cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment options, selection, and satisfaction among african american and white men with prostate carcinoma in north carolina

BACKGROUND In the U.S., prostate carcinoma mortality is greatest among African Americans. In North Carolina, the state with the fourth largest population of African Americans, the prostate carcinoma mortality rate is 2.5 times greater among African Americans than among whites and is the highest reported rate for any state in the nation. To explore potential reasons for the racial differential in mortality, a study was undertaken to determine whether differences related to treatment existed between African American and white men who were diagnosed with prostate carcinoma during the period 1994-1995. METHODS Cases were selected from 16 institutions within a region comprising 63 contiguous counties where the overall population was >20% African American. A stratified design was employed to accrue subjects into groups of even size according to race and disease stage (n = 231). A telephone survey was conducted, which assessed treatment options discussed by patients with their physicians, treatment(s) received, factors influencing treatment, satisfaction with treatments discussed and options given, and sociodemographic information. RESULTS All measures related to treatment were consistently associated with stage at diagnosis (P < 0.001) rather than other variables measured (i.e., race, age, income, comorbidity, education, and residential status). Furthermore, most subjects reported that their physicians presented several treatment options (65%), that they were satisfied with the options presented (90%), and that the physician was the most important factor influencing their treatment decision (57%). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that African American and white men in North Carolina receive comparable treatment for prostate carcinoma. Therefore, efforts to reduce the racial disparity in mortality should be directed toward lessening the high incidence of later stage disease at diagnosis and exploring potential biologic differences that may increase the risk of more aggressive disease among African Americans. Cancer 1998;83:320-330. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Understanding the Influence of Perceived Usability and Technology Self-Efficacy on Teachers' Technology Acceptance.

AbstractThe Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) represents how users come to accept and use a given technology and can be applied to teachers’ use of educational technologies. Here the model is extended to incorporate teachers’ perceived usability and self-efficacy measures toward the technologies they are currently using. The authors administered a survey to K–12 teachers in two rural school districts in Virginia, and 99 teachers responded. We then analyzed the responses with both reliability statistics and general linear modeling techniques. The results indicated that the incorporation of perceived usability into the TAM explained more variance and was more influential to TAM elements than its absence, thereby supporting the importance, positive influence, and necessity of evaluating usability when investigating educational technology acceptance and usage behavior. Furthermore, the study found teachers’ technology self-efficacy (TSE) was more beneficial to the TAM than their computer self-efficacy (CSE); ...
Gas-phase basicities for ions from bradykinin and its des-arginine analogues.

Apparent gas-phase basicities (GB(app)s) for [M + H]+ of bradykinin, des-Arg1-bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin have been assigned by deprotonation reactions of [M + 2H]2+ in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. With a GB(app) of 225.8 +/- 4.2 kcal x mol(-1), bradykinin [M + H]+ is the most basic of the ions studied. Ions from des-Arg1-bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin have GB(app) values of 222.8 +/- 4.3 kcal x mol(-1) and 214.9 +/- 2.3 kcal x mol(-1), respectively. One purpose of this work was to determine a suitable reaction efficiency 'break point' for assigning GB(app) values to peptide ions using the bracketing method. An efficiency value of 0.1 (i.e. approximately 10% of all collisions resulting in a deprotonation reaction) was used to assign GB(app)s. Support for this criterion is provided by the fact that our GB(app) values for des-Arg1-bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin are identical, within experimental error, to literature values obtained using a modified kinetic method. However, the GB(app)s for bradykinin ions from the two studies differ by 10.3 kcal x mol(-1). The reason for this is not clear, but may involve conformation differences produced by experimental conditions. The results may be influenced by salt-bridge conformers and/or by conformational changes caused by the use of a proton-bound heterodimer in the kinetic method. Factors affecting the basicities of these peptide ions are also discussed, and molecular modeling is used to provide information on protonation sites and conformations. The presence of two highly basic arginine residues on bradykinin results in its high GB(app), while the basicity of des-Arg1-bradykinin ions is increased by the presence of two proline residues at the N-terminus. The proline residue in the second position folds the peptide chain in a manner that increases intramolecular hydrogen bonding to the protonated N-terminal amino group of the proline at the first position.
An interactive MATLAB-based tool for teaching classical systems and controls

This educational research endeavor describes the development of a MATLAB/Windows/C++ PC environment designed to teach fundamental concepts from classical systems and controls. Interactive computer-aided-lessons (ICALs) form the heart of the environment. Upon entering the environment, a master menu is provided from which the user can select a starting ICAL. The user is then led through a sequence of ICALs-each carefully designed to teach a specific concept. During each lesson, the screen is divided into three (3) child windows. The first window is called the Goal Window. The second window is called the Introduction, Question, Answer, Explanation Window. The third window is called the Graphics Window. The ICAL environment has been designed such that old lessons may be easily modified and new lessons may be easily created and added to the environment. A sequence of ICAL screens have been provided to illustrate the utility of the environment as an educational tool.
Keynote lecture 6: Rethinking motor rehabilitation after stroke

