely to become the anchor cell, which links the uterus to the vulva. In the different monodelphic species, anchor cell specification is biased, or fully fixed, to a descendant of either Z1 or Z4. Replacement regulation upon anchor cell ablation is conserved in some species, but lost in others, leading to a mosaic-type development. Differentiation between Z1 and Z4 is thus manifested at this later stage in the breakage of symmetry of cell interactions in the ventral uterus.
La filosofía náhuatl estudiada en sus fuentes

Primera edicion, Instituto indigenista interamericano: 1956. Decima primera edicion impresa en coedicion con el Fideicomiso Felipe Teixidor y Montserrat Alfau de Teixidor: 2017. Primera edicion digital en PDF: 2017. Primera edicion digital en PDF con ISBN: 2019
Performance of College Students: Impact of Study Time and Study Habits

Available empirical research investigating the relationship that study time has with college student performance has seen mixed results. Positive, negative, and no relationship between the two variables has been reported (G. A. Krohn & C. M. O'Conner, 2005; A. G. Lahmers & C. Zulauf, 2000; R. M. Schmidt, 1983). At a time when there is overwhelming evidence that students are devoting less time to their studies (Higher Education Research Institute, 2003), it is critical for educators who desire to encourage and motivate their students to engage in productive study behavior to first understand the true nature of this relationship. The authors investigated the influence of a third variable, study habits. Based on a sample of business students, results showed some study habits had a positive direct relationship on student performance but others had a negative direct relationship. Results also showed 1 study habit moderated the relationship between study time and student performance positively, but another stud...
Development of a 90 kW bi-directional DC-DC converter for power dense applications

This paper presents the relevancy, design, and test results of a 90 kW continuous duty, three-phase, bi-directional, and DC-DC converter for hybrid electric vehicles. Nominal low-side and high-side voltages of 320 V and 600 V, respectively, were used. Continuous boost-mode operation at 90 kW and continuous buck-mode operation at 45 kW were demonstrated using 80 /spl deg/C (inlet temperature) Castrol 399 oil coolant. The volumetric power density of the three-phase test-bed was 2.7 kW/l in boost-mode at a coolant temperature of 80 /spl deg/C. Based on two-phase tests, the power density at a coolant temperature of 25 /spl deg/C is projected to be 4.1 kW/l To increase power level and power density, custom IGBT modules have been built and tested. A design layout for a packaged four-phase converter, using the custom IGBTs, including sensors and control hardware, indicates that a volumetric power density of above 4 kW/l is feasible at an 80 /spl deg/C coolant temperature.
Unifying concepts in stimulus-secretion coupling in endocrine cells and some implications for therapeutics

Stimulus-secretion coupling (SSC) in endocrine cells remains underappreciated as a subject for the study/teaching of general physiology. In the present article, we review key new electrophysiologic...
Cohort Changes in the Relationship between Adolescents' Family Attitudes, Stem Intentions and Attainment:

This study examines cohort change in the effect of adolescents' family attitudes—the importance they attach to future marriage and parenthood—on their intentions to major in Science, Technology, En...
Evaluating Simplicial Mixtures of Markov Chains for Modeling Student Metacognitive Strategies

Modeling and discovery of the strategies that students use, both cognitive and metacognitive, is important for building accurate models of student knowledge and learning. We present a simulation study to examine whether simplicial mixtures of Markov chains (SM-MC) can be used to model student metacognitive strategies. We find that SM-MC models cannot be estimated on the moderately sized data sets common in education, and must be adapted to be useful for strategy modeling.
Establishing collaborations in design-based research projects: insights from the origins of the MMAP project

The success of design-based research projects depends on the quality of their collaborative teams. In this paper, I use a set of principles for fostering productive engagement to explain how the Middle-school Mathematics through Applications Project (MMAP) got its team of researchers, teachers, and curriculum developers off to a good start. First, MMAP fostered problematizing around MMAP goals by recruiting participants whose goals partially overlapped with MMAP's, and by demonstrating the importance of core goals like equity. Second, the project supported teacher authority by selecting staff already inclined to respect teachers, by showing teachers that their contributions were desired, and by setting expectations that teachers would have the ultimate authority for how curricula would be used. Finally, MMAP fostered accountability by recruiting participants with varied expertise, setting expectations that teachers would change their teaching practices, and encouraging everyone to begin engaging in focused discussions with each other.
Laparoscopy and complicated meckel diverticulum in children.

