cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracellular Ca2+ release underlies the development of phase 2 in mouse ventricular action potentials.

The ventricular action potential (AP) is characterized by a fast depolarizing phase followed by a repolarization that displays a second upstroke known as phase 2. This phase is generally not present in mouse ventricular myocytes. Thus we performed colocalized electrophysiological and optical recordings of APs in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts founding a noticeable phase 2. Ryanodine as well as nifedipine reduced phase 2. Our hypothesis is that a depolarizing current activated by Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) rather than the “electrogenicity” of the L-type Ca2+ current is crucial in the generation of mouse ventricular phase 2. When Na+ was partially replaced by Li+ in the extracellular perfusate or the organ was cooled down, phase 2 was reduced. These results suggest that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger functioning in the forward mode is driving the depolarizing current that defines phase 2. Phase 2 appears to be an intrinsic characteristic of single isolated myocytes and not an emergent property of the tissue. As in whole heart experiments, ventricular myocytes impaled with microelectrodes displayed a large phase 2 that significantly increases when temperature was raised from 22 to 37°C. We conclude that mouse ventricular APs display a phase 2; however, changes in Ca2+ dynamics and thermodynamic parameters also diminish phase 2, mostly by impairing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. In summary, these results provide important insights about the role of Ca2+ release in AP ventricular repolarization under physiological and pathological conditions.
Molecular Pathways: Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling in Cancer

The increasing percentage of obese individuals in the population and its independent association of increased risk for the development of cancer have heightened the necessity to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie this connection. The deregulation of adipokines in the setting of obesity and their impact on cancer progression and metastasis is one such area of research. Adipokines are bioactive proteins that mediate metabolism, inflammation, angiogenesis, and proliferation. Altered levels of adipokines or their cognate receptors in cancers can ultimately lead to an imbalance in downstream molecular pathways. Discovery of adipokine receptors in various cancers has highlighted the potential for novel therapeutic targets. Leptin and adiponectin represent two adipokines that elicit generally opposing molecular effects. Epidemiological studies have highlighted associations between increased serum leptin levels and increased tumor growth, while adiponectin exhibits an inverse correlation with cancer development. This review addresses the current level of understanding of molecular pathways activated by adiponectin and leptin to identify areas of intervention and facilitate advancement in the field.
A Guide for Use and Interpretation of Kinesiologic Electromyographic Data

Physical therapists are among the most common users of electromyography as a method for understanding function and dysfunction of the neuromuscular system. However, there is no collection of references or a source that provides an overview or synthesis of information that serves to guide either the user or the consumer of electromyography and the data derived. Thus, the purpose of this article is to present a guide, accompanied by an inclusive reference list, for the use and interpretation of kinesiologic electromyographic data. The guide is divided into 4 major sections: collecting, managing, normalizing, and analyzing kinesiologic electromyographic data. In the first of these sections, the issues affecting data collection with both indwelling and surface electrodes are discussed. In the second section, data management through alternative forms of data processing is addressed. In the third section, various reasons and procedures for data normalization are discussed. The last section reviews qualitative descriptors once used as the only means of analyzing data, then focuses on more quantitative procedures that predominate today. The guide is intended as a tool for students, educators, clinicians, and beginning researchers who use and interpret kinesiologic electromyographic data. Modifications will likely be needed as alternative forms of collecting, managing, normalizing, and analyzing electromyographic data are proposed, used in various settings, and reported in the literature.
Nonequilibrium superconductivity near spin-active interfaces

The Riccati formulation of the quasiclassical theory of nonequilibrium superconductors is developed for spin-dependent scattering near magnetic interfaces. We derive boundary conditions for the Riccati distribution functions at a spin-active interface. The boundary conditions are formulated in terms of an interface $S$-matrix describing the reflection and transmission of the normal-state conduction electrons by the interface. The $S$-matrix describes the effects of spin filtering and spin mixing (spin rotation) by a ferromagnetic interface. The boundary conditions for the Riccati equations are applicable to a wide range of nonequilibrium transport properties of hybrid systems of superconducting and magnetic materials. As an application we calculate the spin and charge conductance of a normal metal-ferromagnet-superconductor (NFS) point contact; the spin mixing angle that parameterizes the $S$-matrix is determined from experimental measurements of the peak in the subgap differential conductance of the NFS point contact. We also use the new boundary conditions to derive the effects of spin mixing on the phase-modulated thermal conductance of a superconducting-ferromagnetic-superconducting (SFS) point contact. For high-transparency (metallic ferromagnet) ``$\ensuremath{\pi}$'' junctions, the phase modulation of the thermal conductance is dramatically different from that of nonmagnetic, ``0'' junctions. For low-transparency (insulating ferromagnet) SFS tunnel junctions with weak spin-mixing resonant transmission of quasiparticles with energies just above the gap edge leads to an increase of the thermal conductance, compared to the normal-state conductance at ${T}_{c}$, over a broad temperature range when the superconducting phase bias is $\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}\ensuremath{\pi}∕2$.
Family-centered collaborative negotiation: a model for facilitating behavior change in primary care.

