cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Privileging Literary Criticism: the Legacy of F. R. Leavis’s The Great Tradition

American academics have often been puzzled by claims made by English colleagues for the importance of F. R. Leavis. Leavis’s position as a literary critic cannot be separated from his role as leader of an academic revolution in England which established literary criticism as a central activity in British culture. Leavis’s premise was, as he argues in Education and the University (1943), that literary criticism ‘trains, in a way no other discipline can, intelligence and sensibility together, cultivating a sensitiveness and precision of response and a delicate integrity of intelligence — intelligence that integrates as well as analyses and must have pertinacity and staying power as well as delicacy’.1 For Leavis, literary criticism involves the complete engagement of mind and feeling while reading a text, and the subsequent ability to recreate or render that response in writing.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FAMILY AND NEIGHBORHOOD INCOME AND FIRST‐GENERATION LATINO ADULTS’ DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND Well‐BEING

This study examines relationships between family and neighborhood income and depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and financial satisfaction among first-generation immigrant Dominican (N = 255), Puerto Rican (N = 242), and Mexican (N = 212) adults. Results from random intercept regression models revealed family income to be consistently predictive of outcomes across samples. However, this relationship was moderated by neighborhood income. The interaction between family and neighborhood income was related to life satisfaction among Puerto Rican and Mexican samples and to financial satisfaction among all three samples, although the shape of the interactions differed. For lower income Dominican and Puerto Rican adults, living in a higher income neighborhood was associated with increases in satisfaction. In comparison, living in a higher income neighborhood was associated with decreases in satisfaction among lower income Mexican adults. Access to neighborhood resources and social comparisons are proposed as potential underlying mechanisms.
CoSaMP with redundant dictionaries

In this paper we describe a variant of the iterative reconstruction algorithm CoSaMP for the setting where the signal is not sparse in an orthonormal basis but in a truly redundant or overcomplete dictionary. We utilize the D-RIP, a condition on the sensing matrix analogous to the well-known restricted isometry property. In contrast to prior work, the method and analysis are “signal-focused”; that is, they are oriented around recovering the signal rather than its dictionary coefficients. Under the assumption that we have a near-optimal scheme for projecting vectors in signal space onto the model family of candidate sparse signals, we provide provable recovery guarantees. We also provide a discussion of practical examples and empirical results.
Clinical characterization of in vivo inflammatory bowel disease with Raman spectroscopy

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), affects over 1 million Americans and 2 million Europeans, and the incidence is increasing worldwide. While these diseases require unique medical care, the differentiation between UC and CD lacks a gold standard, and therefore relies on long term follow up, success or failure of existing treatment, and recurrence of the disease. Here, we present colonoscopy-coupled fiber optic probe-based Raman spectroscopy as a minimally-invasive diagnostic tool for IBD of the colon (UC and Crohn's colitis). This pilot in vivo study of subjects with existing IBD diagnoses of UC (n = 8), CD (n = 15), and normal control (n = 8) aimed to characterize spectral signatures of UC and CD. Samples were correlated with tissue pathology markers and endoscopic evaluation. The collected spectra were processed and analyzed using multivariate statistical techniques to identify spectral markers and discriminate IBD and disease classes. Confounding factors including the presence of active inflammation and the particular colon segment measured were investigated and integrated into the devised prediction algorithm, reaching 90% sensitivity and 75% specificity to CD from this in vivo data set. These results represent significant progress towards improved real-time classification for accurate and automated in vivo detection and discrimination of IBD during colonoscopy procedures.
Replicative Bypass Studies of α-Anomeric Lesions of 2'-Deoxyribonucleosides in Vitro.

Genomic integrity is constantly challenged by a variety of endogenous and exogenous DNA damaging agents, which can lead to the formation of 104–105 DNA lesions per cell per day. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent a major type of DNA damaging agent. Specifically, a hydroxyl radical can attack the C1′ position of 2-deoxyribose, and the ensuing carbon-centered radical, if improperly repaired, can cause the inversion of stereochemical configuration at the C1′ to give α-anomeric lesions. In this study, we assessed the replicative bypass of α-dA, α-dT, α-dC, and α-dG in template DNA by conducting primer extension assays with the use of purified translesion synthesis DNA polymerases. Our results revealed that human polymerase (Pol) η, but not human Pol κ, Pol ι, or yeast Pol ζ, was capable of bypassing all of the α-dN lesions and extending the primer to generate full-length replication products. Data from steady-state kinetic measurements showed that Pol η was the most efficient in inserting the correct nuc...
Pythia: Data Dependent Differentially Private Algorithm Selection