Background and objectives Meckel diverticulum can present with a variety of complications but is often found incidentally during other surgical procedures. The role of laparoscopy in the management of Meckel diverticulum is established. We reviewed our experience with complicated cases of Meckel diverticulum in children managed with laparoscopy. Methods A 15-year retrospective chart review revealed 14 cases of complicated Meckel diverticulum managed with laparoscopy. Incidentally found Meckel diverticulum and cases done by laparotomy were excluded. Ages varied from 2 years to 16 years old. There were 10 males and four females. Eight cases had small bowel obstruction; of those, three had extensive intestinal gangrene. Four cases had significant rectal bleeding, three had acute diverticulitis, and two had intussusception caused by the diverticulum. Results Eleven cases were treated with laparoscopic Meckel diverticulectomy and three with laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection because of extensive gangrene of the intestine. Two of the three cases with significant intestinal gangrene returned several weeks later with small bowel obstruction secondary to adhesions. They were successfully managed with laparoscopic lysis of adhesions. There were no other complications. Conclusions Laparoscopy is safe and effective in the management of complicated Meckel diverticulum in children. Most cases can be managed with simple diverticulectomy. Laparoscopy is useful when the diagnosis is uncertain. When extensive gangrene is present, laparoscopy can help to mobilize the intestine and evaluate the degree of damage, irrigate and cleanse the peritoneal cavity, and minimize the incision necessary to accomplish the bowel resection.
On a Functional Equation Arising in Probability

(1969). On a Functional Equation Arising in Probability. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 76, No. 7, pp. 802-804.
Evaluation of Isotherm Models for Water Vapor Sorption Behavior of Expansive Clays

AbstractMeasuring water vapor sorption behavior has emerged as a potentially important alternative for characterizing expansive soil behavior. Mathematical models for representing measured water vapor sorption isotherms and for calculating properties such as heat of adsorption, monolayer coverage, and specific surface area (SSA), however, have not been evaluated in detail for clay-water systems. This paper evaluates fitting performance and correlations among four theoretical models previously developed for general sorbent-sorbate interactions (e.g., colloid science) for specific application to water vapor sorption on expansive clays. Models evaluated include those by Freundlich, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller, Frenkel-Halsey-Hill, and Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer. Model performance is evaluated for a suite of bentonite-kaolinite mixtures representing a wide range of swelling potential and along adsorption and desorption paths. Trends in model parameters are evaluated as functions of bentonite content, correlated am...
Incidence and types of adverse events during mass vaccination campaign with the meningococcal a conjugate vaccine (MENAFRIVAC™) in Cameroon.

A new vaccine against meningitis A was introduced in Africa meningitis belt in 2010. This study was planned to describe the incidence and types of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with a new conjugate vaccine against meningitis A (MenAfrivac™) in a Cameroonian vaccination campaign.; The campaign was conducted in Adamawa and North West regions in December 2012 and the AEFIs enhanced surveillance from December 2012 to January 2013. Incidence rates (IR) of overall and serious AEFIs were estimated as well as AEFI incidence rates by type, age group and region. AEFI symptoms were aggregated in System Organ Class (SOC).; Of 2 093 381 persons vaccinated, 1352 AEFIs were reported. Of these, 228 (16.9%) were excluded because of not meeting inclusion criteria and 1124 (83.1%) included (IR: 53.7/100 000 doses administered/8 weeks). Of the 82 serious AEFIs reported, 52 (63.2%) met the case definition. 23 (28.1%) were investigated, of which 4 (17.4%) were probably vaccine product-related reactions (IR: 0.2/100 000 doses administered/8 weeks). Fever was the most common reported AEFI with 626 cases (IR: 31.4/100 000 doses administered/8 weeks). The proportion of people with the SOC "Gastrointestinal disorders" was significantly lower in ages 5-15 and 16-29 years than 1-4 years [aRR = 0.63(0.42-0.93) and 0.54(0.36-0.81) respectively].; Incidence and types of AEFI reported during MenAfriVac(TM) vaccination campaign organized in Cameroon in 2012 did not suggest concern regarding the vaccine safety. Differences in frequency of AEFIs types per age group could guide the monitoring of AEFIs frequency in future campaigns. Efforts are needed to improve the investigation rate of serious AEFIs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of Host Gene Expression and Innate Immunity by Viruses

