cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Pilot study of Serum Hormones in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Objective To detect the difference of serum hormones related togrowth and development between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) female patients and normal female teenagers. Methods 8 normal teenage girls (normal control) and 27 female AIS patients was enrolled into this study. Their serum level of estradiol (E2), growth hormone (GH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHS) were detected by solid phase, compete and sandwich method chemoluminescence enzyme immunodetection (IMMULITE analysator). Results In general, serum hormone level is normal in control group. The level of serum GH is significantly different between AIS and normal control group. The level of E2 and DHS showed no significant difference in each two groups. In AIS, serum GH was higher in 4 cases, DHS was lower ( 50μg/dL) in 4 AIS. Conclusions Although serum hormones is not significantly different between two group, the primarily test showed that serum GH of AIS was higher than that in normal control and serum DHS is in lower limit. The pathogenesis of AIS maybe related with growth, bone density and interrenal function.
Effects of level of energy intake and energy demand on growth hormone, insulin, and metabolites in Targhee and Suffolk ewes.

Yearling ewes (n = 32) were used in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment to determine effects of breed (Targhee vs Suffolk), energy intake (1× vs 3× NE m requirements, and physiological status (nonpregnant, nonlactating vs lactating) on serum GH, insulin, NEFA, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations. Blood collections were made in two periods that began 21 and 32 d after ewes lambed. Lactating ewes had more GH peaks (P .23) when evaluated within physiological statuses. After feeding, GH concentrations were greater (P .23) between energy intake levels. Insulin and glucose were greater (P <.001) in nonlactating than in lactating ewes when evaluated within breed. Lactating and Targhee ewes fed 1× NE m had greater (P <.001) NEFA concentration than nonlactating and Targhee ewes fed 3 x NE m , respectively. Ewes fed 3× NE m and Targhee ewes had greater (P <.005) BUN concentrations than ewes fed 1x NE m and Suffolk ewes, respectively. Physiological status seems to play a more important role in the regulation of GH than does energy intake. Higher BUN concentrations in Targhee than in Suffolk ewes demonstrates one metabolic event that distinguishes a breed's adaptation to the environment in which it originated.
Development of seating accommodation models for soldiers in vehicles

Data from a previous study of soldier driving postures and seating positions were analysed to develop statistical models for defining accommodation of driver seating positions in military vehicles. Regression models were created for seating accommodation applicable to driver positions with a fixed heel point and a range of steering wheel locations in typical tactical vehicles. The models predict the driver-selected seat position as a function of population anthropometry and vehicle layout. These models are the first driver accommodation models considering the effects of body armor and body-borne gear. The obtained results can benefit the design of military vehicles, and the methods can also be extended to be utilised in the development of seating accommodation models for other driving environments where protective equipment affects driver seating posture, such as vehicles used by law-enforcement officers and firefighters. Practitioner Summary: A large-scale laboratory study of soldier driving posture and seating position was designed to focus on tactical vehicle (truck) designs. Regression techniques are utilised to develop accommodation models suitable for tactical vehicles. These are the first seating accommodation models based on soldier data to consider the effects of personal protective equipment and body-borne gear.
Creating advocates for mammal conservation through citizen science

Abstract Citizen science initiatives have shown promise to provide informal education about nature and conservation and simultaneously gather scientific data at large scales. eMammal is a platform for citizen science projects that recruits volunteers to place camera traps that collect data in the form of wildlife photographs. Our project offered informal education on wildlife ecology and conservation to volunteers through training materials, feedback during the project, and a natural history blog. We tested whether our education efforts and volunteer activities affected their project specific skills, wildlife knowledge, conservation attitudes, and what kind of information they shared with their social network. Volunteers accurately (> 90%) identified 15 of 20 wildlife species captured in the photos and reduced the rejection rate of camera placements over time. Our surveys showed that volunteer's attitudes toward conservation were high before joining the project and did not change after participating. However, volunteer knowledge of wildlife was higher after working with eMammal. Volunteers also became advocates for mammal conservation by sharing their new knowledge. Roughly half of our volunteers reported actively discussing some type of information related to wildlife both before (50%) and after (54%) the project. However, after volunteering they were 84% more likely to discuss local mammals or local mammal conservation. The likelihood of discussing local mammals was positively influenced by the number of predator photos captured by volunteers, showing that the type of experience can influence how information is spread through a volunteer's social network. Citizen science can connect people to the natural world while simultaneously providing reliable data for conservation.
The Role of 3α-Hydroxy-5α-Pregnan-20-One in Mediating the Development and/or Expression of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Findings in Rodents Models and Clinical Populations