Differential privacy has emerged as a preferred standard for ensuring privacy in analysis tasks on sensitive datasets. Recent algorithms have allowed for significantly lower error by adapting to properties of the input data. These so-called data-dependent algorithms have different error rates for different inputs. There is now a complex and growing landscape of algorithms without a clear winner that can offer low error over all datasets. As a result, the best possible error rates are not attainable in practice, because the data curator cannot know which algorithm to select prior to actually running the algorithm. We address this challenge by proposing a novel meta-algorithm designed to relieve the data curator of the burden of algorithm selection. It works by learning (from non-sensitive data) the association between dataset properties and the best-performing algorithm. The meta-algorithm is deployed by first testing the input for low-sensitivity properties and then using the results to select a good algorithm. The result is an end-to-end differentially private system: Pythia, which we show offers improvements over using any single algorithm alone. We empirically demonstrate the benefit of Pythia for the tasks of releasing histograms, answering 1- and 2-dimensional range queries, as well as for constructing private Naive Bayes classifiers.
Indigenous Women’s Ways of Knowing and Healing in Mexico

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on examples of Indigenous ways of knowing in three communities of northern and southern Mexico. It centers on dialogue conducted with Indigenous women from Northern Baja California (Arcelia, the cultural healer from the Kumiai community of San Jose de la Zorra), Oaxaca (Maria Sabina through textual analysis of the only book that houses her healing wisdom), and Chiapas (the Lacandon community of Lacanja Chansayab). It then highlights ways in which the author—an academic woman—brought the wisdom of Indigenous cultures to the center of academic discourse, and how Indigenous women apply their knowledge and wisdom to heal their communities. Lastly, the article concludes with lessons learned from the dialogues with Indigenous women, how they have applied innovative research and healing strategies that depart from Euro-American paradigms, and how they creatively contribute to the development of Indigenous psychologies that are anchored in feminist, popular power.
Costs of Cancer Care Across the Disease Continuum.

Purpose The aim of this study was to estimate Medicare payments for cancer care during the initial, continuing, and end-of-life phases of care for 10 malignancies and to examine variation in expenditures according to patient characteristics and cancer severity. Materials and methods We used linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data to identify patients aged 66-99 years who were diagnosed with one of the following 10 cancers: prostate, bladder, esophageal, pancreatic, lung, liver, kidney, colorectal, breast, or ovarian, from 2007 through 2012. We attributed payments for each patient to a phase of care (i.e., initial, continuing, or end of life), based on time from diagnosis until death or end of study interval. We summed payments for all claims attributable to the primary cancer diagnosis and analyzed the overall and phase-based costs and then by differing demographics, cancer stage, geographic region, and year of diagnosis. Results We identified 428,300 patients diagnosed with one of the 10 malignancies. Annual payments were generally highest during the initial phase. Mean expenditures across cancers were $14,381 during the initial phase, $2,471 for continuing, and $13,458 at end of life. Payments decreased with increasing age. Black patients had higher payments for four of five cancers with statistically significant differences. Stage III cancers posed the greatest annual cost burden for four cancer types. Overall payments were stable across geographic region and year. Conclusion Considerable differences exist in expenditures across phases of cancer care. By understanding the drivers of such payment variations across patient and tumor characteristics, we can inform efforts to decrease payments and increase quality, thereby reducing the burden of cancer care. Implications for practice Considerable differences exist in expenditures across phases of cancer care. There are further differences by varying patient characteristics. Understanding the drivers of such payment variations across patient and tumor characteristics can inform efforts to decrease costs and increase quality, thereby reducing the burden of cancer care.
Revisiting mediational models of sport commitment with female gymnasts

The purpose of this study was to test alternative models of sport commitment with a youth sport sample. Competitive female gymnasts (N = 792; Levels 4–10), ages 8–19 years (M = 11.68, SD = 2.33), c...
Short-Axis Diastolic Ventricular Area Ratio as a New Index in Screening Patients with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a criterion for pulmonary valve replacement in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We sought to determine if the ratio of echocardiographic, short-axis RV-to-left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic areas (EDA) could be used to predict RV volume on CMR. We retrospectively reviewed the echocardiograms of all patients with repaired TOF who underwent CMR at our institution from 2011 to 2015 and also had an echocardiogram within 6 months of the CMR. The short-axis RV and LV EDAs were measured and the ratio of the two was calculated. Results were compared with CMR RV end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVi) and RV:LV end-diastolic volume ratio. The sensitivity and specificity values predicting RV volumes > 150 ml/m2 were calculated. Fifty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. There were 47 studies with RVEDVi 150 ml/m2. RV:LV EDA and CMR RV:LV end-diastolic volume ratio correlated strongly (r = 0.76, p 150 ml/m2 (area under the curve = 0.74, 95% CI 1.5-27.9; p = 0.012). An RV:LV EDA ≥ 1.88 had an 81% specificity to detect RV volume index > 150 ml/m2. Short-axis RV:LV EDA correlates well with an increased RVEDVi as measured by CMR. This new and simple measure can be used to predict optimal timing for CMR in anticipation of pulmonary valve replacement in repaired TOF.
Measuring Social and Externality Benefits of in Influenza Vaccination

