cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrocephalus caused by conditional ablation of the Pten or beta-catenin gene

To investigate the roles of Pten and β-Catenin in the midbrain, either the Pten gene or the β-catenin gene was conditionally ablated, using Dmbx1 (diencephalon/mesencephalon-expressed brain homeobox gene 1)-Cre mice. Homozygous disruption of the Pten or β-catenin gene in Dmbx1-expressing cells caused severe hydrocephalus and mortality during the postnatal period. Conditional deletion of Pten resulted in enlargement of midbrain structures. β-catenin conditional mutant mice showed malformation of the superior and inferior colliculi and stenosis of the midbrain aqueduct. These results demonstrate that both Pten and β-Catenin are essential for proper midbrain development, and provide the direct evidence that mutations of both Pten and β-catenin lead to hydrocephalus.
Stress singularity at a sharp edge in contact problems with friction

The paper discusses the nature of the singularity that arises at a sharp edge in contact problems with friction. The theoretical treatment is based on the Mellin transform of the elastic fields. The results regarding the power singularities confirm the previous work of Gdoutos and Theocaris, but it is shown that logarithmic singularities are always present. Some experimental observations in photoelasticity are also presented.
Individual Differences in Children's Working Memory and Writing Skill

The purpose of this research is to address (a) whether individual differences in working memory (WM) and writing are related to a general or process-specific system, (b) whether WM tasks operate independently of phonological short-term memory (STM) on measures of writing and reading, and (c) whether working memory predicts variance in writing beyond that predicted by reading alone. The present study correlated several WM and phonological STM measures with writing and reading measures. The study showed among the memory measures that a four-factor model reflecting phonological STM, verbal WM span, executive processing, and visual-spatial WM span best fit the multivariate data set. Working memory was correlated significantly with a number of writing measures, particularly those related to text generation. WM measures contributed unique variance to writing that was independent of reading skill, and STM measures best predicted transcription processes and reading recognition, whereas WM measures best predicted text generation and reading comprehension. Both verbal and visual-spatial working memory measures predicted reading comprehension, whereas only WM measures that reflect executive processing significantly predicted writing. In general, the results suggest that individual differences in children's writing reflect a specific capacity system, whereas reading comprehension draws upon a multiple capacity system.
School Engagement: Potential of the Concept, State of the Evidence

The concept of school engagement has attracted increasing attention as representing a possible antidote to declining academic motivation and achievement. Engagement is presumed to be malleable, responsive to contextual features, and amenable to environmental change. Researchers describe behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement and recommend studying engagement as a multifaceted construct. This article reviews definitions, measures, precursors, and outcomes of engagement; discusses limitations in the existing research; and suggests improvements. The authors conclude that, although much has been learned, the potential contribution of the concept of school engagement to research on student experience has yet to be realized. They call for richer characterizations of how students behave, feel, and think—research that could aid in the development of finely tuned interventions
Student Evaluations in Marketing: What is Actually being Measured?:

An analysis of one university's student evaluation used to measure teaching effectiveness in marketing classes found that students' perceptions of fairness, instructor knowledge and interest, and student learning all were related to how the instructor was evaluated. The rigor of the class was negatively related to the evaluation. The personality of the instructor was related to all other variables and was almost twice as strong of a predictor of the final evaluation as any other factor.
Continued Pteridophyte Invasion of Hawaii

Abstract Two new alien pteridophytes have become established in the Hawaiian Islands since 1996, bringing the total of naturalized alien ferns to 32. Also, established alien species continue to spread onto new islands.
Some results on simple supercuspidal representations of GL n ( F )

Abstract Let F be a non-archimedean local field of characteristic zero with residual characteristic p. In this paper, we first present a simple proof and construction of the local Langlands correspondence for simple supercuspidal representations of GL n ( F ) , when p ∤ n . Our proof relies on the existence of the local Langlands correspondence for GL n ( F ) , due to Harris/Taylor and Henniart. We then prove Jacquet's conjecture on the local converse problem for GL n ( F ) in the case of simple supercuspidal representations, following the strategy of Jiang, Nien and Stevens. Recently, Reeder and Yu constructed a family of epipelagic supercuspidal representations for semi-simple p-adic groups. In the last part of our paper, we show that the analogous construction for GL n ( F ) produces only simple supercuspidals. In the process, we conclude that the constructed epipelagic supercuspidals of Reeder and Yu may not necessarily exhaust all epipelagic supercuspidals of a p-adic group.
Detection of hydrogen peroxide based on long-path absorption spectroscopy using a CW EC-QCL