Dr. John Krakauer is Director of the Brain, Learning, Animation, and Movement Lab (BLAM-lab) at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His areas of research interest are: (1) Experimental and computational studies of motor control and motor learning in humans (2) Tracking long-term motor skill learning and its relation to higher cognitive processes such as decision making. (3) Prediction of motor recovery after stroke (4) Mechanisms of spontaneous motor recovery after stroke in humans and in mouse models (5) New neuro-rehabilitation approaches for patients in the first 3 months after stroke. He has also co-founded a video gaming group called KATA, which is based on the idea that animal movement based on real physics is highly pleasurable and that this pleasure is hugely heightened when the animal movement is under the control of our own movements. This synchronized mapping between a virtual animal's complex movements and our own simpler movements is a cognitive interface of huge potential as it harnesses mechanisms of embodiment, playful motor exploration, and captures the hierarchical organization of the motor system itself. We would also argue that it is an experimental prototype of what lies at the heart of playing and observing sports and dance. The simulated dolphin has now been interfaced with an FDA-approved 3D exoskeletal robot in BLAM-lab in preparation for an upcoming trial.
Investigation of interaction modalities designed for immersive visualizations using commodity devices in the classroom

In this paper we present initial research of the investigation in the design collaborative interaction modalities for classroom-based immersive visualizations of 3D spatial data, with an initial implementation for geo-spatial applications. Additionally we allowed some pilot testing to gain a sense of our design decisions and where user error might occur. Valuable feedback will allow us to redesign and refine implementation for a much more formal long-term evaluation of the system. Initial results give indications that our interaction modalities may facilitate teaching and learning, but the use of devices should be different for user type.
Access Control Mechanisms in Big Data Processing

Hadoop distributed file system (HDFS) must provide a distributed file system and MapReduce framework. The core components of HDFS are fault tolerant, high throughput, and files of arbitrary size. These components include the shared nothing architecture, a massive parallelism of tasks, and basic data structure is key/value pair. HDFS has shared multi-talent service and is used to store sensitive data. Currently, HDFS is used on private clusters behind firewalls and requires strong authentication and authorization (access control) to protect the sensitive private and public data. The HDFS job is partitioned and distributed on nodes for execution different from the node that the client authenticated and submitted the job. Further, job tasks from various users are executed on the same computer node and the system scales thousands of servers and performs many concurrent tasks. Therefore, the total performance path of the system requires authentication checks at multiple points. Kerberos authentication mechanism helps to meet the security requirements as a supplement to trusted users. Special access control mechanisms may require for high sensitive data to keep the hackers away. The proposed model helps the access control mechanism for high sensitive data in Big Data processing.
Design issues for large scientific balloons

In designing a balloon, the design engineer must balance a number of competing factors, choosing a balloon system (film, caps, tendons, etc.) that is light enough to carry a given payload to the desired altitude, yet strong enough to perform safely during the life of its mission. To illustrate some of the issues that the designer faces, we consider two particular balloon designs: the 60 million cubic foot zero-pressure natural shape balloon flown by NASA in 2002 and the NASA prototype ultra-long duration vehicle (a pumpkin balloon) flown in 2000. For the zero-pressure natural shape balloon, we demonstrate how structural lack-of-fit can be used to reduce the film strength requirement. In addition, we propose a theoretical design for a zero-pressure natural shape balloon that is capable of lifting a 700 kg payload to a float altitude of 54 km. In the pumpkin balloon, we show how a three dimensional pumpkin gore can be shaped in order to significantly reduce the total film weight. Although these savings are purchased with fabrication complications, increased production time and costs, there may be applications (such as planetary balloons) where the benefits gained out-weigh the added difficulties. Numerical computations are presented to support our work.
A hegemon fighting for equal rights: the dominant role of COC Nederland in the LGBT transnational advocacy network

Networks are alternatives to hierarchical organizational forms. However, actors in networks have different resources at their disposal, and more powerful participants will try to influence the network as a whole. We identify a dominant node in the European LGBT advocacy network, and explore whether a hegemonic actor in the transnational advocacy network will affect less powerful groups' issue framing. Our project uses software that locates the issue network on the internet, highlighting how transnational advocacy work and digital communication have become inextricably connected. We confirm that Cultuur – en Ontspannings Centrum, known as COC Netherland has higher-than average centrality measures in the LGBT network. Noting the limitations of hyperlink analysis, we conduct a content analysis of select nodes illustrating the impact of a hegemon. We focus on marriage equality and find tentative support for our hypothesis: organizations with links to COC advocate for stronger forms of legalized same-sex union than do organizations without ties.
Purpura and leukopenia in a cocaine user.