Vaccination represents a canonical example of externalities in economics, yet there are few estimates of their magnitudes. I estimate social and externality benefits of influenza vaccination in two settings. First, using a natural experiment, I estimate the impacts of aggregate vaccination rates on mortality and work absences in the United States. Second, I examine a setting with large potential externality benefits: vaccination mandates for health care workers. I find that the social benefits of vaccination are substantial, most of benefits operate through an externality, and that the benefits of health care worker vaccination are particularly large.
Comments on “The Cost of Labor Market Information: Male Youth Job Search Behavior”

Prof. Stephenson has presented an interesting paper on job search patterns by concentrating on the neglected area of the costs of acquiring labor market information. Not only does the paper serve the important purpose of providing a more meaningful framework to analyze the job search process but it suggests to government officials some alternative policies to reduce the duration of unemployment and increase the efficiency of the labor market in allocating labor by lowering the cost and improving the quality of information.
Policy Subsystems as a Unit of Analysis in Implementation Studies: A Struggle for Theoretical Synthesis

At a general level this paper is concerned with- the paucity of efforts in, and intel1ectua1 poverty of, what we shall call “black box” theory building. At another level we seek to develop greater clarity and specificity for the concept of policy subsystem. Toward this end we shall demonstrate the efficacy of a political economy framework in analyzing policy subsystems.
EBIS - Data Warehouse-Konzeption zur Lösung mehrdimensionaler Controlling-Probleme

„Grose“ Data-Warehouse Konzeptionen als Antwort auf u. a. multidimensionale Problemstellungen des Controlling erfordern geeignete Architekturen fur eine wirtschaftliche Realisierung. Enterprise JavaBeans bilden in der anhaltenden Diskussion urn “Middleware” einen neuen Ansatz zur Entwick1ung verteilter Softwarekomponenten mit einer “Write Once, Run Anywhere” Intention. Ausgehend von multidimensionalen Problemstellungen des Controlling erfolgt zunachst eine Formulierung einer grundlegenden DataWarehouse Konzeption fur Banken. Darauf folgt eine grundlegende Darstellung einer Enterprise JavaBeans Architektur. Eine Formulierung von Schlusfolgerungen hinsichtlich der Moglichkeiten einer Anwendung dieser Architektur zur Realisierung von Data-Warehouse Konzeptionen beschliesit die Ausfuhnmgen.
Divide-and-Conquer Tree Estimation: Opportunities and Challenges

Large-scale phylogeny estimation is challenging for many reasons, including heterogeneity across the Tree of Life and the difficulty in finding good solutions to NP-hard optimization problems. One of the promising ways for enabling large-scale phylogeny estimation is through divide-and-conquer: a dataset is divided into overlapping subsets, trees are estimated on the subsets, and then the subset trees are merged together into a tree on the full set of taxa. This last step is achieved through the use of a supertree method, which is popular in systematics for use in combining species trees from the scientific literature. Because most supertree methods are heuristics for NP-hard optimization problems, the use of supertree estimation on large datasets is challenging, both in terms of scalability and accuracy. In this chapter, we describe the current state of the art in supertree construction and the use of supertree methods in divide-and-conquer strategies, and we identify directions where future research could lead to improved supertree methods. Finally, we present a new type of divide-and-conquer strategy that bypasses the need for supertree estimation, in which the division into subsets produces disjoint subsets. Overall, this chapter aims to present directions for research that will potentially lead to new methods to scale phylogeny estimation methods to large datasets.
A Parallel Graph Environment for Real-World Data Analytics Workflows

Economic competitiveness and national security depend increasingly on the insightful analysis of large data sets. The diversity of real-world data sources and analytic workflows impose challenging hardware and software requirements for parallel graph platforms. The irregular nature of graph methods is not supported well by the deep memory hierarchies of conventional distributed systems, requiring new processor and runtime system designs to tolerate memory and synchronization latencies. Moreover, the efficiency of relational table operations and matrix computations are not attainable when data is stored in common graph data structures. In this paper, we present HAGGLE, a high-performance, scalable data analytics platform. The platform’s hybrid data model supports a variety of distributed, thread-safe data structures, parallel programming constructs, and persistent and streaming data. An abstract runtime layer enables us to map the stack to conventional, distributed computer systems with accelerators. The runtime uses multithreading, active messages, and data aggregation to hide memory and synchronization latencies on large-scale systems.
The Regulatory Influence of Allosteric Effectors on Deoxycytidylate Deaminases