ABSTRACT A sensor system based on a CW EC-QCL (mode-hop-free range 1225-1285 cm -1 ) coupled with long-path absorption spectroscopy was developed for the monitoring of gas-phase hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) using an interference-free absorption line located at 1234.055 cm -1 . Wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) with second harmonic detection was implemented for data processing. Optimum levels of pressu re and modulation amp litude of the sensor system led to a minimum detection limit (MDL) of 25 ppb using an integration time of 280 sec. The selected absorption line for H 2 O 2 , which exhibits no interference from H 2 O, makes this sensor system suitable for sensitive and selective monitoring of H 2 O 2 levels in decontamination and sterilization processes based on Vapor Phase Hydrogen Peroxide (VPHP) units, in which a mixture of H 2 O and H 2 O 2 is generated. Furthermore, continuous real-time monitoring of H 2 O 2 concentrations in industrial facilities employing this species can be achieved with this sensing system in order to evaluate average permissible exposure levels (PELs) and potential exceedances of guidelines established by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration for H
Testing Multiple Goals Theory With Low-Income, Mother-Child Spanish-Speakers: Language Brokering Interaction Goals and Relational Satisfaction

One hundred dyads of low-income, Spanish-speaking mothers and their bilingual children (age = 12-18) who act as language brokers (i.e., culturally/linguistically mediate between their mothers and English-speakers) were surveyed. Multiple goals theory was tested and extended by examining how mother and child perceptions of own and partner interaction goals across language brokering episodes were associated with mother-child relational satisfaction. An actor-partner interdependence model revealed that goals related to face, trust, and ethnic identity were associated with mother and child relational satisfaction. For both mothers and children, perceptions of own and partner goals (i.e., actor effects), and interactions between own reported and partner perceptions of the same goal (i.e., actor-partner effects) linked with mother-child relational satisfaction. Mother and child goal management during language brokering may have broader relational repercussions.
Ryk controls remapping of motor cortex during functional recovery after spinal cord injury

Limited functional recovery can be achieved through rehabilitation after incomplete spinal cord injury. Eliminating the function of a repulsive Wnt receptor, Ryk, in mice and rats by either conditional knockout in the motor cortex or monoclonal antibody infusion resulted in increased corticospinal axon collateral branches with presynaptic puncta in the spinal cord and enhanced recovery of forelimb reaching and grasping function following a cervical dorsal column lesion. Using optical stimulation, we observed that motor cortical output maps underwent massive changes after injury and that hindlimb cortical areas were recruited to control the forelimb over time. Furthermore, a greater cortical area was dedicated to controlling the forelimb in Ryk conditional knockout mice than in controls (wild-type or heterozygotes). In the absence of weekly task-specific training, recruitment of ectopic cortical areas was greatly reduced and there was no significant functional recovery even in Ryk conditional knockout mice. Our study provides evidence that maximal circuit reorganization and functional recovery can be achieved by combining molecular manipulation and targeted rehabilitation.
Spotlight on HDL biology: new insights in metabolism, function, and translation

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) have captured the imagination of scientists and physicians from virtually the time they were originally described, but especially after the cholesterol carried in HDL (HDL-C) was shown to be strongly and inversely associated with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).1 This observation, replicated in many populations around the world, has led to the popular view of HDL-C as the ‘good cholesterol’ and to the belief that intervention to raise plasma levels of HDL-C would lead to reduction in risk of CHD (the ‘HDL hypothesis’). Because of its obvious clinical relevance, the structure, function, metabolism, and regulation of HDL has been studied in great detail by hundreds of laboratories around the world. The science and biology of HDL is a mature field that has been informed by structural biology, lipid and protein biochemistry, model systems, human genetics and physiology, and pharmacology. Although much has been learned, there remain major questions surrounding HDL, not the least of which includes recent scepticism about the fundamental HDL hypothesis. Two major developments over the last few years, in human genetics and clinical trials with pharmacological agents, have led to doubts about the HDL hypothesis. Human genetics have taught us a great deal about HDL metabolism. Mendelian disorders of extreme low and high HDL-C levels have been extremely informative regarding the key roles of specific proteins.2 More recently, unbiased genome-wide studies have led to scores of additional loci associated with HDL-C levels.3 A focus of intense interest has been the relationship between genetic factors that influence HDL-C levels and risk of CHD. It is interesting that despite decades of study, the three Mendelian causes of extremely low HDL-C — apoA-I structural mutations, …
Detection and Identification of Amino Acids in Ficoll Solutions with Femtosecond Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