Neurosteroids, including 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP), mediate stress-responding, and the function and development of the central nervous system. 3α,5α-THP can be produced in the brain or metabolized from peripheral sources, including the adrenals, gonads, and placenta. 3α,5α-THP has actions to dampen stress-responding and reinstate parasympathetic tone. There are sex differences in stress-responding, such that women are more stress-responsive than men. Further, there are sex differences in 3α,5α-THP, such that women have greater variations across the menstrual cycle and across the lifespan compared to men. Similar differences and variations in 3α,5α-THP are observed among rodent species, and elevated levels of 3α,5α-THP are associated with dampened stress-responding. These sex differences in stress-responding and neurosteroids may be related to sex differences in the incidence and/or expression of schizo-affective disorders. This chapter reviews findings in support of the hypothesis that 3α,5α-THP has a role in schizophrenia and/or affective disorders.
Words and Paradigms: Peter H. Matthews and the Development of Morphological Theory

A comprehensive review of linguistic accounts of the structure of words and their relation to one another would of course have to begin long ago, with the work of grammarians in the classical Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Arabic and other traditions. As a starting point for an understanding of the views on morphology held by linguists today, though, it seems reasonable to focus on the development of this field over the course of the twentieth century, and especially during the last half of that century, a period in which the work of Peter Matthews played a particularly important role.
Fate of Aflatoxin M1 in Cheddar Cheese and in Process Cheese Spread.

Four batches of stirred-curd Cheddar cheese were prepared, using milk which was naturally contaminated with aflatoxin M1. This cheese was analyzed for aflatoxin M1 content at intervals while the cheese ripened for about 1 year. Levels of aflatoxin M1 detected in cheese started low, increased and then leveled off for the remainder of the ripening period. This cheese was used to make process cheese spread. The spread appeared to contain as much or more aflatoxin M1 as the cheese from which it was made. The aflatoxin M1 content of cheese spread appeared to increase, and then return to near original levels during storage at 7°C. Contaminated Cheddar cheese was treated with heat (90°C for 20 min), emulsifying salt (5% Na2HPO4) or both to determine the influence of processing conditions on aflatoxin M1. Samples treated with emulsifying salt or heat showed an increase in aflatoxin M1 content but not as much as when samples were treated with both. The apparent increased in aflatoxin M1 content in natural cheese and in process cheese spread may be associated with greater recovery of toxin by the analytical method as cheese ripens or is treated to make the process cheese spread.
Dietary Fiber Intake in Relation to Knee Pain Trajectory.

Objective Dietary fiber may reduce knee pain in part by lowering body weight and inflammation. In this study, we assessed whether fiber intake was associated with knee pain development patterns. Methods In a prospective, multicenter cohort of 4,796 men and women aged 45-79 years with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis in Osteoarthritis Initiative, participants were followed up annually for 8 years. Dietary fiber was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify WOMAC pain trajectories, which were assessed for the associations with dietary fiber intake using polytomous regression models. Results Of the 4,470 eligible participants (8,940 knees) [mean age: 61.3 (SD: 9.1) years, 58% women], 4.9% underwent knee replacement and were censored at the time of surgery. Four distinct knee pain patterns were identified: no pain (34.5%), mild pain (38.1%), moderate pain (21.2%) and severe pain (6.2%). Dietary total fiber was inversely related to membership in the moderate or severe pain group (both p for trend ≤0.006). Subjects in the highest versus lowest quartile of total fiber had lower risks of belonging to moderate pain (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.93) and severe pain patterns (OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.78). Similar results were found for grain fiber with these two pain patters. Conclusion Our findings suggest that high dietary total or grain fiber, particularly in the recommended daily fiber average intake of 25g per day, was associated with lower risks of belonging to moderate and severe knee pain development patterns over time. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Addition of Cyclosporine to Dasatinib Therapy of Murine Bcr-Abl+ Leukemia Improves Disease Control Independent of Altered Pharmacokinetics

Abstract 600 Although therapy for Bcr-Abl+ leukemia has been revolutionized by the development of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), some patients, particularly those with advanced phase chronic myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have unsatisfactory responses. We have demonstrated that inhibition of calcineurin with cyclosporine (CsA) increases the sensitivity of Bcr-Abl cells to TKI; furthermore, combination therapy with CsA plus dasatinib cured all mice with Bcr-Abl+ ALL, whereas all of the mice treated with dasatinib alone died with leukemia (Gregory et al, Cancer Cell, 2010). While the synergistic effect is independent of MDR1 inhibition by CsA in vitro, the possibility remains that the demonstrated survival advantage of combination therapy is due to altered pharmacokinetics (PK)and increased dasatinib exposure. We sought to determine if co-administration of CsA with dasatinib alters dasatinib PK, if differences in PK are sufficient to explain differences in response to therapy in vivo, and if combination therapy appears to adversely affect T-cell numbers. Bl6 mice were treated with dasatinib (20mg/kg/d), cyclosporine (25mg/kg/d), or both by oral gavage. Serum from peripheral blood was obtained at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after single doses and after one week of therapy (trough, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours). Dasatinib levels were determined by LC/LC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses indicate that after 1 week of therapy, co-administration of CsA with dasatinib increases the Cmax and AUCinf of dasatinib as compared to dasatinib alone (277.4 v. 107.7 ng/ml and 916.8 v 487.4 ng/ml*hr, respectively; Figure A). The PK profiles suggest that co-administration of CsA with dasatinib enhances enteric absorption of dasatinib, but has little effect on its systemic elimination. Next, Arf-/-Bcr-Abl+GFP+ leukemia cells (Williams et al, Genes Dev, 2007) were transferred into unirradiated recipients which were treated with dasatinib (10 or 20 mg/kg/d) or with combination therapy (CsA 25mg/kg/d with dasatinib 5 or 10 mg/kg/d) for 7 days. Leukemia bearing mice were euthanized and the bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood (PBL) and spleens (SPL) were assessed for leukemia burden by flow cytometry. Combined CsA and dasatinib results in better disease control, even at doses predicted to result in similar exposure to dasatinib alone (i.e. half). For example, the mean percentage of GFP+B220+ BM cells was 6.7% in mice treated with dasatinib 10mg/kg/d as compared to 0.1% in mice treated with dasatinib 5mg/kg/d plus CsA (p Disclosures: Off Label Use: The use of cyclosporine as adjunctive therapy for Bcr-Abl+ leukemia will be suggested.
Regulation of humoral immunity by gut microbial products