Publisher Summary The discovery of deoxycytidylate deaminase resulted from independent investigations on the metabolism of deoxycytidine derivatives in sea urchin eggs and in rat embryo extracts. At the time, the deaminase appeared to provide the only direct means of forming deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP), a substrate for the critical enzyme thymidylate synthetase, and it was viewed as playing a possible role in the regulation of DNA synthesis or contributing to the efficiency of pyrimidine nucleotide utilization. Potential evidence in support of these assumptions was provided by studies indicating that deaminase activity was elevated in mitotically active normal and neoplastic tissues. The role of the deaminase in most bacterial systems is marginal at best or non-existent, except in those cases where the enzyme is induced on bacteriophage infection, and even in this case, the presence of the enzyme is not essential for survival. In the course of studies, the enzyme to be markedly susceptible to feedback inhibition by deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) and deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) has been found, and it has proved to be a convenient model for the study of the mechanisms involved in eliciting allosteric transitions associated with deoxycytidylate deaminase.
Joël Bonnemaison. Culture and Space –Conceiving a New Cultural Geography. I.B. Tauris, 2005.

Joel Bonnemaison es una de las voces mas representativas de la llamada nueva geografia cultural; su trabajo abunda en observaciones sobre la integracion de los grupos humanos y el entorno natural a traves del ejercicio de practicas rituales y de convivencia comunal; su mirada es siempre inclusiva, totalizante. En Bonnemaisson la historia, el territorio y la identidad son los afluentes que conforman una vision alerta y vital de la vida humana y sus representaciones.
The Continuing Role of State Policy

Hernan Galperin uses comparative case studies of the transition to digital television in the United States and Britain to address a variety of theoretical questions regarding the relative impact of political factors versus markets and technological change on regulatory regimes. The book is organized into four parts. The first part introduces the topic and provides background on digital TV. The second and third parts focus on the digital transitions in the United States and Britain, respectively. The fourth part contains summaries and conclusions. In Chapter One, Galperin argues that three factors were the impetus for the transition to digital TV in both countries: the steady decline of the domestic consumer electronics industry, “the international diffusion of the information revolution agenda, and the spectrum shortage created by the rapid growth of mobile telephony and other wireless telecommunications services.” Nevertheless, the strategies chosen to make the transition and the outcomes of these strategies differed markedly. According to Galperin, three nation-specific factors produced variance in strategies and outcomes across the two countries: the organization of the state (cabinet-led parliamentary v. presidential
Rapid Depolymerization of Decrystallized Cellulose to Soluble Products via Ethanolysis under Mild Conditions.

Efficient cellulose depolymerization is a major bottleneck for economical production of second-generation biofuels. In this work, crystalline cellulose was subjected to sequential ball milling and ethanolysis as a mild and selective depolymerization approach. Ball milling and ethanolysis resulted in 38±1 % cellulose conversion, with 24 % ethyl-glucopyranoside as the main identified and quantified product and negligible side reaction of the ethanol solvent to form diethyl ether. In comparison, ethanolysis of the original cellulose resulted in only 3±1 % conversion. Additional soluble products from cellulose ethanolysis included carbohydrate isomers and oligomers, differing from the products obtained from hydrolysis. X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed increased crystallinity post-reaction, retarding further depolymerization. Hot liquid water extracted soluble oligomers from the ethanolyzed cellulose, suggesting formation of a nanoscale barrier of crystalline cellulose that traps soluble products during ethanolysis. Use of cellulose-swelling co-solvents and repeated mechanical decrystallization both proved effective at increasing cellulose conversion and soluble product yields. Repeated ball milling and ethanolysis resulted in 62±1 % cellulose conversion. Ethanolysis of decrystallized cellulose has potential for rapid (<2 h) de-polymerization at mild conditions.
Immunology of Helminths

Although the immune response to helminth infection is, as far as is known, comparable to that stimulated by any other type of infective agent, the antigenic complexity of the helminths, their varied and at times extended developmental cycles, and the differing locations which they inhabit in the body imply that a very wide range of responses can be expected. Experimental studies have confirmed that acquired resistance to helminth infections is dependent on specific immune responses; this includes the proliferation of thymic and bursalequivalent lymphocytes and the production of mediators of cellular responses and/or immunoglobuhns, respectively. The proportionate quantitative and qualitative contribution of each to protective immunity varies considerably for each parasitic helminth infection. A substantial proportion of the immune response appears unrelated to protective immunity, as there is increasing evidence being obtained for an immunopathological role.
THE ROLE OF IMAGING IN MRONJ: AN EVIDENCE BASED, INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE

Background Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) refers to devitalization of bone caused by external insults. Radiographic features of sclerosis, osteolysis, periosteal reaction, and sequestration are seen in varying degrees of stages of MRONJ and may serve as a predictor for future morbidity. However, currently there are no protocols to guide the clinician for appropriate imaging in patients with MRONJ. Objectives The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the pathophysiology of MRONJ; to discuss the role of radiographic imaging during the assessment of patients with MRONJ; to review the recent literature on radiographic imaging of MRONJ; and to propose a guideline to aid in clinical decision making to perform imaging of MRONJ. Study Design The review included studies examining the contribution of imaging to MRONJ, a study by our own group. Results There are no current applicable results for this research presentation. Discussion The diagnosis and staging of MRONJ is currently based on patient history and clinical findings. Panoramic and intraoral radiographs help make an overall assessment. However, the presence or extent of necrotic changes may be underestimated on panoramic radiographs, complicating differentiation of MRONJ from dental disease. Although cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides improved visualization of the MRONJ lesion, criteria to identify patients who would benefit from this modality are lacking. Certain radiographic parameters seen in stage 0 MRONJ may predict progression to clinical bone exposure. Thus, imaging findings play an important role in evaluating the extent of disease, facilitating staging, and determining subsequent management. This report provides a review of the literature pertaining to the value of CBCT imaging in MRONJ management. Guided by these data, we propose an imaging protocol to facilitate clinical decision making and appropriate application of CBCT imaging.
SEMplMe: A tool for integrating DNA methylation effects in transcription factor binding affinity predictions

Abstract Motivation Aberrant DNA methylation in transcription factor binding sites has been shown to lead to anomalous gene regulation that is strongly associated with human disease. However, the majority of methylation-sensitive positions within transcription factor binding sites remain unknown. Here we introduce SEMplMe, a computational tool to generate predictions of the effect of methylation on transcription factor binding strength in every position within a transcription factor’s motif. Results SEMplMe uses ChIP-seq and whole genome bisulfite sequencing to predict effects of methylation within binding sites. SEMplMe validates known methylation sensitive and insensitive positions within a binding motif, identifies cell type specific transcription factor binding driven by methylation, and outperforms SELEX-based predictions. These predictions can be used to identify aberrant sites of DNA methylation contributing to human disease. Availability and Implementation SEMplMe is available from https://github.com/Boyle-Lab/SEMplMe. Contact apboyle@umich.edu
Incidence, prevalence, and risk factors of infectious uveitis and scleritis in the United States: A claims-based analysis.

Background Ocular inflammation causes significant visual morbidity in the United States, yet little is known about the epidemiology of infectious uveitis and scleritis. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of infectious uveitis/scleritis employing a large national medical claims database. Methods This was a retrospective, case-control study, employing Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, containing data from 21.5 million privately insured individuals with enrollment for at least 15 months within 2007–2015. Inclusion in the uveitis/scleritis sample required an index uveitis/scleritis diagnosis based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. Exclusion criteria included index date within 3 months after intraocular surgery. Rates for uveitis/scleritis were determined by anatomic site. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine odds ratios for the incidence and prevalence of uveitis/scleritis by anatomic category. Findings Infectious etiologies accounted for less than 20% of uveitis/scleritis, with mean rates of 18.9 (incidence) and 60.6 (prevalence) per 100,000 persons. The mean prevalences of infectious anterior, intermediate, posterior, panuveitis, and scleritis were 27.7, 0.17, 23.4, 4.4, and 4.6, per 100,000, respectively. Overall risk of prevalent infectious uveitis/scleritis increased with age (OR>3.3 for each decade over age 18, p<0.01), female sex (OR = 1.2, p<0.01), non-Hispanic white race (OR<1 for all other races, p<0.01), as well as the East South Central census division (OR = 1.2, p<0.01), comprising Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Medical comorbidities, including HIV infection (OR = 6.4, p<0.01) and rheumatologic disease (OR = 1.9, p<0.01), were common in the infectious uveitis/scleritis cohort. Conclusions The incidence and prevalence of infectious uveitis/scleritis in the United States were higher than previously reported estimates but remained lower than in developing countries. Rates varied by age, sex, race, and medical comorbidities, and may reflect differential susceptibility to various infectious agents with disparate geographic distributions within the United States.
Midline Abdominal Wall Gaps and Incisional Hernia

If the abdominal wall is fibrotic following radiation treatment and the procedure is prolonged, causing edema of the bowel loops, it is not rare for the surgeon to be unable to bring together the edges of the fascia and skin of a midline abdominal incision. In milder cases, one may be able to force the fascial edges together at the risk of a compartment syndrome.
Understanding and motivating salesperson resilience

Prior research has shown that approximately half of salespeople fail to achieve their targets each year. Not only is the role difficult but also sales jobs are often marked by high levels of stress, rejection, and burnout. Thus, salesperson resilience is critical. However, a gap remains in our understanding of how resilience influences performance and how managers can motivate salespeople to be more resilient. To answer these questions, we collected survey data from 110 salespeople from a large firm based in the Midwest, along with objective effort and performance data provided by the company prior to and following a poor performance review. Our analyses reveal that intrinsically motivated salespeople are more resilient than salespeople driven by a desire for financial compensation. In addition, resilience leads to sales performance through increasing two types of effort—both initiating more calls with customers and achieving longer average call duration. Hence, our findings demonstrate that resilient salespeople not only persevere but also become better at selling in the process.
Cochlear Implantation in the Active Duty Military Population: A Survey Assessing Military Readiness and Satisfaction