We report femtosecond Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) measurements on several amino acids (Serine, Glutamine, and Cysteine) and Albumin protein solutions mixed with ficoll at different concentrations. The goal is to assess the effects of a host matrix on the identification and spectral characterization of amino acids by fs-LIBS. fs-LIBS utilizes an intense short laser pulse to obliterate a sample into basic constituents and to record the emission spectrum of atoms, ions, and molecules in the cooling down of the plasma plume. Several spectral peaks associated primarily with elemental composition of a sample were observed in the fs-LIBS spectra in a range from 200 to 950 nm. In addition, some molecular information associated with diatomic vibrational modes in certain molecules such as C-C and C-N were also obtained. The presence of ficoll affects the relative intensity and broadening of the C-N band, which is a signature of the amino acids. The influence of ambient gas on the fs-LIBS measurements was also analyzed under helium and argon environments, and a different behavior of peaks associated with He and Ar as a function of amino acids and ficoll mixture composition was observed. The fs-LIBS data and their analysis compare favorably with those derived from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Interpretation of the spectral information enclosed in the emission of the diatomic molecules during laser ablation may lead to a better understanding of plume chemistry with a direct consequence on chemical analysis of complex samples such as amino acids. Altogether, the results demonstrate the potential of fs-LIBS technique as a detection method of biomolecules and for probing interactions of these biomolecules with a host matrix.
Urolithiasis in chinchillas: 15 cases (2007 to 2011)

Objective To evaluate the signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic test results, treatment and outcome of chinchillas diagnosed with urolithiasis. Methods Medical records of 15 chinchillas diagnosed with urolithiasis were retrospectively reviewed. Results All animals were male with a median age of 30 months (range: 11 to 132 months). Haematuria, pollakiuria and stranguria were the most common presenting complaints. Of 15 animals, 12 had abnormal physical abdominal examination, including pain and palpable cystic calculi. Uroliths were diagnosed in the urinary bladder, urethra or both. Nine animals had cystic calculi only. Four out of 6 chinchillas with urethral calculi were euthanased within 1 day of diagnosis. There was recurrence of cystic calculi following cystotomy in 5/10 animals and median time to recurrence was 68 days (range: 19 to 440 days). Median survival time in chinchilla with urolith recurrence was 391 days (range: 74 to 1074 days) following initial diagnosis. Disease-free follow-up time in 5/10 chinchillas without urolith recurrence following surgical removal was 2204 days (range: 1914 to 2535 days). Clinical Significance Cystic uroliths in male chinchillas carry a better prognosis than urethral uroliths. Recurrence of urolithiasis is common.
Determination of chlorpromazine in pork by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Objective To establish a method for the determination of chlorpromazine in pork by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Methods The sample was homogenized and extracted by ethyl acetate,degreased by hexane and acetonitrile,purified by solid phase extraction,and eluted by 5% ammoniated methanol.Ion fragments of 86,233,272 and 318 were selected for qualitative and quantitative analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results Good linearities were shown in 0.051-0.25 μg/ml with the relative coefficients of 0.999 2.The limit of detection was 2.0 μg/kg.The average recoverys were from 87.1% to 97.3% and the relative standard derivation was 3.15%.Conclusion It could be applied to determine the chlorpromazine in pork.
The Value of Continuity between Primary Care and Surgical Care in Colon Cancer.