The intestinal tract provides ideal niches for several different microbial species, which are collectively called the gut microbiota. A key host immune effector that controls the microbiota and prevents mucosal infection is IgA. Gut microbiota-derived factors are largely classified into molecular pattern recognition receptor ligands and nutrient-derived metabolites including short-chain fatty acids and adenosine triphosphate. Along with host-derived factors such as retinoic acid, various cytokines and cytokine-like molecules, gut microbial products profoundly shape B cell responses. Gut microbial products can directly regulate B cell activation and differentiation. They can also indirectly affect B cells through epithelial cells, T cells, and myeloid cell subsets. We highlight the various direct and indirect mechanisms by which microbial products regulate humoral immunity.
Vestibulovaginal leiomyosarcoma in a mare

Summary A 14-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented for a mass within the vestibule and vagina resulting in external compression and incomplete occlusion at the external urethral opening with subsequent difficulty urinating. Examination revealed an approximately 15 × 10 cm lobulated mass within the vestibule and caudal vagina attached via a broad base dorsally. Histopathology of the mass identified a low-grade leiomyosarcoma. Complete resection was not possible, and surgical debulking of the mass was performed during standing sedation using a vessel-sealing and dividing device. The mare was discharged 3 days post-operatively without any complications. Recheck examinations performed at 1 month and 8 months’ post-surgery revealed excellent healing of the surgical site and no apparent tumour regrowth.
Issues in the management of esophageal cancer and geriatric patients

Esophageal cancer is a disease occurring in older adults and given the aging population, the incidence of cancer in the elderly will continue to rise. However, older patients are less likely to receive treatment for their cancers based on age alone. There are limited data and guidelines for how to manage the older patient population but elderly patients can derive benefit from treatment. This review will describe issues specific to older patients with esophageal cancer with a focus on the utilization of geriatric assessment (GA) tools and how to apply geriatric principles to this cancer patients.
Two-dimensional ferromagnetism in few-layer van der Waals crystals: Renormalized spin-wave theory and calculations

Abstract Dimensionality shapes the behavior of magnetism. Recent experiments on quasi two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals crystals have demonstrated unusual ferromagnetic orders and phase transitions distinct from their bulk counterparts. In this work, we present a method using renormalized spin-wave theory to study the ferromagnetic behavior in Heisenberg-type 2D ferromagnets, and apply our method to few-layer Cr2Ge2Te6 crystals. We present the details of the method, which includes a self-consistent updating scheme of the spin-wave spectra at the Hartree-Fock level. The theoretical results obtained quantitatively explain the experimental measurements, showing strong dimensionality effects and sensitive external magnetic-field dependence which leads to easily tunable magnetism in this class of 2D materials. This method can be generalized to study various magnetic phenomena in other systems.
Probabilistic reduction and probabilistic enhancement Contextual and paradigmatic effects on morpheme pronunciation

Research on probabilistic pronunciation variation has generally focused on contextual probability, or the probability of using a linguistic unit (segment, syllable, word, etc.) in the context of a particular utterance. Overwhelmingly, this research has found that higher contextual probability leads to phonetic reduction. Less attention, however, has been given to paradigmatic probability, or the probability of using a particular linguistic form from a paradigm of related forms. The research that has addressed this type of probability has found inconsistent results: Sometimes higher paradigmatic probability leads to phonetic enhancement, and sometimes to phonetic reduction. In this paper I present the results of an experiment exploring the effects of both types of probability simultaneously on the pronunciation of agreement suffixes on English verbs. I find that (i) singular verb suffixes and stems are phonetically reduced when singular agreement is contextually probable; (ii) the nature of the reduction is modulated by verb frequency, consistent with dual-route models of lexical retrieval; and (iii) suffixes are phonetically enhanced when they are paradigmatically probable. I conclude by discussing how the patterns observed in this study shed light on the previous contradictory findings regarding the effects of paradigmatic probability on pronunciation.
DNA vaccination as an anti-inflammatory strategy