Objective Evaluate the impact of cochlear implantation (CI) on retention for United States active duty (AD) service members. Study design Retrospective observational study. Setting Tertiary military CI centers. Patients AD service members who underwent CI and completed a telephonic survey. Main outcome measures The ability for military personnel to maintain AD status following CI as determined by the nonvolitional hearing-related AD separation rate and whether subjects would recommend CI to other qualified candidates. Results Twenty AD service members who underwent CI between 2004 and 2020 completed a telephonic survey. Fifteen (75%) were single-sided deafness (SSD) and five were traditional CI candidates. The mean age was 40.3 years (range 27.5-64.3), 19 (95%) were male, and 12 (80%) were Caucasian. Ten (50%) were officers and 14 (70%) were noncombat support personnel. Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss was the most common cause of hearing loss (8, 40%) followed by occupational noise exposure (4, 20%). Sixteen (80%) maintained AD status yielding 46.15 person-years of AD service following CI. For SSD, 14 (93%) maintained AD status yielding 40.54 person-years of AD service. The nonvolitional hearing-related patient separation rate for CI recipients with bilateral hearing loss was 35.65 cases per 100 AD person-years and 0 cases per 100 person-years for SSD candidates. Nineteen (95%) stated they would recommend CI to other AD CI candidates. Conclusions The vast majority of AD CI recipients, and particularly those with SSD, are able to remain on AD after surgery and report a high degree of satisfaction with their implant.
Can the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Predict Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Size for Planning During ACL Reconstruction

Background: Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has increased over the past several years. In general, a graft size of 8mm is the accepted minimal size for adult ACLR, since literature suggests higher revision rates with grafts <8mm. Reproducing the native ACL size parameters would ideally inform graft size in pediatric patients, however, there is limited literature on the appropriate graft size in this population. If ACL size could be accurately estimated based on preoperative imaging, it may be possible to individualize ACL graft size to each patient. Purpose: To establish a correlation between the ACL and PCL size in normal pediatric knees, with the goal of informing appropriate graft size for ACL reconstruction. Methods: Normal knee MRIs of 200 females and 200 males ages 13-18 were assessed. …
Navigating for reward.

An organism’s survival can depend on its ability to recall and navigate to spatial locations associated with rewards, such as food or a home. Accumulating research has revealed that computations of reward and its prediction occur on multiple levels across a complex set of interacting brain regions, including those that support memory and navigation. However, how the brain coordinates the encoding, recall and use of reward information to guide navigation remains incompletely understood. In this Review, we propose that the brain’s classical navigation centres — the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex — are ideally suited to coordinate this larger network by representing both physical and mental space as a series of states. These states may be linked to reward via neuromodulatory inputs to the hippocampus–entorhinal cortex system. Hippocampal outputs can then broadcast sequences of states to the rest of the brain to store reward associations or to facilitate decision-making, potentially engaging additional value signals downstream. This proposal is supported by recent advances in both experimental and theoretical neuroscience. By discussing the neural systems traditionally tied to navigation and reward at their intersection, we aim to offer an integrated framework for understanding navigation to reward as a fundamental feature of many cognitive processes. The capacity to navigate to a previously encountered or predicted reward, such as food or safety, is crucial for survival. Here, Sosa and Giocomo examine the neural mechanisms that encode reward location and propose key roles for the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex in storing and retrieving reward-related information in the brain.
Artisan Flooring Products, Inc

The owner of a small retail flooring company is projecting her company's financial performance and financial position for the current 2020 calendar year. The company began business in 2019, and by all measures, that first year had been a financial success. A small profit was earned, and the year ended in a strong financial position. But disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the need for new planning. A number of changes to business activity are projected, together enabling the construction of pro forma 2020 financial statements. Liquidity, profit, and the ability to take an annual owner's draw could then be assessed.This case is optimally used early in an introductory financial accounting course, or as a stand-alone exercise that illustrates the construction of financial statements. It can also be used as two distinct accounting analyses: (i) students can use the case data to reconstruct the 2019 balance sheet and income statement provided within the case exhibits, and (ii) they can also use the new projections to complete the 2020 pro forma financial statements. Excerpt UVA-C-2445 Dec. 16, 2020 Artisan Flooring Products, Inc. Jenny Zheng had been excited about the prospects for 2020. The previous year, the first for her company, had ended with an unexpected profit. The momentum going into the new year was strong. But by late February, it was clear that 2020 would be nothing like anyone had expected. The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic had squashed demand, and Zheng found herself juggling potential government loan access and regulations, possible employee layoffs, and ever-changing local and national medical guidelines. Scenario planning around this new reality took on critical importance. The Company Artisan Floor Products, Inc. (AFP), was a retail flooring company serving do-it-yourself (DIY) consumers and professional flooring installers. It specialized in stone plastic composite (SPC), laminate, and glue-down vinyl flooring in a variety of lengths and colors. The most popular with customers was its SPC simulated wood grain finishes in either brown or gray. AFP did not install flooring, but rather sold ready-to-install products and supplies. . . .
Parker's Solar Wind Model for a Polytropic Gas.