Purpose: To describe a parent–child-based model that melds a family-centered interaction approach, Touchpoints, with brief negotiation strategies (an adaptation of motivational interviewing) to address health risks in children. An application of the model for addressing childhood overweight in the primary care setting is presented. Data Sources: Selected research, theoretical, and clinical articles; national recommendations and guidelines; and a clinical case. Conclusions: Lifestyle health behaviors are learned and reinforced within the family; thus, changes to promote child health require family involvement. Interventions that engage parents and support parent–child relationships, while enhancing motivation and the abilities to change behavior, are recommended. Implications for Practice: Primary care is an appropriate setting for addressing lifestyle health behaviors. A collaborative partnership, rather than a prescriptive manner, is advocated for primary care providers when working to facilitate health-promoting behavior.
Lattice Microbes: high-performance stochastic simulation method for the reaction-diffusion master equation.

Spatial stochastic simulation is a valuable technique for studying reactions in biological systems. With the availability of high-performance computing (HPC), the method is poised to allow integration of data from structural, single-molecule and biochemical studies into coherent computational models of cells. Here, we introduce the Lattice Microbes software package for simulating such cell models on HPC systems. The software performs either well-stirred or spatially resolved stochastic simulations with approximated cytoplasmic crowding in a fast and efficient manner. Our new algorithm efficiently samples the reaction-diffusion master equation using NVIDIA graphics processing units and is shown to be two orders of magnitude faster than exact sampling for large systems while maintaining an accuracy of ∼0.1%. Display of cell models and animation of reaction trajectories involving millions of molecules is facilitated using a plug-in to the popular VMD visualization platform. The Lattice Microbes software is open source and available for download at http://www.scs.illinois.edu/schulten/lm © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Eligibility of Historically Underrepresented Students Referred for Gifted Education in a Rural School District: A Case Study

This case study describes a rural school district's efforts to identify historically underrepresented gifted students (HUGS) more effectively than in the past. The district developed new policy; di...
The Prenatal/Early Infancy Project

Summary We describe a program of pregnancy and infancy nurse home visitation for families at social risk because of the mother's young age, single-parent status, or poverty. The program sought to prevent a number of maternal and child health problems that emerge early in the life cycle and that might be prevented with improvements in prenatal health habits, care of the child, and the psychosocial context of the family. The nurses carried out three major activities: (1) parent education regarding influences on fetal and infant development and regarding the mother's own education, employment, and family planning; (2) the involvement of family members and friends in the pregnancy, birth, and early care of the child; and (3) the linkage of family members with other health and human services. The nurses emphasized the importance of establishing a caring and supportive relationship with the mother and her family, building upon parents' strengths, promoting parental control over their life circumstances, and ada...
Pendrin localizes to the adrenal medulla and modulates catecholamine release

Pendrin (Slc26a4) is a Cl−/HCO3− exchanger expressed in renal intercalated cells and mediates renal Cl− absorption. With pendrin gene ablation, blood pressure and vascular volume fall, which increa...
Bounding the Project Completion Time Distribution in PERT Networks

We consider the PERT model of a project composed of activities whose durations are random variables with known distributions. For the situations in which the activity durations are completely independent, we present a new method for obtaining a probability distribution function that bounds the exact probability distribution of the project completion time from below. The bounding distribution can be used to obtain an upper bound on the mean completion time of the project. We also prove and illustrate that this bounding distribution is better tighter than any of the existing lower bounds, implying that the corresponding upper bound on the mean completion time is tighter than any of the existing upper bounds.
Routing and network design in delay tolerant networks