Viruses characteristically infect host cells directly and have tremendously rapid replicative capacity. For these reasons, an organism’s earliest defenses against viruses are essential for host survival. These responses are referred to as innate and represent the entire repertoire of immunity in phylogenetically less-complex organisms. Innate responses are capable of participating in defense quickly and without the need for rearranging germline DNA to create specificity. Modulation of Host Gene Expression and Innate Immunity by Viruses presents a state-of-the art dissection of these defense mechanisms as well as strategies that viruses have developed to evade them. Furthermore, influences that viruses have upon host gene expression favoring either the host or the virus are also recounted in the context of innate immunity.
Why Public Benefit Corporations

Public Benefit Corporations (“PBCs”) are a revolutionary new form of business organization that overturn the fundamental corporate principle of shareholder wealth maximization. Of the many questions that surround this new entity type, perhaps the most perplexing is why Delaware – the most influential and important state for corporate law by far – chose to adopt it. I explore this troubling question through qualitative empirical research. I find that Delaware primarily wanted to serve the needs of social entrepreneurs and financiers, but also hoped to harness the power of capitalism to remedy social ills that government has so far failed to fix. The PBC statute rather poorly implements either of these goals. The PBC statute is not a very good enforcement tool. On the other hand, the statute may prove an effective reinforcement tool, aiding sincere social entrepreneurs to pursue their various missions. Also, private ordering, such as certification by outside entities like B Lab, may fill many of the important gaps left by the law.
Bandwidth bounds for small dipole antennas based on spherical wave scattering

For lossless, electrically small dipole antennas, the impedance matching bandwidth upper bounds are derived based on spherical wave scattering by the antenna in the low-frequency limit. The antenna is represented as a lossless matching network between the antenna port and the dominant TM 01 spherical wave port. The classical Fano approach is taken to derive integral identities for the magnitude of the antenna port reflection coefficient and bandwidth upper bounds. Unlike previously known Fano-type bounds, the new bandwidth bounds incorporate the effect of antenna details via the low-frequency electric polarizability.
Greater Volume but not Higher Density of Abdominal Aortic Calcium Is Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Background—Abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) independently and similarly predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. The standard AAC and CAC score, the Agatston met...
Batch and Semi-Batch Operations

This chapter discusses process cycle time, which is the total time from charging feed to a batch or semi-batch reactor to the next feed charge of the same reactor, and its optimization. This chapter also discusses the reaction time required to optimize the profitability of a given batch or semi-batch reactor. It finishes by presenting scenarios for maximizing product formation and quality through process temperature optimization.
Learning to Query, Reason, and Answer Questions On Ambiguous Texts

A key goal of research in conversational systems is to train an interactive agent to help a user with a task. Human conversation, however, is notoriously incomplete, ambiguous, and full of extraneous detail. To operate effectively, the agent must not only understand what was explicitly conveyed but also be able to reason in the presence of missing or unclear information. When unable to resolve ambiguities on its own, the agent must be able to ask the user for the necessary clarifications and incorporate the response in its reasoning. Motivated by this problem we introduce QRAQ ("crack"; Query, Reason, and Answer Questions), a new synthetic domain, in which a User gives an Agent a short story and asks a challenge question. These problems are designed to test the reasoning and interaction capabilities of a learning-based Agent in a setting that requires multiple conversational turns. A good Agent should ask only non-deducible, relevant questions until it has enough information to correctly answer the User's question. We use standard and improved reinforcement learning based memory-network architectures to solve QRAQ problems in the difficult setting where the reward signal only tells the Agent if its final answer to the challenge question is correct or not. To provide an upper-bound to the RL results we also train the same architectures using supervised information that tells the Agent during training which variables to query and the answer to the challenge question. We evaluate our architectures on four QRAQ dataset types, and scale the complexity for each along multiple dimensions.
Past-year Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Opioid Prescriptions and Self-reported Opioid Use in an Emergency Department Population With Opioid Use Disorder.