Background Improving continuity between primary care and cancer care is critical for improving cancer outcomes and curbing cancer costs. A dimension of continuity, we investigated how regularly patients receive their primary care and surgical care for colon cancer from the same hospital and whether this affects mortality and costs. Methods Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program Registry (SEER)-Medicare data, we performed a retrospective cohort study of stage I-III colon cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009. There were 23,305 stage I-III colon cancer patients who received primary care in the year prior to diagnosis and underwent operative care for colon cancer. Patients were assigned to the hospital where they had their surgery and to their primary care provider’s main hospital, and then classified according to whether these two hospitals were same or different. Outcomes examined were hazards for all-cause mortality, subhazard for colon cancer specific mortality, and generalized linear estimate for costs at 12 months, from propensity score matched models. Results Fifty-two percent of stage I-III colon patients received primary care and surgical care from the same hospital. Primary care and surgical care from the same hospital was not associated with reduced all-cause or colon cancer specific mortality, but was associated with lower inpatient, outpatient, and total costs of care. Total cost difference was $8,836 (95% CI $2,746–$14,577), a 20% reduction in total median cost of care at 12 months. Conclusions Receiving primary care and surgical care at the same hospital, compared to different hospitals, was associated with lower costs but still similar survival among stage I-III colon cancer patients. Nonetheless, health care policy which encourages further integration between primary care and cancer care in order to improve outcomes and decrease costs will need to address the significant proportion of patients receiving health care across more than one hospital.
National Service, the Gurkhas and the Reorganization of the British Army, 1946–48

At the end of World War II, Britain needed all available manpower to rebuild its industry and economy. The government therefore demobilized its wartime conscripts as fast it could in consonance with post-hostilities commitments, but its actions nonetheless left the British Army with an acute manpower shortage. The loss of the Indian Army as an Imperial strategic reserve only worsened the shortage. As a means of filling the depleted ranks, the British government continued limited conscription after the war and in 1947 approved the country’s first ever peacetime compulsory service in an effort to build a large reserve army. Because the first National Service intakes in 1949 would not move to the reserve until 1950, the government realized it needed to take interim measures to cover the Army’s immediate manpower requirements. Government and defense officials therefore considered a variety of options to meet short-term shortages up to 1950, the three most prominent options of which were to raise a foreign legion, promote the build-up of colonial forces, and transfer the Gurkhas from the Indian to the British Army. The government quickly abandoned the foreign legion concept and only slowly built up the colonial forces, but it pressed ahead with the development of a Gurkha division in the British Army. Forming Britain’s only body of all-volunteer, professional soldiers, the Gurkhas were stationed in Malaya where they were supposed to train for their intended wartime role in the Middle East.
Practical Ethics in Public Administration

(2003). Practical Ethics in Public Administration. Public Integrity: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 278-281.
A GaN-based flying-capacitor multilevel boost converter for high step-up conversion

Compact high step-up DC/DC conversion to provide high DC voltage has numerous applications. A conventional boost converter has many limitations with regard to achieving high voltage gain with high power density and efficiency. The flying-capacitor multilevel (FCML) converter topology has many inherent advantages to overcome many of the limitations of the conventional boost converter. In this work, a GaN-based 7-level flying capacitor multilevel boost converter prototype has been implemented and achieved 100 V to 914 V conversion at 750 W output power with 92.7% peak efficiency, and 200 V to 966 V conversion at 900 W output power with 93.7% peak efficiency within the tested load range.
A Low-Power Low-Noise Open-loop Amplifier for Neural Recording

The signal path in a neural recording system must typically start with an amplifier in order to boost the signal levels and buffer the high source impedance. Because of the small signal amplitudes, amplifier noise must be minimized in order to avoid unnecessary degradation of the signal. Additionally, the high impedance of neural electrodes necessitates a high impedance input.
Thought Work Contested: Ideology and Journalism Education in China

This article examines the dynamic evolution of China's ideology work through the prism of journalism education. Official sensitivity about both student activism and the media makes journalism education a critical sector for observing how the Party attempts to instil ideology. The article interrogates the process of negotiation of official ideology among authorities, educators and students at elite journalism schools. It demonstrates that alongside state-sanctioned media commercialization and globalization, official influence still looms large in journalism training. Ideological teachings continue to occupy a core place in the curricula, and the authorities deploy a mix of structural oversight, ad hoc surveillance and coercion to keep the educators in check. The effects of the official ideology work, however, are ambivalent, as educators and students engage in the active reinterpretation of the Party's media principles. While these practices do not directly undermine the Party's legitimacy, they demonstrate that official ideology has merely constructed what Yurchak terms a “hegemony of form,” highlighting a degree of vulnerability in China's mode of adaptive authoritarianism.
Craniofacial Surgery in the Orbit and Periorbital Region