A previously healthy 42-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) for arthralgias and painful lesions on her ears, feet, and knee (Figures 1 and 2) that had developed over the last ...
Feminism and group psychotherapy: an ethical responsibility.

In response to Martin Lakin's (1991) IJGP article, "Some Ethical Issues in Feminist-Oriented Therapy Groups for Women," this article examines recent developments in feminist theory and proposes that a feminist perspective is both ethical and can make significant contributions to the practice of group psychotherapy. The overview of feminist theory focuses on (1) the importance of the social context, (2) contributions and challenges to psychoanalytic and developmental theory, (3) attention to power relations, (4) the connection between the personal and political, and (5) recognition and integration of diversity and difference. Clinical examples illustrate ways in which male and female group therapists can take a feminist perspective and become "ethical advocates."
“Brownfields”: Are They an Ethical Solution to a Major Urban Pollution Problem?

“Brownfields” are unused urban manufacturing sites that are not being recycled because the potential costs of environmental cleanup may vastly exceed their current market value. This chapter addresses the ethical issues involved in recently legislated state solutions to this environmental problem. It posits the following question: If “greenfields” are unattainable and “deadfields” are unacceptable, are state certified “brownfields” a reasonable and ethical compromise?
A third, "deep," compartment for phenothiazine drug disposition: a new look at an old problem.

Volunteers were given oral promazine doses, and blood and urine were collected for promazine assay for as long as was necessary for the drug to cease to be detectable. Postabsorption data were subjected to two- and three-compartment modeling. Renal clearance was calculated. Renal excretion data were analyzed by use of the sigma-minus method, which permits the calculation of the half-life in plasma from excretion data. The mean alpha-phase rate constant for plasma decay (plasma assays) was .0155 min-1. The mean beta-phase rate constant for plasma decay (plasma assays) was .0046 min-1; the mean beta-phase rate constant for plasma decay (urine assays) was .0056 min-1. The mean gamma-phase rate constant for plasma decay (urine assays) was .00075 min-1. These data demonstrate the existence of a third, deep, distribution compartment from which promazine is released slowly and which is only detectable by means of excretion studies.
Dermatologic Disorders in Children of Color

Children of color include a broad variety of ethnic types, skin tones, and genetic backgrounds. Broadly, the grouping includes Black, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern children. The United States is referred to as a melting pot, and, indeed, children with genetic backgrounds from the far reaches of the world can be seen in North America due to immigration patterns. These global immigration patterns have helped to introduce both new patterns of disease and new cutaneous infectious diseases into the North American pediatric population. This chapter provides an overview of pediatric dermatologic diseases as they pertain to skin of color. The first section looks at the development of skin and soft tissue structures in children of color, the second examines the presentation of common childhood diseases in children of color, and the third looks specifically at diseases genetically limited to children of color.
The history of malaria in the United States: how it spread, how it was treated, and public responses

The history of malaria in the United States how it spread how it was treated and public responses
Distributed Average Consensus in Sensor Networks with Random Link Failures and Communication Channel Noise

In this paper we study distributed average consensus type algorithms in sensor networks with random network link failures and communication channel. Specifically, the network links fail randomly across iterations, and communication through an active link incurs additive stochastic noise. We consider the A - ND algorithm for distributed average consensus under such imperfect communication scenario. Using results from the theory of controlled Markov processes and stochastic approximation, we show that the A - ND algorithm leads to consensus of the sensor states. In particular, all the sensor states converge a.s. to a finite random variable thetas, the latter being an unbiased estimate of the desired average. We explicitly characterize the resulting the mean-squared error (m.s.e.) and show that the m.s.e. can be made arbitrarily small by tuning certain parameters of the algorithm. But, reducing the m.s.e. in this way, decrease the convergence rate of the algorithm, and we obtain an interesting trade-off between the m.s.e. and the convergence rate of the algorithm. Our results show that the sensor network topology plays a significant role in determining the convergence rate of these algorithms.
Exosomes as mediators of platinum resistance in ovarian cancer