Background Despite increasing reliance on prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) as a response to the opioid epidemic, the relationship between aberrant drug-related behaviors captured by the PDMP and opioid use disorder is incompletely understood. How PDMP data should guide emergency department (ED) assessment has not been studied. Objectives The objective was to evaluate a relationship between PDMP opioid prescription records and self-reported nonmedical opioid use of prescription opioids in a cohort of opioid-dependent ED patients enrolled in a treatment trial. Methods PDMP opioid prescription records during 1 year prior to study enrollment on 329 adults meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV criteria for opioid dependence entering a randomized clinical trial in a large, urban ED were cross-tabulated with data on 30-day nonmedical prescription opioid use self-report. The association among these two types of data was assessed by the Goodman and Kruskal's gamma; a logistic regression was used to explore characteristics of participants who had PDMP record of opioid prescriptions. Results During 1 year prior to study enrollment, 118 of 329 (36%) patients had at least one opioid prescription (range = 1–51) in our states’ PDMP. Patients who reported ≥15 of 30 days of nonmedical prescription opioid use were more likely to have at least four PDMP opioid prescriptions (20/38; 53%) than patients reporting 1 to 14 days (14/38, 37%) or zero days of nonmedical prescription opioid use (4/38, 11%; p = 0.002). Female sex and having health insurance were significantly more represented in the PDMP (p < 0.05 for both). Conclusion PDMPs may be helpful in identifying patients with certain aberrant drug-related behavior, but are unable to detect many patients with opioid use disorder. The majority of ED patients with opioid use disorder were not captured by the PDMP, highlighting the importance of using additional methods such as screening and clinical history to identify opioid use disorders in ED patients and the limitations of PDMPs to detect opioid use disorders.
From Waxes to Polymers—Crystallography of Polydisperse Chain Assemblies

Exploiting available single-crystal diffraction patterns from individual microareas, electron crystallography has characterized rectangular layer chain packing for polydisperse extended chain polymethylene chain assemblies. From this work, one can appreciate how these chain assemblies form stable solid solutions and also how they may phase separate. It is clear that two types of stable solid solution are formed—one that is lamellar and one that is “nematocrystalline.” Respective examples are wax fractions with narrow chain length distributions and chain-extended, low molecular weight polyethylene.
Covalent modifications of polysaccharides in mycobacteria.

Mycobacteria produce carbohydrates of exceptional structures that are covalently modified by unique substituents, whose functional characterization could expand our understanding of how mycobacteria adapt to their environment.
Circadian Rhythms and Redox State in Plants: Till Stress Do Us Part

A growing body of evidence demonstrates a significant relationship between cellular redox state and circadian rhythms. Each day these two vital components of plant biology influence one another, dictating the pace for metabolism and physiology. Diverse environmental stressors can disrupt this condition and, although plant scientists have made significant progress in re-constructing functional networks of plant stress responses, stress impacts on the clock-redox crosstalk is poorly understood. Inter-connected phenomena such as redox state and metabolism, internal and external environments, cellular homeostasis and rhythms can impede predictive understanding of coordinated regulation of plant stress response. The integration of circadian clock effects into predictive network models is likely to increase final yield and better predict plant responses to stress. To achieve such integrated understanding, it is necessary to consider the internal clock not only as a gatekeeper of environmental responses but also as a target of stress syndromes. Using chlorophyll fluorescence as a reliable and high-throughput probe of stress coupled to functional genomics and metabolomics will provide insights on the crosstalk across a wide range of stress severity and duration, including potential insights into oxidative stress response and signaling. We suggest the efficiency of photosystem II in light conditions (Fv’/Fm’) to be the most dynamic of the fluorescence variables and therefore the most reliable parameter to follow the stress response from early sensing to mortality.
Changes in uptake and cost of long-acting reversible contraceptive devices following the introduction of a new low-cost levonorgestrel IUD in Utah's Title X clinics: a retrospective review.