Orbital reconstruction after ablative cancer surgery is one of the most challenging procedures in facial reconstruction. Thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the orbit and its contents is critical for successful orbital reconstruction. The principal objectives of orbital reconstruction are (1) to provide support to the orbital contents to avoid displacement of the globe and diplopia; (2) to prevent ascending infections by obliterating any communication between the orbit and the nose, mouth, nasopharynx, and anterior skull base; (3) to reconstruct the palatal surface to enhance articulation and deglutition; (4) to reconstruct the lacrimal apparatus; and (5) to provide enough tissue volume to achieve facial symmetry and a good aesthetic result. Following maxillectomy with orbital exenteration, postoperative high-dose adjuvant radiation therapy is often required; therefore, reconstruction usually requires grafting of free tissue flaps from distant donor sites. Reconstruction in patients who have undergone maxillectomy with preservation of the orbital contents but resection of the floor of the orbit can be particularly challenging. The primary goal of reconstruction after orbital exenteration is to either line or fill the orbit with durable tissue that excludes the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and, when there is a cranial defect, protects the brain.
Abstract 161: Kcne2 Gene Deletion Combines With A Western Diet To Cause Early-onset Diabetes Mellitus And Atherosclerosis In Mice

The KCNE2 single transmembrane domain protein regulates multiple types of cardiac voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel in vivo and its disruption causes the ventricular arrhythmia, Long QT Syndrome. Interestingly, a SNP near the human KCNE2 locus was also previously linked to early-onset myocardial infarction (MI). Because KCNE2 is also expressed outside the heart, we are interested in understanding extracardiac defects caused by Kcne2 deletion in mice, and also the potential contribution of these extracardiac defects to cardiac dysfunction. Thus, recently, we found that Kcne2 deletion creates a multifactorial substrate for sudden cardiac death (SCD) that includes diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Because atherosclerosis is the most common cause of MI, here, using Kcne2 -/- mice, we investigated atherosclerosis and other potential predisposing factors in MI and SCD, and quantified the impact of a Western diet (high fat/high cholesterol) on these processes. Previously, we discovered impaired glucose tolerance in adult Kcne2 -/- mice using a standard glucose tolerance assay in which plasma glucose is quantified 0-2 hours following glucose injection. Here, we found that in Kcne2 -/- mice as young as 5 weeks, just 2 weeks on a Western diet induced impaired glucose tolerance, whereas 5-week-old wild-type mice regardless of diet, or Kcne2 -/- mice on a control diet, had normal glucose tolerance. This indicates a strong interaction between diet and Kcne2 deletion in creating early-onset diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerosis was also investigated, using Sudan IV staining of plaques in the aorta of wild-type and Kcne2 -/- mice fed on either standard (control) or Western diet. Strikingly, Kcne2 -/- mice as young as 4.5 months exhibited aortic plaques, and this was accelerated by a Western diet. In contrast, wild-type littermates did not exhibit plaques at this age, regardless of diet. Ongoing studies to determine potential metabolic defects in the liver and pancreas are aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these findings. Our data provide further evidence of the unexpected complexity of monogenic cardiovascular syndromes caused by disruption of genes associated with cardiac arrhythmias.
Material well-being and social exclusion association with children's subjective Well-being: Cross-national analysis of 14 countries