Parker’s hydrodynamic isothermal solar wind model is extended to apply for a more realistic polytropic gas flow that can be caused by a variable extended heating of the corona. A compatible theoretical formulation is given and detailed numerical and systematic asymptotic theoretical considerations are presented. The polytropic conditions favor an enhanced conversion of thermal energy in the solar wind into kinetic energy of the outward flow and are hence shown to enhance the acceleration of the solar wind, thus indicating a quicker loss of the solar angular momentum.
Molecular basis of immunogenicity to botulinum neurotoxins and uses of the defined antigenic regions

Intensive research in this laboratory over the last 19 years has aimed at understanding the molecular bases for immune recognition of botulinum neurotoxin, types A and B and the role of anti-toxin immune responses in defense against the toxin. Using 92 synthetic 19-residue peptides that overlapped by 5 residues and comprised an entire toxin (A or B) we determined the peptides' ability to bind anti-toxin Abs of human, mouse, horse and chicken. We also localized the epitopes recognized by Abs of cervical dystonia patients who developed immunoresistance to correlate toxin during treatment with BoNT/A or BoNT/B. For BoNT/A, patients' blocking Abs bound to 13 regions (5 on L and 8 on H subunit) on the surface and the response to each region was under separate MHC control. The responses were defined by the structure of the antigen and by the MHC of the host. The antigenic regions coincided or overlapped with synaptosomes (SNPS) binding regions. Antibody binding blocked the toxin's ability to bind to neuronal cells. In fact selected synthetic peptides were able to inhibit the toxin's action in vivo. A combination of three synthetic strong antigenic peptides detected blocking Abs in 88% of immunoresistant patients' sera. Administration of selected epitopes, pre-linked at their N(α) group to monomethoxyployethylene glycol, into mice with ongoing blocking anti-toxin Abs, reduced blocking Ab levels in the recipients. This may be suitable for clinical applications. Defined epitopes should also be valuable in synthetic vaccines design.
Los relatos de la violencia en Sergio González Rodríguez: Huesos en el desierto, El vuelo y El hombre sin cabeza

Este trabajo explora tres libros de Sergio Gonzalez Rodriguez que abordan variantes de la violencia mexicana contemporanea y que a su vez representan distintos momentos de los estudios culturales mexicanos. En la obra de este periodista el tratamiento de la violencia a traves de los ejemplos de los feminicidios en Ciudad Juarez, las redes del narcotrafico y las decapitaciones, reconoce una apertura gradual desde el marco mas local de la frontera norte mexicana, hasta abarcar la geopolitica global en su reflexion mas reciente. Sus analisis destacan formalmente por su propuesta interdisciplinaria y su formato multigenerico, y ofrecen modelos para pensar el fenomeno de la violencia en relacion con el agotamiento de un Estado de derecho, la crisis del sistema judicial y el aparato politico mexicanos, la narcocultura y los ritos primitivos que retornan y se potencian en medio de las asimetrias propias del Mexico postmoderno.
A New HIV-1 Group

A highly divergent HIV-1 isolate, designated YBF 30, was obtained in 1995 from a 40-year-old Cameroonian woman with AIDS. Depending on the genes studied, phylogenetic analysis showed that YBF30 branched either with SIVcpz-gab or between SIVcpz-gab and HIV-1 group M. The structural genes and tat, vpr, and nef of YBF30 are approximately equidistant from those of HIV-1 group M and SIVcpz-gab. In contrast, vif and rev are closer to HIV-1 group M, and vpu is highly divergent. Using a YBF30 V3 loop peptide enzyme immunoassay, we screened 700 HIV-1-positive sera collected in Cameroon; three reacted strongly with the YBF30 peptides and one was confirmed as being related to YBF30 by genetic analysis of a pol fragment. YBF30 is as distinct from SIVcpz-gab as it is from HIV-1 group M and can thus be considered as the prototype strain of a new human immunodeficiency virus group.
An evaluation of two methods used for microscopic analysis of airborne fungal spore concentrations from the Burkard Spore Trap