Vaccination has become a paradigm of preventative medicine, as it is both efficacious and cost-effective. The ability of vaccines to elicit specific immune responses is the key to their efficacy. There are two methods by which vaccines elicit immune responses. The first vaccines developed consisted of live attenuated pathogens which infect the host and stimulate a protective immune response. This includes the smallpox vaccine and the Sabin polio vaccine. The second method of vaccination was the development of killed pathogens or subunits. This includes the Salk polio vaccine (killed polio virus) and the hepatitis vaccine (recombinant surface antigen glycoprotein). These killed and subunit preparations have been also of great utility.
Biologically Active Organosulfur Compounds from Garlic and Onions: The Search for New Drugs

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa), members of the well known and widely appreciated genus allium were valued by the early Egyptians and Romans both as Open image in new window important dietary constituents and as medicinals for the treatment of many disorders, for example as evidenced by the discovery of garlic cloves and wooden models of onions among the relics found in the burial chambers of the pharaohs and as reported in the writings of the 1st century Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder1 Pliny wrote: “Garlic has very powerful properties, and is of great utility to persons on changes of water or locality. The very smell of it drives away serpents and scorpions, and, according to what some persons say is a cure for wounds made by every kind of wild beast, whether taken with the drink or food, or applied topically. ... Some persons have pre-scribed boiled garlic for asthmatic patients; while others, again have given it raw. ... Three heads of garlic, beaten up in vinegar, give relief in toothache; and a similar result is obtained by rinsing the mouth with a decoction of garlic, and inserting pieces of it in the hollow teeth. ...” Pliny also claimed onion to be effective against 28 different diseases.
Endoscopic Therapy of Colorectal Neoplasms

The endoscopic management of benign colorectal neoplasms not removable by standard snare electrocautery techniques as well as the nonsurgical management of colorectal malignancies are discussed. Endoscopic laser therapy and techniques are emphasized. Recent laser technologic advances are highlighted.
Heterometallic nitrido cluster compounds: Synthesis and characterizations of the first nitrido-containing ruthenium-gold and ruthenium-copper carbonyl cluster complexes

Abstract The first high nuclearity ruthenium-gold-nitrido carbonyl and ruthenium-copper-nitrido carbonyl cluster compounds have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The reaction of [PPN][Ru5(μ5-N)(CO)14], 1, with [Au(PPh3)]NO3 yielded three new hetero-bimetallic ruthenium-gold-nitrido cluster complexes: monogold - tetraruthenium cluster complex Ru4(μ4-N)(CO)12[μ-Au(PPh3)], 2, goldpentaruthenium cluster complex Ru5(μ5-N)(CO)14[μ-Au(PPh3)], 3 and trigoldpentaruthenium cluster complex Ru5(μ5-N)(CO)13[(μ-AuPPh3){μ3-Au(PPh3)}2], 4. Compound 4 was obtained in a much better yield from the reaction of 1 with [{(PPh3)Au}3O][BF4]. Compounds 3 and 4 consist of a square pyramidal cluster of five ruthenium atoms with an interstitial nitrido ligand in the base of the square pyramid. Compound 4 exhibits a dynamical exchange activity that leads to an averaging of all its three AuPPh3 groups on the NMR time scale. Reaction of 1 with [Cu(PPh3)Br]4 yielded three new hetero-bimetallic ruthenium-copper-nitrido cluster complexes: monocopper - tetraruthenium cluster complex [Ru4(μ4-N)(CO)12(μ-CuPPh3)], 5, monocopperpentaruthenium cluster complex [Ru5(μ5-N)(CO)13(PPh3)(μ3-CuPPh3)], 6, and the tricopperpentaruthenium cluster complex [Ru5(μ5-N)(CO)13(μ-CuPPh3){μ3-Cu(PPh3)}2}], 7. The reaction of 1 with [Cu(NCMe)4]BF4 yielded the new complex [Ru5(μ5-N)(CO)14[μ3-Cu(NCMe)], 8. Compounds 6, 7 and 8 each consist of a square pyramidal cluster of five ruthenium atoms with an interstitial nitrido ligand in the base of the square pyramid. Like 4, compound 7 exhibits a dynamical exchange activity on the NMR time scale among its three CuPPh3 groups. All seven compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR and 31P NMR spectroscopies and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.
Prevalence and clinical significance of discordant LI-RADS® observations on multiphase contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with cirrhosis