Delay tolerant networks (DTNs) are an important class of emerging networks that exhibit significantly different characteristics from today's Internet, such as intermittent connectivity, large delay, and high loss rates. DTNs arise in a variety of environments such as disaster relief, military, rural Internet access, environmental sensing and surveillance, deep space communication, underwater sensing, and inter-vehicle communication. While not the common case for networking, these environments represent some of the most critical cases, where the ability to communicate can make a huge difference for human lives. Supporting effective communication in DTNs, however, is challenging. First, with intermittent connectivity, DTNs are often extremely resource-limited and not able to deliver performance required by applications. Second, given resource limitations and uncertainty in DTNs, it is critical to deliver data efficiently and robustly. The situation is especially acute for multicast which sends data to multiple destinations. This thesis seeks to address these two issues. To enhance network capacity in DTNs, we propose a message ferrying scheme that exploits the use of special mobile nodes (called message ferries) and controlled device mobility to deliver data. Inspired by their real life analog, message ferries are utilized to transport data via mobility between sources and destinations. We develop a foundation for the control of the mobility of message ferries, and nodes if possible, to cooperatively deliver data. Specifically, we address the following issues: (1) development of algorithms to design message ferry routes in networks with stationary nodes and a single ferry; (2) development of algorithms to design message ferry routes in networks with stationary nodes and multiple ferries, where interaction among ferries significantly complicates the design problem; (3) development of two proactive routing schemes for data delivery in networks with mobile nodes. We study another approach for network capacity enhancement by deploying new nodes called throwboxes. Throwboxes are small and inexpensive devices equipped with wireless interfaces and storage. By relaying data between mobile nodes, throwboxes are able to create data transfer opportunities that otherwise would not exist. We systematically investigate two inter-related issues: throwbox deployment and routing, and develop algorithms for various deployment and routing approaches. Based on an extensive evaluation of these algorithms, we obtain several findings to guide the design and operation of throwbox-augmented DTNs. To address the issue of efficient and robust data delivery, we focus on DTN multicasting. Given the unique characteristics of DTNs, traditional solutions such as IP multicast can not be simply ported to DTNs. We identify the limitations of IP multicast semantics in DTNs and define new semantic models for DTN multicast. Based on these semantic models, We develop and evaluate several multicast routing algorithms with different routing strategies.
Prenatal nicotine alters vigilance states and AchR gene expression in the neonatal rat: implications for SIDS

Maternal smoking is a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The mechanisms by which cigarette smoke predisposes infants to SIDS are not known. We examined the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on sleep/wake ontogenesis and central cholinergic receptor gene expression in the neonatal rat. Prenatal nicotine exposure transiently increased sleep continuity and accelerated sleep/wake ontogeny in the neonatal rat. Prenatal nicotine also upregulated nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor mRNAs in brain regions involved in regulating vigilance states. These findings suggest that the nicotine contained in cigarette smoke may predispose human infants to SIDS by interfering with the normal maturation of sleep and wake.
Hedging, Leverage, and Primitive Risk

Only in the last decade have nonfinancial firms begun to develop effective procedures for hedging the increased volatility of exchange rates, interest rates, and commodity prices. We report the first empirical evidence on hedging, leverage, and other firm characteristics from the 1990s, subsequent to the rapid growth of hedging. We unravel a previous puzzle in corporate finance, showing a significant positive relationship between hedging and leverage when we control for primitive risk exposures. Hedging and leverage policies are interrelated because both affect expected costs of financial distress and agency costs. We construct a direct measure of the expected costs of financial distress and find some evidence that hedging mitigates the effects of leverage.
Are Gender-Specific ALT Cutoff Values Necessary?

We examined the importance of using genderspecific alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cutoff values for screening blood donors for hepatitis C. Currently, a single cutoff value is recommended, regardless of donor gender. This study of 1,426 healthy blood donors demonstrated that ALT levels appear to be gender dependent; males have higher ALT levels than females. Differences in ALT levels between males and females are not explained adequately by hepatitis BorC infection. Use of gender-specific ALT cutoff values might result in a greater detection of infectious units among female donors, which in turn might lead to fewer transfusion-related hepatitis C infections. We recommend that only ALT data from donors who test negative for anti-hepatitis C virus, anti-hepatitis B surface antigen, and anti-hepatitis B core antigen should be used to determine ALT cutoff levels.
Molecular simulation study of the adsorption of naphthalene and ozone on atmospheric air/ice interfaces.

The adsorption of gas-phase naphthalene and ozone on atmospheric air/ice interfaces was investigated using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and potential of mean force (PMF) calculations. Naphthalene and ozone exhibit a strong preference to be adsorbed at the air/ice interface, rather than being dissolved into the bulk of the quasi-liquid layer (QLL) or incorporated into the ice crystals. When the air/ice interface is coated with increasing concentrations of naphthalene molecules, the QLL becomes thinner and surface adsorption of ozone is enhanced. Furthermore, ozone tends to adsorb on top of the naphthalene film, although significant penetration of ozone into this film is also observed. Naphthalene molecules tend to adopt a flat orientation on the air/ice interface. Less variation in the orientation was observed for lower concentrations of naphthalene, whereas variations in the ozone concentration do not affect the orientation of naphthalene molecules. However, as the concentration of ozone ...
An extremely rare complication after appendectomy in a child: indicators for omental abscess, CRP and Leukocytosis

A 14 year-old male child underwent appendectomy, and partial omentectomy with the indication of perforated appendicitis. Despite antibiotic therapy at postoperative sixth day, purulent discharge started to ooze from the incision site. Upon detection of a palpable mass in the lower right abdominal quadrant, ultrasonographic examination was performed on the postoperative 14th day which revealed a non-homogeneous hypoechoic mass measuring 50-45 mm with irregular contours. The case was re-operated and a greater omental abscess was found which resected en-bloc. Any evidence of foreign object or residual appendiceal tissue was not found. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 36th postoperative day. Herein, we reported an extremely rare case of omental abscess developed following appendectomy
Response of dynamic and static displacements of jointed slope reinforced by wholly grouted bolts