Abstract Objective The objective was to assess changes in long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) method uptake at Utah's Title X clinics before and after introduction of a new, low-cost levonorgestrel (LNG) 52 mg IUD (Liletta®). Study design We conducted a retrospective medical record review of LARC visits occurring at seven Title-X family planning clinics in Utah before the introduction of the low-cost LNG IUD (preintroduction period: 01/01/2014–04/30/2015) and after (postintroduction period: 05/01/2015–03/31/2016). We ran segmented, interrupted time series ordinary least squares regression models using Newey–West standard errors to assess both the change in numbers of women initiating any LARC method and the average payment amount per LARC method. We evaluated both the low-cost LNG IUD and all LARC methods. Results At the outset of preintroduction period, there were 29.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 20.1–38.4] monthly LNG IUD insertions. Immediately postintroduction, there was a significant level of increase of 14.4 LNG IUD insertions the first month (95% CI: 2.0–26.8) followed by a significant trend increase each month of 2.4 additional LNG IUD insertions (95% CI: 0.32–4.47). Postintroduction, there was a significant level of remitted-payment decrease from all sources of −$240.43 per LNG IUD (95% CI: −311.02 to 168.87) followed by a significant monthly trend decrease of −$23.01 per LNG IUD (95% CI: −32.02 to −13.98). There were minimal changes in uptake and payment of other LARC methods following the introduction of the low-cost LNG IUD. Conclusions Following introduction of a low-cost LNG IUD at Title X clinics, LNG IUD initiation increased and average payment for the method decreased. Implications Reducing the cost of LARC methods, both to clinics and to patients, is essential to expanding access. Additional efforts to develop and provide access to low-cost copper IUDs and subdermal implants as well as novel LARC methods should be continued.
The 25th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (ACM SIGSPATIAL 2017) Redondo Beach, California, USA November 7--10, 2017: conference report

This report describes the development and finalization of the 25th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (ACM SIGSPATIAL 2017), held in Redondo Beach, California, USA, November 7--10, 2017.
Normal and Pathological Aging: From Animals to Humans

While aging is associated with modest declines in certain aspects of cognitive function (memory, executive function, processing speed), many cognitive domains can remain relatively stable until late in life. In contrast to the mild decline observed in normal aging, pathological aging such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects global cognitive function – impairing memory, language, thinking, and reasoning, and interferes substantially with daily living capacity. Changes in the structural integrity of the brain underlie the cognitive declines that occur in both aging and AD, however different brain structures are affected. In healthy aging, mild functional changes are predominantly detected in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, while in AD, pathology initially accumulates and disrupts function in the medial temporal lobe (disrupting memory), progresses to cortical structures, and eventually globally impacts the brain. Cognitive decline with normal and pathological aging is mediated by a complex interaction of multiple factors that include genetic and nongenetic risk factors that determine the age of onset as well as the rate of decline. Importantly, the progression and decline can be prevented or slowed by certain lifestyle factors (exercise participation, stress management) and pharmaceutical interventions (statins, hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women). While most individuals will experience some degree of cognitive decline with aging, conversion to MCI or AD is not an inevitable consequence of aging. It is likely that additional strategies to promote healthy brain aging will be uncovered in the next years that will further contribute to successful brain aging and will help to maintain a high quality of living through the last decades of life.
Invariant imbedding and the calculation of eigenvalues for Sturm-Liouville systems

A new technique based upon an invariant imbedding-Ricatti transformation approach is presented for the calculation of eigenvalues ofSturm-Liouville type systems of differential equations. A very simple numerical procedure is developed which is easily programmed and which uses reliable subroutines. The method is capable of handling a large class of problems. Included among these are problems in which the eigenvalues appears in a non-linear fashion, cases in which the eigenvalue occurs in the boundary condition, and equations which have singularities. The numerical computations are generally well-conditioned and very accurate results were obtained. Es wird eine neue Technik, basierend auf einer Methode, welche invariante Einbettung (Invariant Imbedding) mit derRicatti-Transformation kombiniert, dargestellt zum Zwecke der Berechnung der Eigenwerte von Differentialgleichungssystemen, welche vomSturm-Liouville-Typ sind. Eine sehr einfache numerische Prozedur ist entwickelt worden, die leicht zu programmieren ist und verlaβliche Unterprogramme benutzt. Dieses Verfahren vermag eine umfangreiche Klasse von Problemen zu handhaben. Unter ihnen sind solche inbegriffen, bei denen der Eigenwert in einer nichtlinearen Form auftritt; auch Falle, wo der Eigenwert in der Randbedingung vorkommt; und schlieβlich auch Gleichungen, die Singularitaten aufweisen. Es sei betont, daβ die hier von uns behandelten numerischen Berechnungen im allgemeinen stabil sind und sehr genaue Ergebnisse hervorzubringen vermogen.
Identification and characterization of Photorhabdus temperata mutants altered in hemolysis and virulence

Photorhabdus temperata is a symbiont of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and an insect pathogen. This bacterium produces a wide variety of virulence factors and hemolytic...
Accuracy of chest X-Ray measurements of pediatric esophageal coins.