To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of discordant LI-RADS® (Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System) liver observations on multiphase contrast-enhanced (MCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cirrhosis. This cross-sectional study included 93 cirrhosis patients who underwent 1.5 or 3 T MCE MRI for evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two abdominal radiologists independently reviewed T1-, T2-, diffusion-weighted unenhanced images as well as MCE T1-weighted fat-suppressed images and reported liver observations using LI-RADS®. Concordance were recorded for detection (co-detected by both radiologists or not), size category (< 10; 10–19; ≥ 20 mm), and LI-RADS® category assignment as reportable (LR-3/4/5/M) and actionable (LR-4/5/M). The overall concordance (i.e., concordant in detection, size, and LR-category) was calculated with 95% confidence interval [CI], and separately for detection, size, and LR-category. Clinical significance of discordance was assessed as impact on follow-up imaging, referral for biopsy, liver transplant eligibility, or treatment modality. Reportable and actionable observations were overall concordant between two radiologists only in 32.3% [24.6, 41.0] and 40.1% [29.5, 51.5] of cases, respectively. Poor overall concordance was related to detection concordance of 52.0% [44.3, 59.5] and 62.5% [52.3, 71.8], as well as LR-category concordance of 73.7% [61.6, 83.1] and 70.9% [57.3, 81.6], for reportable and actionable observations, respectively. Discordant LI-RADS® observations would have impacted clinical management in 30 subjects (43.5%), most (66.7%) of whom were due to discordant detection. Discordant MRI LI-RADS® observations are common in patients with cirrhosis and may have potential implications for patient management.
Blood flow restriction does not augment low force contractions taken to or near task failure.

Low-load exercise performed to or near task failure appears to result in similar skeletal muscle adaptations as low-load exercise with the addition of blood flow restriction (BFR). However, there m...
High-temperature superconductivity in LaH 10

The recent discovery of a high critical temperature ${T}_{c}$ in compressed ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}\mathrm{S}$ has been followed by the prediction of Liu et al. of ${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}250$ K in the clathrate ${\mathrm{LaH}}_{10}$ structure. This report has been confirmed experimentally by Somayazulu et al. and Drozdov et al. Additional theoretical work by Wang et al. and Quan et al. further established the mechanism of electron-phonon interaction and the dominant role of hydrogen. In the present Rapid Communication we follow the classic McMillan paper, which separates the electron and phonon contributions to the electron-phonon coupling $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. We first compute the numerator of McMillan's expression, the Hopfield parameter $\ensuremath{\eta}$, using the theory of Gaspari and Gyorffy (GG), and obtain the force constants in the denominator from Wang et al. and Quan et al. The resulting $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is used in the Allen-Dynes equation to calculate ${T}_{c}$. The value of ${T}_{c}$ reaches a maximum in the range of 236--263 K at pressures of 255 GPa and decreases for smaller or larger pressures. We provide a thorough analysis of the different terms of the GG equation and draw the conclusion that the $sp$ channel of the hydrogen is the most important contribution to obtain high values of ${T}_{c}$ in this material. Consistent with Wang et al., we find large values of $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ that decrease with increasing pressure. In addition, we find that the hydrogen sites are the largest contributors to the total value of the coupling constant $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. That is, the acoustic mode associated with La contributes only 2% to the total $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, while the optic modes associated with H contribute 18% for the H1 site and 80% for the H2 site. These relative contributions to $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ are consistent with those given by Wang et al. and by Quan et al. Thus, our results strongly support the view that ${\mathrm{LaH}}_{10}$ is a metallic hydrogen superconductor.
Cooperation and conflict in state and local innovation during COVID-19

This essay discusses how scholarship on state politics and policy, intergovernmental relations, and federalism provides necessary context for understanding governmental responses to COVID-19. It al...
The Association between Hospital-Physician Vertical Integration and Outpatient Physician Prices Paid by Commercial Insurers: New Evidence.

This study assessed the relationship between hospital ownership of physician organizations (known as hospital-physician vertical integration) and facility fees billed to commercial insurers and phy...
Testing Kumpfer’s Resilience Model Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness:

Having a serious mental illness (SMI) is often associated with significant adversities, and people respond differently to adversities. The existing research supports that people with SMI can achiev...
German Economic Dominance Within the Eurozone and Minsky’s Proposal for a Shared Burden Between the Hegemon and Core Economic Powers

There is no disputing Germany’s dominant economic role within the eurozone (EZ) and the broader European Union. Economic leadership, however, entails responsibilities, especially in a world system of monetary production economies that compete with each other according to political and economic interests. In the first section of this paper, historical context is given to the United States’ undisputed leadership of monetary production economies following the end of World War II to help frame the broader discussion developed in the second section on the requirements of the leading nation-state in the new system of states after the war. The second section goes on further to discuss how certain constraints regarding the external balance do not apply to the leader of the monetary production economies. The third section looks at Hyman P. Minsky’s proposal for a shared burden between the hegemon and other core industrial economies in maintaining the stability of the international financial system. Section four looks at Germany’s leadership role within the EZ and how it must emulate some of the United States’ trade policies in order to make the EZ a viable economic bloc. The break up scenario is considered in the fifth section. The last section summarizes and concludes.
A protocol for isolation of primary human immune cells from the liver and mesenteric white adipose tissue biopsies.