Bolt is often analyzed as spar element with rough surface,which can only endure stress along the axial direction.But when it applied to jointed slope,it is more reasonable to consider both the axial and lateral effect of bolt due to the moving of joint plane.The models of mechanical characteristics with three springs and deformation characteristics are founded for bolt according to the theoretical analysis.In these models,the stress and deformation of bolt can be fully analyzed;in order to reflect the differences of dynamic and static displacements effect of jointed mass between the states of bolting and unbolting,the numerical calculation models of slopes are founded based on the perfect elastoplastic constitutive model,Mohr-Coulomb criterion,by numerical simulation technique of fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in 3D(FLAC3D).In the numerical simulations,the bolt element with three springs is applied.The analysis result shows that after bolting in jointed plane,the stiffness of rock mass is improved;the displacement of slope becomes smaller;the mutation magnitude of displacement beside joint plane becomes smaller;bolt system exerts the tensile effect for the upper and lower rock mass,and reduces the displacement in the joint plane,which is good to the slope stability.
A single-center, six-year evaluation of the role of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in suspected burn center outbreaks.

Abstract Introduction Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used as an adjunct to traditional hospital epidemiology in numerous outbreak investigations, including in burn centers. However, its most effective real-world application remains unclear, with few longitudinal descriptions of use. Setting and methods A 425 bed military tertiary hospital with a 40 bed burn center, from July 2007 to July 2013; retrospective evaluation of hospital infection prevention records was performed and results of PFGE where used in outbreak investigation. Results Twenty-two inquiries for suspected outbreaks were performed. 418 isolates were collected from 168 subjects during this time. 325 (78%) of the isolates originated from the burn intensive care unit. 17 inquiries were for gram-negative bacteria, comprised of 5 for Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex, 4 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, 2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 1 of each of the following: Enterobacter cloacae, Raoultella planticola, and Aeromonas hydrophila. The other 5 inquiries were specifically for Staphylococcus aureus. The majority of investigations revealed a combination of clonal and non-clonal isolates, and in no instance did PFGE contribute to targeting of interventions. Conclusion PFGE contributed little to infection prevention interventions, and outbreaks resolved with increased focus on basic practices. Longitudinal studies including greater numbers of outbreaks in different settings are needed to clarify the utility of molecular typing in routine investigations.
Characteristics of surface ice movement in a channel bend with intake and the layout of ice deflection booms

The two-dimensional river ice dynamic model DynaRICE is used to study the optimal design of ice deflection booms in a channel bend with an intake diversion channel. The coupled hydrodynamic and ice dynamic equations are solved by the finite element method and smooth particle hydrodynamics method,respectively. The flow characteristics and the ice movement and accumulation patterns in the channel,as well as the force on ice deflection booms are examined. The result shows that the surface ice moves along the outer bank of the bend and accumulates at downstream of the intake. The effect of the transverse circulation on surface ice movement can be neglected. Ice deflection booms with an appropriate angle and length upstream of the intake can prevent ice from entering the diversion channel. However,ice can still accumulate at downstream of the intake and extend into the intake. A downstream ice boom is needed to prevent this from happening. This study provides a method for the design of ice booms to prevent the ice accumulation problem in river bend intakes.
Analysis on drug resistance of hospital-acquired and community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus

[Objective]To understand the drug resistance of hospital-acquired and community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus( SAU),provide a scientific basis for the rational application of antibiotic and disinfectant,as well as prevention and control of community and nosocomial infection.[Methods]The non-repetition strains of Staphylococcus aureus were collected,which were isolated from specimens of hospitals and communities in Qingpu District from September 2009 to December 2011. The drug resistant test and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus( MRSA) identification were conducted by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. [Results]There were the differences in the types of specimen and sources of departments between hospital-acquired and communityacquired infection. The resistant to penicillin,erythromycin,gentamicin and cefazolin of SAU in nosocomial infection were higher, and the differences between the two group was statistically significant( P 0. 05). The detection rate of MRSA in hospital-acquired and community-acquired SAU was 27. 55% and 13. 75% respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant( P 0. 05).[Conclusion]All hospital-acquired and community-acquired SAU are sensitive to vancomycin,and they have different degrees of resistance to rest 14 kinds of antibiotics. The separation rate of MRSA from hospital-acquired and community-acquired SAU is low,and qacA disinfectant resistance genes are found in both two groups of MRSA.
A Longitudinal Twin Study of Insomnia Symptoms in Adults.