Abstract Objective To determine the accuracy of chest x-ray measurements in children using ingested radiopaque foreign bodies of known size. Methods A database of foreign body ingestions at a tertiary care children's hospital was queried from 2013 to 2016 for children who had ingested a US coin, had a pre-operative chest x-ray and documentation of coin type at the time of endoscopic removal. Four blinded research subjects measured the coin diameter on chest x-ray using iSite PACS software and based on the measurement, predicted the coin type. Measurements were compared to the known coin diameters published by the US Mint. Results A total of 51 patients with sixteen esophageal quarters (diameter 24.26 mm), fourteen nickels (21.21 mm), fourteen pennies (19.05 mm) and seven dimes (17.91 mm) were included in the study. The four subjects had a mean accuracy of 60.3% (range 49.0%–72.5%) in predicting the correct coin type. Across all raters, there was poor agreement for pennies (kappa = 0.161) and dimes (kappa = 0.131), fair agreement for nickels (kappa = 0.259), good agreement for quarters (kappa = 0.687), and fair agreement overall (kappa = 0.371). The study measurements overestimated the coin size in 203 of the 204 measurements by a mean of 1.84 mm (range −0.31–3.85 mm). The mean size discrepancy was larger (2.40 vs. 1.30 mm, p Conclusions Measurement of esophageal coins on chest x-ray is relatively inaccurate and overestimates the size in the majority of cases. Clinicians should use caution when performing fine measurements on chest x-rays, especially in children younger than 4 years old.
Electrical Propagation in Distributed Cardiac Tissue

Basic properties concerning electrical propagation in cardiac tissue are discussed. Electrical properties in passive and excitable tissue are described in the one-dimensional case. Realistic mathematical models in higher dimensions will have to take into account discreteness caused by finite conductance of cell couplings, anisotropy of cardiac muscle, and the finite resistance of the extracellular conductance.
Optimal Utility Design in Convex Distributed Welfare Games

This paper focuses on the design of local agent objective functions for resource allocation problems with separable, convex, and increasing system level objective functions. We employ two well-known measures to characterize the quality of local utility functions: Price of Anarchy (PoA) and Price of Stability (PoS), which provide a measure the best and worst Nash equilibrium, respectively. Our main results characterize the tradeoff between optimizing the PoA and optimizing the PoS; we show that if optimal PoA (resp. PoS) is achieved, there is a limitation on the achievable PoS (resp. PoA). Further, we show that the Shapley value objective function is the unique rule which optimizes PoA followed by PoS, and the marginal contribution rule is the unique rule which optimizes PoS followed by PoA. Lastly, we show that relaxation in the objective of optimizing PoA impacts the attainable PoS guarantees.
Studying User Experience of a Hybrid Location Sensing System

The HCI community has extensively studied location-based systems that applied various location sensing technologies. However, there is a lack of user experience (UX) studies of systems where hybrid location sensing approaches are provided. In this work, we designed, implemented and studied a hybrid location sharing system that offers automatic location sensing through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and participatory location sharing using GPS. Our findings provide design implications to future location-based systems that apply such a hybrid location sensing design.
Increasing Student Engagement and Participation Through Course Methodology

Educators have been criticized for limited resources in building capacity for continued growth through reflective learning. A large number of educational institutions concentrate on acquiring formal knowledge of the subject matter excessively; with theory being overstated and the practical realities of the classroom not being effectively addressed. There are a number of factors to increase student engagement in the classroom. It is also important to organize the environment in which adult learners learn eagerly. Two commonly used methodologies are pedagogy and andragogy. This chapter investigates the different methodologies found to be most effective with adult learners. The chapter will consist of the following sections: background; issues controversies, and problems; solutions and recommendation; future research directions; and finally the conclusion. This will enhance the field of education and course methodology and its influences on all aspects of modern educational institutions and society in general.
How the Chinese language encourages the paradigm shift toward discourse in linguistics: Pressure from ‘the three zeros’