Summary Isolation of viable immune cells from human tissues is critical for the characterization of cellular and molecular processes underlying disease pathogenesis. Here, we describe protocols for the isolation of highly viable immune cells from liver wedges and mesenteric white adipose tissue resections from obese persons. Notably, characterization of the isolated single-immune cell suspensions, via utility of basic immunological interrogations and genetic approaches, promises to generate an improved understanding of altered immunological pathways in obese individuals with or without metabolic diseases. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Moreno-Fernandez et al. (2021) .
CNS Radiation Necrosis in Pediatric Patients Treated With Pencil-Beam Scanning Proton Therapy: Interim Results From a Phase IV Surveillance Trial.

Purpose/Objective(s) An interim analysis of a Phase IV clinical trial was performed to estimate the incidence of CNS radiation necrosis (CNS-RN) and identify predictive parameters. Materials/Methods At the time of analysis, the trial had accrued 366 patients with CNS and base of skull tumors treated with pencil beam scanning proton therapy (PBS-PT). Patients with a prior history of radiation therapy (n = 32), treatments with no reported dose to the brain (n = 4), or incomplete dosimetry (n = 39) were excluded. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the impact of interventions on time to resolution. Events were graded according to CTCAE v4 guidelines. Eloquent cortex was defined as a brain region which, when damaged, lead to severe focal neurologic deficits. Brain and brainstem dose volume histograms were pooled to create complication incidence maps for grade 1+ radiation necrosis. The total probability that the true rate of necrosis exceeded 5% in the brainstem and 10% in the brain was estimated at all dose-volume combinations. Intersections at volumes of 0.1cc and 1cc were assessed at probabilities of 10% and 50%. Results Twenty-three (n = 23) CNS-RN events, corresponding to 15 grade 1 and 8 grade 3 events, were observed in 291 patients resulting in a 2-year CI in grade 3 necrosis of 6.02% +/- 0.013 (s.e). CNS-RN (any grade) was more common in astrocytic-oligodendroglial, embryonal, and ependymal tumors. PBS-PT attribution was likely or plausible in all but 2 events. Although CNS-RN could not be attributed solely to end-of-range effects, 11 (48%) cases occurred in the region of the cervico-medullary junction. Complete resolution of CNS necrosis occurred in all 8 grade 3 patients and in 12 of 15 (80%) grade 1 events. Grade 3 or more severe events were treated with bevacizumab, corticosteroids, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Symptomatic resolution was comparable between treatments although bevacizumab showed an advantage for radiographic resolution (HR 4.3, 95% CI 1.6-11). Factors predictive of symptom resolution were eloquence of the region of necrosis (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.035-0.67, P = 0.0003) and any chemotherapy exposure (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03-0.88, P = 0.034). The probability of true necrosis rate exceeding 5% in brainstem increased from less than 10% to greater than 50% at 58.5CGE to a volume of 0.1cc and 57.7CGE to a volume of 1cc. The probability that the true necrosis rate exceeded 10% in the brain increased from less than 10% to greater than 50% at a dose of 63.1CGE to a volume of 0.1cc. At a volume of 1cc, sparsity of data limited analysis to the less than 50% to greater than 50% probability level, which occurred at 60.5CGE. Conclusion Incidence of radiation necrosis was consistent with photon historical data. These data will aid the development of PBS-PT delivery guidelines aimed at minimizing CNS necrosis risk for children requiring RT which involves or approximates the CNS.
Nitrogen transformations in constructed wetlands: A closer look at plant-soil interactions using chemical imaging.

Abstract Constructed wetlands have long been used for domestic wastewater treatment. Despite the widespread application of constructed wetlands for wastewater remediation, they are still regarded as a black box in terms of the complex biogeochemical processes occurring internally, particularly with respect to plant-soil (and nitrogen) interactions. Additionally, many critical processes pertaining to nitrogen transformations in constructed wetlands are thought to occur in microzones within the rhizosphere, highlighting the need for studies with sub-cm spatial resolution. In this study we coupled nitrogen porewater measurements with chemical imaging to determine spatio-temporal patterns in porewater O2 and pH to assess the extent of plant-induced changes in soil redox dynamics that influence nitrogen biogeochemical cycling during dosed application of nitrogen-rich artificial wastewater. Planar optode imaging revealed extensive O2 fluxes to otherwise anoxic sediment via radial oxygen loss (ROL) from Typha latifolia roots. The contribution of photosynthetic O2 from this plant species was minimal as a strong oxic signal persisted in darkness (diel cycles). NH4+ and NOx− removal were strongly correlated with the extent of oxic and anoxic areas, a function largely attributed to the presence of plants and the associated enhanced microbial communities supported. The distribution of nitrogen species within the Typha rhizosphere exhibited reproducible trends as a function of distance from roots, with concentrations highest close to roots (1–5 mm from root surface) and subsequently decreasing at greater distances. Microscale spatio-temporal redox heterogeneity within the rhizosphere due to ROL imposed by plants promoted nitrogen removal likely by stimulating the coupling between nitrification and denitrification in these systems. Collectively, this study highlights the profound importance of plants in exerting controls on soil conditions and nitrogen cycling in constructed wetland systems. With careful considerations, constructed wetlands designed to promote wetland plants' functions may enhance nitrogen removal and mitigate nitrogen pollution.
Conversations With Ray Bradbury