Objective Twin modeling was used to conduct a genetically informative longitudinal analysis of insomnia symptoms in both sexes. Method Data from the Virginia Adult Twin Studies of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders (n = 7,500) were used. Past-month insomnia symptoms were assessed at two time points with the shortened version of the Symptom Checklist-90. A composite score for the insomnia items (trouble falling asleep, restless or disturbed sleep, early morning awakenings) was computed. Twin modeling on the composite score was conducted in OpenMx to decompose the phenotypic variance, to examine the longitudinal stability of etiologic influences on insomnia symptoms, and to test for sex differences. Results Insomnia symptoms were most commonly endorsed at a mild severity level (composite score mean = 2.24, standard deviation = 2.51). There was no evidence for sex effects in either of the univariate models, and insomnia symptoms were found to be modestly heritable (~25% at Time 1 and ~22% at Time 2). In the longitudinal measurement model, which accounts for error of measurement, the heritability for the latent factor of insomnia symptoms increased substantially, and demonstrated quantitative sex differences. The heritability of the latent insomnia factor was ~59% in females and ~38% in males. Conclusions Genetic factors influence insomnia symptoms in adults, moreso for females than males, and these influences are largely stable over time. When taking into account measurement error, heritability estimates are substantial, but unique environmental factors continue to account for a large amount of variance in insomnia symptoms.
Working Memory and Strategy Instruction in Children with Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this chapter is to review some of the instructional research completed in our lab related to improving memory performance in children with reading and/or math disabilities. We review studies that focus on (1) the effects of strategy knowledge and strategy training on the working memory (WM) performance as a function of dynamic testing conditions, (2) transfer effects as a function of direct training on WM tasks, and (3) the effects of strategy training on problem solving and transfer measures as a function of variations in working memory capacity.
Knight’s Challenge (to Hayek): Spontaneous Order Is Not Enough for Governing a Liberal Society

When the noted Chicago economist Frank H. Knight first read F. A. Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom (1944), he advised the University of Chicago Press (the book’s eventual U.S. publisher) that the book was “well stated, compact and conclusive.” Although he noted that “the position defended is in accord with my conviction before reading this work,” he went on to comment on some of the book’s “limitations,” including Hayek’s inadequate recognition of “the necessity, as well as political inevitability, of a wide range of governmental activity in relation to economic life in the future.” Hayek, he wrote, “deals only with the simpler fallacies, unreasonable demands and romantic prejudices” of the “popular clamor” for government control, while failing to discuss the difficult problems “set by the serious shortcomings” of capitalism as it actually existed in the United States. In short, Knight cautioned the university’s press about publishing the work, saying, “I doubt whether it would have a very wide market in this country, or would change the position of many readers.”2
Solution Stories: A Narrative Study of How Teachers Support Children’s Problem Solving

Young children’s self-regulation and problem-solving skills are significant predictors of school success. While early childhood educators shape the development of these skills, providing effective and timely assistance can be challenging. Drawing on complementary theories of Vygotsky, Pekrun, and Lerner, this article chronicles the instructional approaches and strategies employed by one team of teachers to support preschool children’s solutions to complex functional and social problems in the classroom. Findings from this narrative study highlight the focal teachers’ use of modeling, mindful language, and other proactive strategies to develop students’ problem-solving skills and foster independence. In an age of results-focused education, this article argues for the importance of cultivating intentional teacher pedagogies that build young children’s autonomy and efficacy by working through problems, as opposed to seeking resolution only. In so doing, this study elucidates the value of these intuitive and often nuanced aspects of early childhood educators’ classroom practices.
A common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) prey handling technique for marine catfish (Ariidae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Few accounts describe predator-prey interactions between common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus Montagu 1821) and marine catfish (Ariopsis felis Linnaeus 1766, Bagre marinus Mitchill 1815). Over the course of 50,167 sightings of bottlenose dolphin groups in Mississippi Sound and along the Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico, severed catfish heads were found floating and exhibiting movements at the surface in close proximity to 13 dolphin groups that demonstrated feeding behavior. These observations prompted a multi-disciplinary approach to study the predator-prey relationship between bottlenose dolphins and marine catfish. A review was conducted of bottlenose dolphin visual survey data and dorsal fin photographs from sightings where severed catfish heads were observed. Recovered severed catfish heads were preserved and studied, whole marine catfish were collected and examined, and stranding network pathology reports were reviewed for references to injuries related to fish spines. Photographic identification analysis confirms eight dolphins associated with severed catfish heads were present in three such sightings across an approximately 350 km expanse of coast between the Mississippi Sound and Saint Joseph Bay, FL. An examination of the severed catfish heads indicated interaction with dolphins, and fresh-caught whole hardhead catfish (A. felis) were examined to estimate the presumed total length of the catfish before decapitation. Thirty-eight instances of significant trauma or death in dolphins attributed to ingesting whole marine catfish were documented in stranding records collected from the southeastern United States of America. Bottlenose dolphins typically adhere to a ram-feeding strategy for prey capture followed by whole prey ingestion; however, marine catfish skull morphology may pose a consumption hazard due to rigid spines that can puncture and migrate through soft tissue, prompting a prey handling technique for certain dolphins, facilitating consumption of the posterior portion of the fish without the head.
Stem Cell Therapies for the Resolution of Radiation Injury to the Brain.