The Burkard Volumetric Spore Trap is a common and efficient instrument used to collect outdoor air samples. In North America, two slide counting methods have been widely used by aerobiologists: the single longitudinal traverse method and the twelve transverse traverse method. The purpose of this study was to compare the two counting methods by assessing fungal spore concentrations of ascospores, basidiospores, smut teliospores, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Curvularia, Drechslera, Pithomyces, other spores, and total spores at two metropolitan Tulsa, Oklahoma sites (Tulsa and Hectorville) during September 1996. Results showed that both methods were sensing parallel fluctuations in average daily spore concentration, although the twelve transverse traverse method usually resulted in higher concentrations. At the Tulsa site, the twelve transverse traverse method gave statistically higher concentrations than the single longitudinal traverse method except for Epicoccum, Pithomyces, smut teliospores, and other spores. At the Hectorville site, however, only Cladosporium and basidiospores showed that the twelve transverse traverse method was statistically higher than the single longitudinal traverse method. Comparison with concentrations obtained by counting the total slide surface of two slides indicated that neither method was equivalent to the total slide spore count, although the twelve transverse traverse method gave a lower absolute percent difference from the total slide surface concentration. While the twelve transverse traverse method gave slightly better approximations of the spore concentration, the increase in accuracy may not justify the extra effort required to analyze with this method.
Substrate phosphorylation catalyzed by the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. Kinetic correlation to autophosphorylation of specific sites in the beta subunit

The kinetics of insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of specific tyrosines in the beta subunit of the mouse insulin receptor and activation of receptor kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of a model substrate were compared. The deduced amino acid sequence of the mouse proreceptor was determined to locate tyrosine-containing tryptic peptides. Receptor was first incubated with unlabeled ATP to occupy nonrelevant autophosphorylation sites, after which [32P]autophosphorylation at relevant sites and attendant activation of substrate phosphorylation were initiated with [gamma-32P]ATP and insulin. Activation of substrate phosphorylation underwent an initial lag of 10-20 s during which there was substantial 32P-autophosphorylation of tryptic phosphopeptides p2 and p3, but not p1. Following the lag, incorporation of 32P into p1 and the activation of substrate phosphorylation increased abruptly and exhibited identical kinetics. The addition of substrate to the receptor prior to ATP inhibits insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation, and consequently substrate phosphorylation. Insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the receptor in the presence of substrate inhibited primarily the incorporation of 32P into p1 and drastically inhibited substrate phosphorylation. From Edman radiosequencing of 32P-labeled p1, p2, and p3 and the amino acid sequence of the mouse receptor, the location of each phosphopeptide within the beta subunit was determined. Further characterization of these phosphopeptides revealed that p1 and p2 represent the triply and doubly phosphorylated forms, respectively, of the region within the tyrosine kinase domain containing tyrosines 1148, 1152, and 1153. The doubly phosphorylated forms contain phosphotyrosines either at positions 1148 and 1152/1153 or positions 1152 and 1153. These results indicate that insulin stimulates sequential autophosphorylation of tyrosines 1148, 1152 and 1153, and that the transition from the doubly to the triply phosphorylated forms is primarily responsible for the activation of substrate phosphorylation.
The nasal floor pedicled flap: a novel technique for use in skull base reconstruction

Background Skull base reconstruction can be accomplished using various donor sites. Vascularized tissue, commonly the nasoseptal flap, is the most effective option for large defects or high flow leaks. In cases where the septum cannot be used, a mucoperiosteal flap from the nasal floor, pedicled from the sphenopalatine artery, is a viable option without reported outcomes. The aim of this work was to describe this flap and to report successful outcomes in a cohort of patients. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients seen by the senior author from 2011 to 2013 requiring skull base reconstruction for defects with cerebrospinal fluid leak. Results A total of 108 patients underwent endoscopic skull base reconstruction. Ten patients had reconstruction with use of a pedicled nasal floor flap. Mean age was 53.3 years. Defects involved the ethmoid roof in 5 patients, sellar floor in 2, clivus in 2, and planum sphenoidale in 1. Reasons why the septal flap could not be used were intentional sacrifice due to disease involvement, sacrifice for proper exposure, or previous septal perforation. Mean length of follow-up was 10.2 (range, 4 to 25) months. No patient developed cerebrospinal fluid leaks postoperatively. Conclusion Nasal floor pedicled flaps are an effective alternative to nasoseptal flaps for reconstruction of the skull base, and have not been previously described in the literature. Outcomes are promising in our small cohort of patients. If the septum must be sacrificed, attention should be paid to the nasal floor, which provides a large mucoperiosteal flap that can be consistently exposed and elevated by the experienced surgeon.
Scalding water temperatures.

Tap water scald burns are the most frequent cause of nonfatal burn injuries in United States children. Most of these burns occur in the home, and hot water heater thermostat settings below 60°C (140°F) significantly decrease the risk of such burns in young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other safety-promotion organizations recommend that thermostats be set at 49 to 53°C (120 to 130°F), and ordinances encouraging lower hot water temperatures exist in some localities. We advise our pediatric colleagues that consumer products manufacturers do not always follow these recommendations in their published guidelines for product use. Specifically, we have found that four of five major manufacturers of automatic dishwasher detergent recommend hot water thermostat settings of 60°C or higher. (See Table.)