This collection of interviews captures the imagination of the writer widely regarded as "the granddaddy of science fiction." However, Ray Bradbury considers Fahrenheit 451 to be his only science-fiction novel and his others, including The Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and The Illustrated Man, to be more fantasy and horror than science fiction. Bradbury, born in 1920, began reading voraciously quite early. He enjoyed the pulp magazine Amazing Stories when it first appeared. He came to maturity just before World War II, when Nazis were firing V-1 and V-2 rockets at Britain, and began writing fiction as the space age was coming to full stride. In addition to having a moon crater named in his honor, he has received science fiction's Nebula Grandmaster Award for his lifetime achievements and in 2000 the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. "The writer's vocabulary need not be extensive," Bradbury says. "He shouldn't throw unusual words at the reader, but I do believe in using the right word. The reader should be given something more than the basic meaning by the use of words that are dynamic and colorful, that provide pictures for the reader." Since 1941, when Super Science Stories bought his first story, Bradbury has written and published hundreds of short stories, as well as novels, essays, dramas, operas, teleplays, poems, and screenplays. His film work in Ireland crafting the screenplay for John Huston's Moby-Dick in 1954 established Bradbury as a fixture in Hollywood. Versions of his works have been shown on all the major networks, and USA Network produced sixty-five of his teleplays for The Ray Bradbury Theater. During his career Bradbury has given more than 300 interviews. The selection included in this volume begins in 1948, spans more than five decades, and charts Bradbury's long creative life. A recent Ph.D. graduate from Florida State University, Steven Aggelis teaches at Tallahassee Community College.
Access(ing) the Coordination of Writing Networks

Abstract In this article, I engage the discussion of access within the field of computers and writing and revisit the issue of the digital divide. My discussion of access focuses on operationalizing access as what Annette Powell calls “access(ing)” (2007), a process of enacting and coordination between humans and nonhumans. Drawing on Actor-Network Theory and digital literacy narrative methodology, I present the story of Diana as a problematic case study through which I ask scholars to think about accessing in deeply ecological and newly traceable ways. I end by noting that stories like Diana's challenge researchers to think of accessing as enacted, distributed, and traceable across networks.
Transitional B Lymphocyte Subsets Operate as Distinct Checkpoints in Murine Splenic B Cell Development

Signaling through the Ag receptor is required for peripheral B lymphocyte maturation and maintenance. Defects in components of the B cell receptor (BCR) signalosome result in developmental blocks at the transition from immature (heat-stable Ag (HSA)(high)) to mature (HSA(low)) B cells. Recent studies have subdivided the immature, or transitional, splenic B cells into two subsets, transitional 1 (T1) and transitional 2 (T2) cells. T1 and T2 cells express distinct surface markers and are located in distinct anatomic locations. In this report, we evaluated the BCR signaling capacity of T1 and T2 B cell subsets. In response to BCR engagement, T2 cells rapidly entered cell cycle and resisted cell death. In contrast, T1 cells did not proliferate and instead died after BCR stimulation. Correlating with these results, T2 cells robustly induced expression of the cell cycle regulator cyclin D2 and the antiapoptotic factors A1/Bfl-1 and Bcl-x(L) and exhibited activation of Akt. In contrast, T1 cells failed to up-regulate these markers. BCR stimulation of T2 cells also led to down-regulation of CD21 and CD24 (HSA) expression, resulting in a mature B cell phenotype. In addition, T2 cells from Bruton's tyrosine kinase-deficient Xid mice failed to generate these proliferative and survival responses, suggesting a requirement for the BCR signalosome specifically at the T2 stage. Taken together, these data clearly demonstrate that T2 immature B cells comprise a discrete developmental subset that mediates BCR-dependent proliferative, prosurvival, and differentiation signals. Their distinct BCR-dependent responses suggest unique roles for T1 vs T2 cells in peripheral B cell selection.
Orthopaedic Aspects of Intraspinal Tumors in Infants and Children