Abstract The Chinese language has encouraged the paradigm shift in linguistics away from Chomsky-style sentence-internal rules toward usage-based discourse. Analysts have debated two possibilities: is Chinese an allegedly ‘inferior’ and ambiguous language because it rests on the ‘three zeros’: zero subjects, zero anaphora, and zero tense? Or does Chinese use ‘hidden complexity’ (Bisang 2009) to make reference clear by discourse marking? Chinese pressure points on linguistic theory center on these ‘three zeros’. Zero subjects have influenced a broader research category of topic-centered languages. Zero anaphora influenced reference tracking beyond the sentence. Zero tense expanded understanding of time and aspect. The process of the shift comes from international networks of multilingual scholars of Chinese. They have collaborated to form a critical mass of explicitly comparative, empirical research. Chinese interdisciplinary research has been especially influential in typology, child language, cross-cultural communications, translation and artificial intelligence. Fifty years ago, mainstream conferences, textbooks, books, and journals almost never featured Chinese. Now they routinely do.
An unconventional uptake rate objective function approach enhances applicability of genome-scale models for mammalian cells.

Constraint-based modeling has been applied to analyze metabolism of numerous organisms via flux balance analysis and genome-scale metabolic models, including mammalian cells such as the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells—the principal cell factory platform for therapeutic protein production. Unfortunately, the application of genome-scale model methodologies using the conventional biomass objective function is challenged by the presence of overly-restrictive constraints, including essential amino acid exchange fluxes that can lead to improper predictions of growth rates and intracellular flux distributions. In this study, these constraints are found to be reliably predicted by an “essential nutrient minimization” approach. After modifying these constraints with the predicted minimal uptake values, a series of unconventional objective functions are applied to minimize each individual non-essential nutrient uptake rate, revealing useful insights about metabolic exchange rates and flows across different cell lines and culture conditions. This unconventional uptake-rate objective functions (UOFs) approach is able to distinguish metabolic differences between three distinct CHO cell lines (CHO-K1, -DG44, and -S) not directly observed using the conventional biomass growth maximization solutions. Further, a comparison of model predictions with experimental data from literature correctly correlates with the specific CHO-DG44-derived cell line used experimentally, and the corresponding dual prices provide fruitful information concerning coupling relationships between nutrients. The UOFs approach is likely to be particularly suited for mammalian cells and other complex organisms which contain multiple distinct essential nutrient inputs, and may offer enhanced applicability for characterizing cell metabolism and physiology as well as media optimization and biomanufacturing control. Efficient application of genome-scale metabolic models for mammalian cells can be challenging due to the large number of restrictions posed on inputs including essential amino acid uptake rates. To overcome these limitations, a team led by Michael Betenbaugh at Johns Hopkins University estimated the essential amino acid inputs for Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells from readily measured growth rates. These predictions are then combined with the implementation of an unconventional approach for solving metabolic models based on minimization of uptake rates. Solutions predicted by this approach successfully distinguished metabolic differences between CHO cell lines that are not directly observable using conventional approaches and managed to identify the correct cell line from metabolic flux data. Implementation of this systems approach will enable users to better utilize genome-scale models of mammalian cells for improved understanding and control of biotechnology processes.
Mission Possible: Advances in MYC Therapeutic Targeting in Cancer.