The purpose of this review is to encapsulate past and current research efforts focused on stem cell transplantation strategies to resolve radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction. Transplantation of human stem cells in the irradiated brain was first shown to resolve radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction in a landmark paper by Acharya et al., appearing in PNAS in 2009. Since that time, work from the same laboratory as well as other groups have reported on the beneficial (as well as detrimental) effects of stem cell grafting after cranial radiation exposure. Improved learning and memory found many months after engraftment has since been associated with a preservation of host neuronal morphology, a suppression of neuroinflammation, improved myelination, and increased cerebral blood flow. Interestingly, many (if not all) of these beneficial effects can be demonstrated by substituting stem cells with microvesicles derived from human stem cells during transplantation, thereby eliminating many of the more long-standing concerns related to immunorejection and teratoma formation. Stem cell and microvesicle transplantation into the irradiated brain of rodents has uncovered some unexpected benefits that hold promise for ameliorating many of adverse neurocognitive complications associated with major cancer treatments. Properly developed, such approaches may provide much needed clinical recourse to millions of cancer survivors suffering from the unintended side effects of their cancer therapies.
Implementation of an electronic medical record simulation activity aligned with the Pharmacist Patient Care Process in an ambulatory care elective course

This manuscript evaluates the introduction of an electronic medical record (EMR) simulation activity aligned with the steps of the Pharmacist Patient Care Process (PPCP) in an ambulatory care elective course. The exercise spanned multiple days and provided students with both formative and summative feedback using a rubric. A survey consisting of 16 items focused on attitudes towards and confidence in using EMR’s and the PPCP was administered prior to and following completion of the activity. Prior to the activity, 61% of participating students had never used an EMR. Survey responses demonstrated statistically significant changes on three of the questions that dealt with pharmacist skills and knowledge, benefits of an EMR in didactic coursework, and confidence in documenting clinical activities. Feedback on the activity was highly positive, with students expressing appreciation for the opportunity to develop both competence and confidence in using an EMR and the application of the PPCP.
Service levels for the four billion people with piped water on premises

While more than half of the people in the world have access to piped water on premises, no global assessment has been made of the availability, safety, reliability and affordability of service leve...
Agenda Setting in Public Health Policy

Agenda setting is the issue-sorting phase in the public policy process, during which some concerns rise to the attention of policy makers while others remain neglected. Power – who holds it and how it is exercised – is a central concern in health agenda-setting research. The most influential model of the agenda-setting process postulates that issues rise to the attention of policy makers when problems, solutions, and political developments converge, creating windows of opportunity. This model challenges assumptions that health issues rise onto policy agendas solely through rational deliberation and careful consideration of evidence.
Advances in the formalization of the odd order theorem

We present some of the proof techniques and library designs we used to formalize a large part of the proof of the Odd Order theorem.
Coupled heat, water, and solute transfer dynamics in wettable and non-wettable soils

iii CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Dissertation Organization and Objectives 6 References 7 CHAPTER 2. WETTABILITY AND HYSTERESIS EFFECTS ON WATER 10 SORPTION IN RELATIVELY DRY SOIL Abstract 10 Introduction 11 Materials and Methods 13 Results and Discussion 16 Conclusions 20 Acknowledgements 20 References 21 CHAPTER 3. COUPLED HEAT AND WATER TRANSFER IN WETTABLE 29 AND NON-WETTABLE SOILS Abstract 29 Introduction 30 Materials and Methods 34 Results and Discussion 38 Conclusions 43 References 44 CHAPTER 4. COUPLED HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER IN WETTABLE AND 55 NON-WETTABLE SALINIZED SOILS Abstract 55 Introduction 56 Materials and Methods 59 Results and Discussion 65 Conclusions 72 References 73 CHAPTER 5. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 83 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 86
Children with Atypical Siblings

The topic of sibling relations is of central importance to contemporary accounts of the socialization process (Bandura, 1977; Hartup, 1978). This recent focus on siblings stems from the belief that children belong to different social systems (i.e., sibling units, parent-child units, as well as the peer society), each of which makes a unique contribution to the development of social, moral, and cognitive competencies. Interactions that take place within each of these subsystems are thought to contribute uniquely to social and personality development (Bronfenbrenner, 1977).
Dirubidium tetrathiotungstate, Rb2[WS4]

Rb2[WS4] crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma and is isostructural with Cs2[MoS4], Rb2[MoS4], K2[MoS4] and (NH4)2[WS4]. The structure contains discrete tetrahedral [WS4]2− anions of symmetry m, separated by Rb+ cations. One of the two unique Rb+ cations is surrounded by nine S atoms and the other by ten S atoms.
Keeping all the Parts: Adaptation Amidst Dramatic Change in the Pamir Mountains