// Jennifer Crow 1 , Safinur Atay 1 , Samagya Banskota 1, 2 , Brittany Artale 3 , Sarah Schmitt 1 , Andrew K. Godwin 1, 4 1 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, NC 3 Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 4 University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS Correspondence to: Andrew K. Godwin, email: agodwin@kumc.edu Keywords: ovarian cancer, EMT, exosomes, platinum-resistance, SMAD4 Received: June 29, 2016 Accepted: December 16, 2016 Published: January 02, 2017 ABSTRACT Exosomes have been implicated in the cell-cell transfer of oncogenic proteins and genetic material. We speculated this may be one mechanism by which an intrinsically platinum-resistant population of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells imparts its influence on surrounding tumor cells. To explore this possibility we utilized a platinum-sensitive cell line, A2780 and exosomes derived from its resistant subclones, and an unselected, platinum-resistant EOC line, OVCAR10. A2780 cells demonstrate a ~2-fold increase in viability upon treatment with carboplatin when pre-exposed to exosomes from platinum-resistant cells as compared to controls. This coincided with increased epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). DNA sequencing of EOC cell lines revealed previously unreported somatic mutations in the Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 4 ( SMAD4 ) within platinum-resistant cells. A2780 cells engineered to exogenously express these SMAD4 mutations demonstrate up-regulation of EMT markers following carboplatin treatment, are more resistant to carboplatin, and release exosomes which impart a ~1.7-fold increase in resistance in naive A2780 recipient cells as compared to controls. These studies provide the first evidence that acquired SMAD4 mutations enhance the chemo-resistance profile of EOC and present a novel mechanism in which exchange of tumor-derived exosomes perpetuates an EMT phenotype, leading to the development of subpopulations of platinum-refractory cells.
Le Virgile français: Jacques Delille’s Commented Edition of the Aeneid

The article offers information on the exegetical trends featured in the commentary edition of Virgil's poem "Aeneid" by Jacques Delille. The author mentions that the poem's commented edition successfully unites Delille's interpretive endeavour with his ambition in providing a paradigm to future poets and readers. He states that the commentary edition was considered as a subtle political reading of the poem that was situated in the early Napoleonic age.
Dielectric Properties of and Charge Transport in Columnar Microfibrous Thin Films of Parylene C

Parylene-C microfibrous thin films ( $\mu $ FTFs), grown using oblique-angle physicochemical vapor deposition, were examined for potential use as low-relative-permittivity (i.e., low- $\kappa $ ) interlayer dielectrics in integrated circuits and, more importantly, flexible electronics. These films were characterized using capacitance–voltage–temperature (CVT) and current–voltage–temperature experiments at different temperatures (ranging from 298 to 420 K) and frequencies (ranging from 1 kHz to 1 MHz). Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed the Parylene C $\mu $ FTFs to be highly porous. Consequently, their $\kappa $ values are at least 20% lower than those of bulk Parylene C. The dependences of $\kappa $ on frequency and temperature suggest that molecular dipole oscillations are responsible for charge polarization in the $\mu $ FTFs. The dc leakage current in the $\mu $ FTFs at temperatures not exceeding 100 °C (~373 K) was found to arise from Poole–Frenkel (PF) emissionmechanism with a barrier energy of about 0.77 eV. Moreover, when fitted to the PF model, the experimental data yielded high-frequency values $\kappa _{\infty }$ of $\kappa $ in agreement with those obtained from CVT experiments, thus confirming our identification of PF as themajor responsiblemechanism and confirming the low- $\kappa $ characteristic of microfibrous Parylene C. The ac current transport in the $\mu $ FTFs was found attributable to small-polaron-tunneling hopping conduction and characterized by the power law $ \omega ^{s}$ , with $s\in [{0.082,0.85}]$ increasing with temperature. AC conduction in the $\mu $ FTFs is temperature-activated with an activation energy that decreases from 0.020 to 0.012 eV as frequency increases from 1 kHz to 1 MHz.
Development of Pavement Preservation Strategies with Pavement ME Design Software for the State of Rhode Island

The objective of this study was to propose an approach to integrate AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software into pavement preservation strategies of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. The use of Pavement ME Design software could assist in the prioritization of mitigation alternatives; this procedure would optimize resources in Rhode Island. Four representative pavement sections on state highways in Rhode Island were selected and then analyzed with the Pavement ME Design software. Weigh-in-motion traffic data also were collected from nine stations in Rhode Island to establish representative state traffic patterns. This information was used as input to Pavement ME Design, and the predicted performance measures (i.e., international roughness index, rutting, longitudinal cracking) were then used to determine when the typical Rhode Island pavement mitigation alternatives [e.g., crack seals; level and overlay; mill and overlay with and without friction course; paver placed elastomeric surface treatme...
Effects of Natural Convection on Heat Transfer in Porous Cryogenic Insulations

Natural gas, which is handled and transported in cryogenic liquid state (LNG) from large potential sources, such as the Middle East and North Africa, will be one of the key sources of energy for at least the next 20 years [1,2]. The present size of LNG storage facilities, which exceed 100,000 m3 capacity, makes it economically unrealistic to use high-performance vacuum insulations. Perlite or other gas-filled porous insulations at atmospheric pressure are widely used as insulations for these large storage vessels. Similar constructions may be used in the future for the storage of liquid hydrogen as well.
On-Chip Silicon Odometers for Circuit Aging Characterization

The parametric shifts or circuit failures caused by Bias Temperature Instability (BTI) and other aging mechanisms in CMOS transistors have become more severe with shrinking device sizes and voltage margins. These mechanisms must be studied in order to develop accurate reliability models which are used to design robust circuits. Another option for addressing aging effects is to use on-chip reliability monitors that can trigger real-time adjustments to compensate for reduced performance or device failures. The need for efficient technology characterization and aging compensation is exacerbated by the rapid introduction of process changes, such as high-k/metal gate stacks and new transistor architectures.
Design, Modeling and Control of a 2-DoF Robotic Guidewire