1. A consecutive series of 115 intraspinal tumors in infants and children, treated between 1933 and 1963 at the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston, is presented. About one-half of the tumors were treated during the first four years of life; these included congenital cysts, dermoid and teratoid tumors, and many neuroblastomata. Intramedullary gliomata were encountered in children of all ages. Neurofibromata and meningiomata, which are so common in adults, were rarely seen in these children. 2. The clinical picture, laboratory findings, and differential diagnosis are discussed. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment before the development of extensive neuromuscular damage is stressed. This is most important, because many of these lesions are benign and grow very slowly. 3. Whenever an intraspinal tumor in a child is suspected, adequate investigation is imperative including (a) repeated careful motor, reflex, and sensory examination and evaluation of sphincter function; (b) examination of cerebrospinal-fluid dynamics and protein content by lumbar puncture; (c) careful examination of roentgenograms of the entire spine; and (d) myelography whenever any abnormality in the foregoing studies is detected. 4. Treatment and results are presented. Forty-seven of the 115 patients died less than eight years after operation. One patient died fifteen years and another twenty-four years following surgery. Of the sixty-six patients still alive, fifty-eight were recently examined by the authors. The length of follow-up ranged from one to thirty years, with an average of twelve years. 5. Postoperatively, 83 per cent of all patients required orthopaedic care because of musculoskeletal abnormality. Experiences with orthopaedic management of paralytic deformities of the extremities and spine are presented. Scoliosis occurred in thirty-six patients and kyphosis in thirty patients. The importance of postoperative support to the spine in growing children with intraspinal tumors is emphasized. This is especially true when laminectomy is extensive, when there is associated muscle weakness, and after irradiation of the spine. Orthopaedic surgical treatment is indicated only when one is sure that the disease process is not progressive and that the pattern of paralysis is not changing. 6. It is hoped that this presentation will alert all physicians to the possibility of spinal-cord tumor whenever a child is found to have torticollis, scoliosis, unexplained limp, weakness of an extremity, sphincter disturbance, or an obscure pain in the trunk or art extremity. It is further hoped that with earlier diagnosis of the frequently benign slowly growing intraspinal tumors of childhood, much irreversible damage to the spinal cord can be prevented. Expert neurosurgical treatment of these tumors must be supplemented by immediate and continued orthopaedic management to minimize the occurrence and severity of fixed deformities of the spine and extremities.
Optimal table lookup for reserved words in Ada

Recently a colleague wanted to include a section on perfect hashing functions in the latest edition of a book [4], and after an on-line search brought up a reference of mine [8], he sent me an email asking if I could generate a minimal perfect hashing function (MPHF) for the set of reserved words in Ada 2005. This is a summary of the process that determined one.
Thallium-205 NMR study of ti(I) macrocyclic complexes in nonaqueous solvents

Abstract Thallium-205 and carbon-13 NMR measurements were used to determine, in nonaqueous solvents, the stabilities of thallium(I) complexes with macrocyclic ligands of different structures but very nearly the same cavity sizes. In a given solvent the complexing abilities of the ligand vary in the order DA18C6 > 18C6 > DC18C6 > DB18C6 > DT18C6. In all cases the stabilities of the complexes varied inversely with the Gutmann donicities of the solvents.
The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol mediates D1 and D2 receptor cooperative enhancement of rat nucleus accumbens core neuron firing.

Many motivated and addiction-related behaviors are sustained by activity of both dopamine D1- and D2-type receptors (D1Rs and D2Rs) as well as CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Here, we use in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology to describe an endocannabinoid (eCB)–dopamine receptor interaction in adult rat NAc core neurons. D1R and D2R agonists in combination enhanced firing, with no effect of a D1R or D2R agonist alone. This D1R+D2R-mediated firing increase required CB1Rs, since it was prevented by the CB1R antagonists AM251 and Rimonabant. The D1R+D2R firing increase also required phospholipase C (PLC), the major synthesis pathway for the eCB 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and one of several pathways for anandamide. Further, inhibition of 2-AG hydrolysis with the monoglyceride lipase (MGL) inhibitor JZL184 allowed subthreshold levels of D1R+D2R receptor agonists to enhance firing, while inhibition of anandamide hydrolysis with the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors URB597 or AM3506 did not. Filling the postsynaptic neuron with 2-AG enabled subthreshold D1R+D2R agonists to increase firing, and the 2AG+D1R+D2R increase in firing was prevented by a CB1R antagonist. Also, the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) blocker MPEP prevented the ability of JZL184 to promote subthreshold D1R+D2R enhancement of firing, while the 2-AG+D1R+D2R increase in firing was not prevented by the mGluR5 blocker, suggesting that mGluR5s acted upstream of 2-AG production. Thus, our results taken together are consistent with the hypothesis that NAc core eCBs mediate dopamine receptor (DAR) enhancement of firing, perhaps providing a cellular mechanism underlying the central role of NAc core D1Rs, D2Rs, CB1Rs, and mGluR5s during many drug-seeking behaviors.
Assessing the acceptability of behavioral interventions used in classrooms

This study examined components of teacher judgements that an intervention is either acceptable or unacceptable. A total of 180 preservice and student teachers were asked to evaluate the acceptability of six different interventions. The evaluations of acceptability were assessed using a 20–item rating scale. A factor analysis of the rating scale yielded one major dimension, a general acceptability factor, and four secondary dimensions of intervention acceptability: risk to the target child, amount of teacher time required, effects of the intervention on other children, and amount of teacher skill required. Results are discussed in terms of designing interventions that are both effective and usable by classroom teachers.
The effect of CO on hydrogen permeation through Pd and through internally oxidized and un-oxidized Pd alloy membranes

Pd alloy permeation membranes such as Pd–Al and Pd–Fe which have been internally oxidized are more resistant to inhibition by CO(g) than Pd or un-oxidized alloy membranes. The increased resistance to CO is found to be greater at 423 K than at 473 K or 523 K. In these experiments CO was pre-adsorbed onto the membranes and then H2 was introduced to initiate the H permeation.