Adaptation is fundamentally linked to indigenous cultural values, ecological niche, and local wisdom. It is effectively studied in action and not abstraction and is present in communities undergoing the stress of change. Communities in the Pamir Mountains of Afghanistan and Tajikistan have been subjected to dramatic change. Within a century, only two-to-three generations, the peoples of this strategically located Mountainous region of Central Asia have directly experienced colonization, the Cold War, penetration of the market system, natural resource extraction, threat of famine, and civil war. Presently, they are at the vanguard of climatic change and a global war localized in Afghanistan but may potentially spread elsewhere. Survival and continued existence under these conditions speaks to the local communities’ capacity to adapt, demonstrates cultural and ecological pluralism, and highlights the importance of “keeping all the parts.”
Distinct Roles of RZZ and Bub1-KNL1 in Mitotic Checkpoint Signaling and Kinetochore Expansion

Summary The Mad1-Mad2 heterodimer is the catalytic hub of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which controls M phase progression through a multi-subunit anaphase inhibitor, the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) [ 1 , 2 ]. During interphase, Mad1-Mad2 generates MCC at nuclear pores [ 3 ]. After nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), kinetochore-associated Mad1-Mad2 catalyzes MCC assembly until all chromosomes achieve bipolar attachment [ 1 , 2 ]. Mad1-Mad2 and other factors are also incorporated into the fibrous corona, a phospho-dependent expansion of the outer kinetochore that precedes microtubule attachment [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The factor(s) involved in targeting Mad1-Mad2 to kinetochores in higher eukaryotes remain controversial [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], and the specific phosphorylation event(s) that trigger corona formation remain elusive [ 5 , 13 ]. We used genome editing to eliminate Bub1, KNL1, and the Rod-Zw10-Zwilch (RZZ) complex in human cells. We show that RZZ’s sole role in SAC activation is to tether Mad1-Mad2 to kinetochores. Separately, Mps1 kinase triggers fibrous corona formation by phosphorylating two N-terminal sites on Rod. In contrast, Bub1 and KNL1 activate kinetochore-bound Mad1-Mad2 to produce a “wait anaphase” signal but are not required for corona formation. We also show that clonal lines isolated after BUB1 disruption recover Bub1 expression and SAC function through nonsense-associated alternative splicing (NAS). Our study reveals a fundamental division of labor in the mammalian SAC and highlights a transcriptional response to nonsense mutations that can reduce or eliminate penetrance in genome editing experiments.
To Read a Bull: Nominalism, Commodification, and Negative Dialectics in the Biographia Literaria

ABSTRACTThis essay reconsiders Biographia Literaria’s footnote on “mak[ing] a bull” through Coleridge’s treatment of the problem of nominalism. Coleridge critiques nominalism as a philosophical, po...
Memetic Theory, Trademarks & the Viral Meme Mark

This Article proposes that memetic theory is a useful lens through which to view trademarks, particularly as there has been a rise in the number of applications for culture-driven words and catchphrases in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Memetic theory, or memetics, is an emerging field of scientific study related to how units of information evolve and replicate. These units of information, called memes, undergo a process of natural selection similar to that of genes. To view trademarks as memes, they must not only exist in the proper form, but they must also subsist in an environment where replication, variation and selection exist in appropriate measure. Under current trademark jurisprudence, over-protection and over-enforcement of trademarks pose a threat to the natural selection environment. The recent phenomenon of trademark applications for culture- driven words and catchphrases are but one manifestation of the interaction between memetic theory and trademark law. Applying memetics calls for a reassessment of current legal standards, and the Article concludes by offering further insight into where to explore the intersection between this new science and trademark law.
Improved Scatter Correction to Eliminate Halo Artifacts for 68Ga-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals in PET Imaging.

TO THE EDITOR: We read with interest the article by Lindemann et al. titled “Improving 68-Ga-PSMA PET/MR Hybrid Imaging of the Prostate with Un-renormalized Absolute Scatter Correction” ([1][1]). The authors present a modified PET scatter-correction algorithm to improve halo artifacts sometimes
Use of Film in Undergraduate Human Services: Understanding the Addiction and Recovery Process