In most cases of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the operating surgeon must use a variety of catheters riding on a thin wire known as a ‘guidewire’. This guidewire must be manually navigated through a tortuous pathway of arteries to arrive at the diseased area. Automation of the guidewire therefore reduces surgeon effort and minimizes the time required for a PAD procedure, but is restricted by the size constraints of a standard guidewire. This work presents the design of a robotically actuated 2 degree-of-freedom (DoF) guidewire tip comprised of joints laser micro-machined into a 0.78 mm (< 2.4 Fr) Nitinol tube. We present an analysis of the notch joint used as a building block in the robot and a control strategy for this type of a joint. The experimental results show that tendon force is an important observable quantity that can be used as a shape sensing mechanism for this type of a joint in practical control applications.
Macrophage CD14 impacts immune defenses against influenza virus in allergic hosts

Asthma and influenza are leading causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Although these two conditions can co-exist in the same patient, the immune parameters that impact disease outcomes are not fully elucidated. The importance of macrophages to both conditions suggested a role for CD14, a co-receptor for endotoxin, as a regulatory mechanism for innate immune responses during asthma and influenza co-morbidity. Herein, we hypothesized that parameters of influenza morbidity will be reduced in the absence of CD14. Age and gender matched wild-type (WT) and CD14 knock-out (KO) mice were subjected to our validated model of Aspergillus-induced model of asthma and/or influenza. Characteristics of disease pathogenesis were investigated using standard methods in weight loss, flow cytometry, airway resistance, histology, quantitative real-time PCR, and viral titer quantification. The absence of CD14 did not have an impact on morbidity as these mice were equally susceptible to disease with similar airway resistance. Peribronchovascular inflammation and goblet cell content were equivalent between WT and KO mice in asthma alone and asthma and influenza co-morbidity. Co-morbid KO mice had less lymphocytes and eosinophils in the airways although their lung viral burden was equivalent to WT. Inflammatory gene signatures were altered in co-morbid mice in each genotype. CD14 expression on macrophages is necessary for airway inflammation but not for viral pathogenesis in allergic hosts.
Improving Schooling Outcomes for Latinos in Rural California: A Critical Place-Based Approach to Farmworkers History.

This article provides a portrait of the challenges and promise of Latino schooling in California’s agricultural Central Valley, site of one of the largest and socioeconomically vulnerable Latino po...
"Voices of Autism": Sentiment Analysis in Three Chinese Websites on Nonverbal Autistic Children

Autism community is now receiving broad attention from Chinese society. Though data-mining on textual data have been widely used, its application on Chinese language environment on autism is rare. The previous research on textual mining of online posts did not target a specific symptom exhibited on children with autism; meanwhile, the written language is limited to English. In this paper, we conduct a comparison on text analysis of parents, reporters and experts' online posts and published work, particularly targeting nonverbal autistic children. The text analysis contains the word frequency analysis and sentiment analysis. Our study revealed that parents tend to share emotional views, reporters are likely to provide introductory articles for the autism, and experts hold more critical comments for nonverbal autistic children.
Mixed in-situ rheology of viscoelastic surfactant solutions using a hyperbolic geometry

Abstract Microfluidic devices can be used to represent industrial and natural mixed extensional-shear flows and to measure, simultaneously, in-situ rheological properties of viscoelastic fluids. However, such measurements are challenging due to the nature of mixed flow kinematics. In this study, we present a new mathematical framework to quantify the extensional behavior of viscoelastic fluids in mixed flows through a hyperbolic contraction-expansion microfluidic device. This approach provides a better estimation of apparent extensional viscosity when the non-Newtonian fluid kinematic does not promote additional flow phenomena such as vortices, shear banding or high-velocity jet. We then apply this approach to analyze the mixed rheology of two different viscoelastic surfactant solutions. The results indicate that there is a critical flow rate where extensional properties of the studied viscoelastic fluids start losing importance possibly due to additional flow phenomena. We also found a viscoelastic transition regime from extensional tension-thickening to tension-thinning as flow rate increases.
Leveraging Temporal Reasoning for Policy Selection in Learning from Demonstration

High-level human activities often have rich temporal structures that determine the order in which atomic actions are executed. We propose the Temporal Context Graph (TCG), a temporal reasoning model that integrates probabilistic inference with Allen’s interval algebra, to capture these temporal structures. TCGs are capable of modeling tasks with cyclical atomic actions and consisting of sequential and parallel temporal relations. We present Learning from Demonstration as the application domain where the use of TCGs can improve policy selection and address the problem of perceptual aliasing. Experiments validating the model are presented for learning two tasks from demonstration that involve structured human-robot interactions. The source code for this implementation is available at https://github.com/AssistiveRoboticsUNH/TCG.
Diaphragm Muscle Adaptations in Health and Disease

Breathing is achieved without thought despite being controlled by a complex neural network. The diaphragm is the predominant muscle responsible for force/pressure generation during breathing, but it is also involved in other non-ventilatory expulsive behaviors. This review considers alterations in diaphragm muscle fiber types and the neural control of the diaphragm across our lifespan and in various disease conditions.
Fetal Hypoxia Impacts on Proliferation and Differentiation of Sca-1+ Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Maturation of Cardiomyocytes: A Role of MicroRNA-210.