MYC is a master transcriptional regulator that controls almost all cellular processes. Over the last several decades, researchers have strived to define the context-dependent transcriptional gene programs that are controlled by MYC, as well as the mechanisms that regulate MYC function, in an effort to better understand the contribution of this oncoprotein to cancer progression. There are a wealth of data indicating that deregulation of MYC activity occurs in a large number of cancers and significantly contributes to disease progression, metastatic potential, and therapeutic resistance. Although the therapeutic targeting of MYC in cancer is highly desirable, there remain substantial structural and functional challenges that have impeded direct MYC-targeted drug development and efficacy. While efforts to drug the ‘undruggable’ may seem futile given these challenges and considering the broad reach of MYC, significant strides have been made to identify points of regulation that can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. These include targeting the deregulation of MYC transcription in cancer through small-molecule inhibitors that induce epigenetic silencing or that regulate the G-quadruplex structures within the MYC promoter. Alternatively, compounds that disrupt the DNA-binding activities of MYC have been the long-standing focus of many research groups, since this method would prevent downstream MYC oncogenic activities regardless of upstream alterations. Finally, proteins involved in the post-translational regulation of MYC have been identified as important surrogate targets to reduce MYC activity downstream of aberrant cell stimulatory signals. Given the complex regulation of the MYC signaling pathway, a combination of these approaches may provide the most durable response, but this has yet to be shown. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different therapeutic strategies being employed to target oncogenic MYC function, with a focus on post-translational mechanisms.
Management of the difficult airway in the COVID-19 pandemic: Illustrative complex head and neck cancer scenario.

BACKGROUND: This case highlights challenges in the assessment and management of the "difficult airway" patient in the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic era METHODS: A 60-year-old male with history of recent TORS resection, free flap reconstruction and tracheostomy for p16+ squamous cell carcinoma presented with stridor and dyspnea one month after decannulation Careful planning by a multidisciplinary team allowed for appropriate staffing and personal protective equipment, preparations for emergency airway management, evaluation via nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, and COVID testing The patient was found to be COVID negative and underwent imaging which revealed new pulmonary nodules and a tracheal lesion RESULTS: The patient was safely transorally intubated in the operating room The tracheal lesion was removed endoscopically and tracheostomy was avoided CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the importance of careful and collaborative decision making for the management of head and neck cancer and other "difficult airway" patients during the COVID-19 epidemic This article is protected by copyright All rights reserved
Internal communicators’ understanding of the definition and importance of employee advocacy

Abstract In recent years, employee advocacy has evolved as a hot topic that has generated a lot of buzz in todayos public relations, marketing, and business circles. In spite of the growing relevance of employee advocacy, there is limited empirical and theoretical research on this topic and a universal definition and clear understanding of its exact meaning is lacking. Hence, the purpose of this study was to fill a gap in public relations research on employee advocacy by examining how internal communicators understand this behavior and their perceptions of its value. Through interviews with 25 public relations and communications practitioners, the studyos results indicated that participants perceived that advocacy could be expressed verbally or nonverbally. Given these findings, the study proposed a new definition of employee advocacy. Overall, participants agreed that employee advocacy plays a critical role in an organizationos future performance and can impact its success in several ways.
Connecting Engineering Students’ Perceptions of Professional Competencies and Their Leadership Development

AbstractThe evolving challenges and demands of engineering require future professionals to have a broad skillset. To be adequately prepared for industry, undergraduate engineering students need to ...
ApoE2, ApoE3 and ApoE4 Differentially Impact Multiple Signaling Pathways Regulating Synaptogenesis

Abstract ApoE is a major apolipoprotein in blood that mediates clearance of circulating lipoproteins, but is also abundantly produced in brain by activated astrocytes and microglia. Humans express three ApoE variants, ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4, that exhibit distinct ApoE-receptor binding properties. Genetically, ApoE2 is protective against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) whereas ApoE4 predisposes to AD, thereby constituting the most important risk factor for AD. The role of ApoE4 in driving microglial dysregulation and impeding Aβ clearance in AD is well studied, but possible direct effects of ApoE4 on neurons are poorly understood. Extending previous studies, we here demonstrate that genetic ApoE variants differentially activate diverse neuronal signaling pathways by binding to ApoE-receptors on human neurons that were cultured in isolation from glia and microglia to exclude indirect glial mechanisms. Specifically, we show that ApoE-receptor activation broadly stimulates signal transduction cascades that, among others, enhance synapse formation with an ApoE4>ApoE3>ApoE2 rank potency order. This stimulation requires MAP-kinase activation. Unlike the previously described induction of APP transcription, however, ApoE-induced stimulation of synaptogenesis involves CREB instead of cFos activation. Thus we propose that in brain, ApoE acts as a paracrine signal that broadly activates neuronal signaling pathways in what may represent a protective biological response.