ABSTRACTSteady growth of the addiction field requires human service education programs to prepare competent professionals who can successfully engage in addiction practice. Competency in addiction ...
Transdermal estradiol for postpartum depression: results from a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication following delivery, though evidence-based treatment options are limited. This study explores the feasibility and efficacy of outpatient PPD treatment with transdermal estradiol (TE). In a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, women with PPD were randomized to receive transdermal 17β-estradiol (100 mcg/day) or placebo patch. Over 6 weeks, women completed weekly ratings on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). Primary outcome measures were treatment response (> 50% decrease from baseline BDI) and remission (BDI < 10) at 6 weeks, and secondary outcome measures included severity on all scales at weeks 3 and 6. Of 12 recruited women, 6 received TE and 6 received placebo. By week 6, 5 women receiving TE responded to treatment and 4 showed symptom remission, compared to 2 responders and 1 remitter in the placebo group. This difference was not significant (p = 0.24). In a mixed-model of BDI ratings, TE was associated with a 9.2 point decrease at 3 weeks (95%CI − 19.5 to + 1.0, p = 0.074) and a 10.5 point decrease at 6 weeks (95%CI − 21.0–0.0, p = 0.049) compared to placebo, though these differences did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Analogous effects were found for HAM-D but not EPDS scores. Interestingly, no significant difference in plasma estradiol levels existed between groups. We were unable to demonstrate a significant therapeutic benefit of TE compared with placebo in PPD. Although limited by under-recruitment and loss to follow-up, our results suggest TE is a feasible option for outpatient PPD management, with preliminary evidence (based on secondary outcomes) for efficacy. Therapeutic effects may be seen as early as 3 weeks and may not directly depend on peripheral measures of estradiol.
(Re)visiting twenty-five years of writing assessment

Abstract This reflective essay provides a narrative analysis of the author’s perceptions of US writing assessment over the past twenty-five years. Reflections are provided on four communities involved in the instruction and assessment of writing: teachers, researchers, testing organizations, and students. The essay concludes with an identification of trends in reconciling the goals of these four assessment stakeholders.
Pregnancy Rates After Surgical Resection of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Study Objective Assess pregnancy rates after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) in infertile patients, and in women without proven infertility, and whether ART was necessary to achieve pregnancy. Design meta-analysis. Setting N/A. Patients or Participants Electronic-based search performed on Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database. Studies including both surgical resection of DIE (>5mm depth confirmed on pathology) and pregnancy rates in the last 10 years were reviewed. Patients with ovarian involvement only were excluded. Interventions Meta-analysis was applied to calculate pooled pregnancy rates using random-effects model with inverse-variance weighting. 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) calculated using Agresti-Coull method. Studies with extreme heterogeneity were excluded. Measurements and Main Results 32 studies were included (1,110 patients). DIE locations included intestinal tract, genitourinary tract, and other non-visceral locations. Patients with preoperative infertility undergoing surgery for DIE (n=758) were analyzed separately. The pooled pregnancy rate in 1,100 patients who underwent surgical resection of DIE was 53.7% (95% CI 47.7-59.5%): spontaneous in 36.5% (95% CI 30.9-42.6%) and with ART in 23.7% (95% CI 17.6-31.1%). The live birth rate for all pregnancies was 47.1% (95% CI 40-54.3%). Follow up time ranged from 12-96 months and mean age was 33.31 years. There were 17 studies that reported pregnancy rates in patients with preoperative infertility of ≥ 1 year. Overall pregnancy rate after surgery was 44.6% (95% CI 39.3 – 50.0%): 30.1% (95% CI 24.8-35.8%) were pregnant spontaneously and 21.6% (95% CI 14.2 – 31.4%) with the use of ART. Live birth rate was 41.9% (95% CI 35.2-48.9%). Mean age in this group was 32.41 years. Conclusion Surgical resection alone of DIE aids in both symptom resolution and ability to spontaneously conceive. About half of patients undergoing surgical resection achieve spontaneous pregnancy. Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility, since 44.6% of infertile patients achieved pregnancy following surgical resection of DIE, and most those pregnancies were spontaneous.
Optimizing Opioid Pain Medication Use After Vasectomy-A Prospective Study.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To act as good stewards, urologists need to balance patient's pain requirements against the risk of narcotic abuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS We prospectively consented subjects who underwent vasectomies. Procedural technique was not standardized. All subjects received hydrooxycodone/acetaminophen 5-325 mg tablets and Ibuprofen 800 mg tablets. The subjects were then contacted by phone 1-3 weeks after their procedure with a follow-up questionnaire. Data collected included age, weight, number of pills used and pills remaining, number of days pain medication used, need for additional medication, pain treatment satisfaction, disposal knowledge, and complications. RESULTS A total of 76 subjects completed the study. Overall, 88.3% rated excellent pain treatment satisfaction with score ⩾4 (scale 1-5). No opioid medication was used by 18.2% of subjects, 33.8% used 1-5 tablets, and 24.7% used all 15 tablets. At the end, 9 subjects (11.7%) reporting needing more pain medication. Using Pearson correlation, younger age was significantly related to number of pills used. (P CONCLUSION Opioid medication use after vasectomy is variable though correlated with age. Clinicians should weigh the need versus potential abuse to determine the amount of tablets they are comfortable prescribing. Counseling and documentation on proper use and disposal of opioid medication is strongly encouraged.
Posterior Earlobe Mass

A man presented with a painless mass behind his earlobe that had been gradually enlarging for one year.