Hypoxia is one of the most frequent and severe stresses to an organism’s homeostatic mechanisms, and hypoxia during gestation has profound adverse effects on the heart development increasing the occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHDs). Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) are responsible for early heart development and the later occurrence of heart disease. However, the mechanism of how hypoxic stress affects CPC fate decisions and contributes to CHDs remains a topic of debate. Here we examined the effect of hypoxic stress on the regulations of CPC fate decisions and the potential mechanism. We found that experimental induction of hypoxic responses compromised CPC function by regulating CPC proliferation and differentiation and restraining cardiomyocyte maturation. In addition, echocardiography indicated that fetal hypoxia reduced interventricular septum thickness at diastole and the ejection time, but increased the heart rate, in mouse young adult offspring with a gender-related difference. Further study revealed that hypoxia upregulated microRNA-210 expression in Sca-1+ CPCs and impeded the cell differentiation. Blockage of microRNA-210 with LNA-anti-microRNA-210 significantly promoted differentiation of Sca-1+ CPCs into cardiomyocytes. Thus, the present findings provide clear evidence that hypoxia alters CPC fate decisions and reveal a novel mechanism of microRNA-210 in the hypoxic effect, raising the possibility of microRNA-210 as a potential therapeutic target for heart disease.
Younger Patients Show Acceptable Outcomes after Undergoing Concomitant Coronary Bypass Grafting with Lung Transplantation

Purpose Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been considered a relative contraindication for concomitant cardiac surgery during lung transplantation. We investigated a cohort of younger patients who underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with lung transplantation, to determine whether surgical outcomes were acceptable. Methods Lung transplant procedures with concomitant CABG between March 2012 and July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients investigated were below 70 years of age.Patients were propensity score-matched by pre-transplantation variables. Outcomes between these two groups were then compared; once using the entire cohort, and once using the propensity score-matched patients. Survival was compared by Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank tests. Results There were 26 patients below 70 years old that underwent concomitant CABG with lung transplantation. 25 of the 26 patients that underwent concomitant CABG were 1:1 propensity score-matched with 25 of the 410 patients that did not undergo concomitant CABG. There was no statistically significant difference in survival outcomes between patients less than 70 that underwent concomitant CABG and patients less than 70 that did not undergo concomitant CABG (p=0.24). When analyzing the two groups after propensity score matching, there was still no statistically significant difference in survival outcomes (p=0.51).Overall survival for patients less than 70 that underwent concomitant CABG was 100% at 1 year, and 72% at 3 years. Survival for patients that did not undergo concomitant CABG was 87% at 1 year, and 72% at 3 years. Conclusion Patients below 70 that underwent concomitant CABG with lung transplantation showed no significant difference in survival outcomes when compared to patients less than 70 that did not undergo concomitant CABG. Considering this data, patients less than 70 with CAD would be reasonable candidates for concomitant CABG with lung transplantation in selected cases.
Assessing the stability of biobank donor preferences regarding sample use: evidence supporting the value of dynamic consent.

Dynamic consent has been proposed as a strategy for addressing the limitations of traditional, broad consent for biobank participation. Although the argument for dynamic consent has been made on theoretical grounds, empirical studies evaluating the potential utility of dynamic consent are needed to enhance deliberations about the merits of dynamic consent. Few studies have assessed such considerations as whether donor preferences may change over time or if participants would use a dynamic consent mechanism to modify preferences when they change. We administered a 66-item survey to participants in a large DNA biobank. The survey sought to gauge the stability of donor preferences specified at the time of biobank enrollment, specifically the stability of donors’ preference regarding posthumous availability of biospecimens to next-of-kin. We received 1164 completed surveys for a response rate of 72%. Forty percent of respondents indicated a preference regarding sample availability on the survey (T2) that was inconsistent with the preference they had expressed when they enrolled in the biobank (T1). Most (94%) individuals with inconsistent preferences regarding sample availability had initially restricted sample availability at T1 but were comfortable with broader availability when asked at the time of the survey (T2). Our findings demonstrate that preferences regarding sample use expressed at the time of enrollment in a DNA biobank may not be reliable indicators of donor preferences over time. These findings lend empirical support to the case for a dynamic consent model in which biobank participants are approached over time to clarify their views regarding sample use.
The Use of FITNESSGRAM® in PETE: Is It Appropriate?

Many physical education teacher education (PETE) programs have adopted FITNESSGRAM® as the preferred method to assess teacher candidate fitness levels. The rationale, however, is unclear. This arti...
Metabolic functions by myo-inositol. 8. Role of inositol in Na plus-K+ transport and in Na plus- and K plus-activated adenosine triphosphatase of KB cells.

The effects of myo-inositol (inositol) deprivation on the Na+ and K+ transport system of KB cells and on the Na+- and K+- activated adenosine triphosphatase of cell-free extracts were investigated. Kinetic studies under presteady state conditions showed that inositol deprivation causes a decrease of the initial rates of K+ influx and Na+ efflux. Both the Vmax of K+ influx and the Km for K+ are decreased. The rate of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by the membrane-bound, Na+- and K+-activated adenosine triphosphatase is greatly diminished in inositol-deficient cells. Both the Vmax and the Km values for K+ and Na+ are decreased. These changes are quantitatively identical with those observed in the case of Na+ and K+ fluxes across the plasma membrane of intact cells. Inositol-deficient cells are unable to concentrate K+ to the same extent as normal cells, but the steady state concentration of intracellular Na+ remains within normal range. The lower intracellular concentration of K+ in inositol-deficient cells is not responsible for the impaired transport of α-amino-isobutyric acid exhibited by these cells.
Pediatric Nasal Chondromesenchymal Tumors: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION Nasal chondromesenchymal tumors (NCMT) are rare benign neoplasms that usually present in children <1 year of age. They can display rapid growth and significant local bony remodeling that can mimic a malignant process. Of the ∼50 published cases to date, few have documented the need for neurosurgical intervention. We herein report a NCMT in an infant treated with a staged cranial and transnasal approach, as well as summarize the available literature on this pathology. CASE REPORT A newborn male with a compromised airway was noted to have a large sinonasal lesion. After stabilization, MRI demonstrated a 4-cm enhancing mass with diffuse sinus involvement and significant extension into the anterior cranial fossa, with displacement of the optic apparatus and hypothalamic pituitary axis. After an initial biopsy, the patient underwent a bifrontal craniofacial approach at 2 months of age, followed by a second-stage transnasal endoscopic approach at 15 months which resulted in a complete resection. There were no neurosurgical complications. Pathology was consistent with a NCMT. DISCUSSION Although rare, neurosurgical involvement is critical for the treatment of NCMTs with intracranial extension. Staged cranial and endonasal endoscopic approaches may be needed for complete resection of such lesions.
Local Knowledge, Legal Knowledge, and Zoning Law

Close observation of how small communities and neighborhoods govern themselves provides invaluable insight into how the law constructs and impedes certain preferences about justice and how law is continually reconstructed as it is applied to actual situations. These micro-community practices are often overlooked, if legal scholars limit their attention to the words of judges or the texts of statutes. When the legal rules differ from cultural conceptions of justice, legal rules are continually constituted and reconstructed from prevailing social norms. This essay argues for the value of local knowledge by pointing out some of the illuminating features of the particularly local knowledge that zoning law entails. It shows how the observation of zoning law provides the necessary elements for a study of law—a set of texts, a process, and a product—and provides information about how to appraise the law’s effect and the end results of conflict. The essay demonstrates how to view the law’s effect at the local, community level by examining some case studies from three frames of observation: the end result, the law-making process, and the law-enforcement process in zoning.
Absorption and Translocation of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl in Ten Aquatic Plant Species

Additional active ingredients are needed for use in aquatic systems to respond to new threats or treatment scenarios, enhance selectivity, reduce use rates, and mitigate the risk of herbicide resistance. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new synthetic auxin developed for use as an aquatic herbicide. A study was conducted at North Carolina State University in which 10 µg L–1 of 25% radiolabeled florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied to the isolated shoot tissue of 10 different aquatic plant species to elucidate absorption and translocation patterns in these species. Extremely high levels of shoot absorption were observed for all species, and uptake was rapid. Highest shoot absorptions were observed for crested floatingheart [Nymphoides cristata (Roxb.) Kuntze] (A192 = 20 µg g–1), dioecious hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle] (A192 = 25.3 µg g–1), variable watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx.) (A192 = 40.1 µg g–1), and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) (A192 = 25.3 µg g–1). Evidence of translocation was observed in all rooted species tested, with the greatest translocation observed in N. cristata (1.28 µg g–1 at 192 h after treatment). The results of this study add to the growing body of knowledge surrounding the behavior of this newly registered herbicide within aquatic plants.
Spike and wave discharges and fast ripples during posttraumatic epileptogenesis

Objective The goal of the present study was to determine whether spike and wave discharges (SWDs) and SWDs with superimposed fast ripples (SWDFRs) could be biomarkers of posttraumatic epileptogenesis. Methods Fluid percussion injury was conducted on 13-14-week old male Sprague Dawley rats. Immediately after traumatic brain injury (TBI), they were implanted with microelectrodes in the neocortex, hippocampus, and striatum bilaterally. Age-matched sham rats with the same electrode implantation montage acted as controls. Wideband brain electrical activity was recorded intermittently from Day 1 of TBI, and continued from 2 to 21 weeks after TBI. SWD and SWDFR analysis was performed during the first 2 weeks to investigate whether the occurrence of this pattern predicted development of epilepsy. The remaining 3-21 weeks were used for identifying which rats became epileptic (E+ group) and which did not (E- group). Results The E+ group (n = 9) showed a significant increase in SWD rate in prefrontal cortex during Weeks 1 and 2 after TBI. The E- group showed a significant increase in SWD rate only in the second week. One hundred percent of rats in the E+ group displayed SWDFRs beginning from the first week after TBI. The SWDFR pattern was observed in all recorded brain areas: prefrontal and perilesional cortices, hippocampus, and striatum. None of rats in the E- group showed coexistence of fast ripples with SWDs. Significance Occurrence of SWDFRs after TBI, but not an increase in the rate of SWDs, could be a noninvasive electroencephalographic biomarker of posttraumatic epileptogenesis.
Multi-location cryptographic code repair with neural-network-based methodologies

Java Cryptographic API libraries are error-prone and result in vulnerabilities. The fixes of them often require security expertise and extra consideration for cryptographic consistency at multiple code locations. My Ph.D. research aims to help developers with a multi-location cryptographic code repair system. The proposed method relies on a precise static analysis for cryptographic code and a neural network based secure code generation solution. We focus on designing neural network based techniques guided by program analysis to learn from the secure code and give accurate suggestions. First, we conducted a comprehensive measurement to compare cryptographic API embeddings guided by different program analysis strategies. Then, we identified two previously unreported programming language-specific challenges, differentiating functionally similar APIs and capturing low-frequency code patterns. We address them by a specialized multi-path code suggestion architecture, and a novel low-frequency enhanced sequence learning technique. Existing results show that our approach achieves significant improvements on top-1 accuracy compared with the state-of-the-art.Our next step is an cryptographic consistent localization that enables our multi-location code repair. We publish our data and code as a large Java cryptographic code dataset.
A Marine Insurance Fraud in the Star Chamber

The Star Chamber was an active forum for litigating cases of fraud in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. But some complaints alleging fraud were themselves fraudulent. This book chapter provides a detailed study of a 1613 Star Chamber suit claiming marine insurance fraud against London- and Amsterdam-based merchant insurers, which was allegedly committed in Livorno, Italy by two Portuguese crypto-Jews and a young English merchant. But did the fraud actually occur, or did the accuser invent the whole story?
Social Regulation of the Brain: Status, Sex, and Size

Publisher Summary Among social animals, the behavior of one individual or of a group of individuals can strongly influence the behavior of other animals. The nature of such influential interactions depends on the species, the situation, and the actual behavioral interaction. The most reliable predictor of these encounters is the social status of the individuals involved. For example, a dominant animal threatened by a nondominant animal behaves differently than does a dominant animal threatened by another dominant individual. Similarly, behavior by a female produces quite different reactions in males depending on their social status. It is fair to say that in every social system that has been observed, the behavior of individuals depends, in part, on their social status and, in part, on their physical environment. This universal dependence of behavior on context is the primary scientific framework used to interpret behavior during social interactions.
Kikuyu vowel harmony

This article studies the vocalic patterns of distribution and alternation in Kikuyu. The phenomenon of distribution manifests itself in morpheme structure constraints imposed on vowel sequencing within the verbal root, while the effect of alternation is seen within the verbal stem, which displays a productive root-controlled suffixal harmony. Despite some mismatch, the patterns of distribution correspond to patterns of alternation. The article argues for a unified analysis of these patterns based on the assumption that a morphemic [-atr] is assigned underlyingly to some roots. Under this representation, distribution and alternation patterns fall out from one process of [-atr] harmony. The article supports the analysis by showing that it accounts for the deviant properties of harmony such as the disharmonie sequences in Kikuyu.
TIRE ROLLING RESISTANCE -- A SPEED DEPENDENT CONTRIBUTION

A contribution to tire rolling resistance which arises from tire tread impact with the roadway is defined. These impact losses depend on the square of the vehicle speed. The physics of the process is revealed using a realistic, simple model coupled with Newton's second law. It is shown how the losses depend on tire characteristics. It is not feasible to determine to high accuracy the magnitude of the effect from such an uncomplicated model, however. The speed independent losses are also discussed in terms of a simple model. Finally, analytic expressions are presented for rolling resistance (speed dependent speed independent) as a function of tire characteristics. /SAE/