Abstract The relationship between material situation and happiness is hardly examined among children, perhaps because of the almost exclusive use of household income as a proxy for material situation. This article aims to fill this gap by examining the link between material situation and subjective well-being (SWB) from children's perspectives, cross-nationally. Two preliminary measures that reflect children's material situation were developed: Material Resources State (MRS) measure and Social Exclusion measure. They were found to be valid in 13 countries out of the 14 tested, using the 12-year-olds' sample in the second wave of the Children's Worlds survey (N = 16,967). These measures' association with affective and cognitive SWB was then tested, cross-nationally. Findings show both lower MRS and higher social exclusion are associated with lower SWB. However, regression models showed that Social Exclusion has a much greater ability to explain the variance in children's SWB, even after controlling for demographic variables and countries' economic indices, and in the vast majority of the countries. The prominent place of social exclusion was even more salient compared to economic indices (such as GDP and Gini) that showed only very low ability to explain children's SWB; the association between MRS and Social Exclusion with SWB was not found to be stronger in countries with lower GDP and higher inequality as suggested by some of the literature. The findings are discussed in the context of the general debate of the relation between material situation and happiness, bringing also some possible implications for social policy.
Longitudinal community walking activity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: Natural history studies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have not included measures of community ambulation. Methods: Step activity (SA) monitors quantified community ambulation in 42 boys with DMD (4-16 years) with serial enrollment up to 5 years using a repeated measures mixed model. Additionally, data were compared to 10-meter walk/run (10mWR) speed to determine validity and sensitivity. Results: There was a significant decline in average strides/day and all stride rates (low, moderate, high, pediatric high) as a function of age (P<0.05). Significant correlations for 10mWR versus high and low stride rates were found at baseline (P<0.05). SA outcomes were sensitive to change over one-year but the direction and parameter differed by age group (younger vs. older). Changes in strides/day and % high and low frequency strides correlated significantly with changes in 10mWR speed (P<0.05). Discussion: Community ambulation data provide valid and sensitive real-world measures that may inform clinical trials. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A pilot investigation of food insecurity among children seen in an outpatient pediatric nephrology clinic.

Abstract Food insecurity (FI) is common - affecting one in six American households with children. FI is defined as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. Awareness of food insecurity and its impact on health has increased since the American Academy of Pediatrics 2015 policy statement, “Promoting Food Security for All Children.” Though FI is frequently addressed in general pediatric primary care, it is not routinely identified in patients with chronic medical problems. Patients with complex care needs, prescription medication, or restrictive nutritional requirements may be at higher risk of food insecurity. The prevalence of FI in patients with chronic disease, including pediatric patients with kidney disease, remains unknown. We sought to determine the prevalence of FI among our pediatric nephrology clinic patients with a cross-sectional screening pilot study. Nearly 35% of 118 children seen in our pediatric nephrology outpatient clinic lived in food insecure households, a prevalence rate more than double the general pediatric population (16%). Barriers to food security were variable; common themes included challenges with restricted diet and available food, identifying and accessing community resources, and not qualifying for support. For physicians, dietitians, and other health providers that counsel patients with kidney disease on dietary interventions, it is important to be aware of food security status. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the prevalence of food insecurity in pediatric patients with kidney disease. Further studies of food insecurity and social determinants of heath in this patient population are needed.
Soft power and the worldwide promotion of Chinese language learning: The Confucius Institute Project

This book gives comprehensive treatment to The Confucius Institute Project from 2004 to 2015 when the book was written. It contextualizes the Project within the booming economy of China that result...
Failed Rotator Cuff Repair: Case Example 2

Management of failed rotator cuff tear remains a challenge. Although numerous techniques are available for revision rotator cuff repair, a clear diagnostic and treatment algorithm has not been established yet. This case study describes a middle-aged active woman with a recurrent rotator cuff tear after two previous surgeries. Understanding the biology of the rotator cuff is of utmost importance when planning a revision surgery. The patient underwent a successful arthroscopic re-revision by performing a biologic augmentation.
Cannabidiol Inhibits Endocannabinoid Signaling in Autaptic Hippocampal Neurons

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two main cannabinoid constituents of marijuana and hashish. The pharmacology of Δ9-THC has been extensively studied, whereas our understanding of the pharmacology of CBD has remained limited, despite excitement in CBD's potential role in treating certain pediatric epilepsies and its reputation for attenuating some Δ9-THC-induced effects. It was established early on that CBD binds poorly to the orthosteric site of CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors, and its actions were commonly attributed to other noncannabinoid receptor mechanisms. However, recent evidence suggests that CBD does indeed act at cannabinoid CB1 receptors as a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of CB1 signaling. By altering the orthosteric signaling of a G protein-coupled receptor, allosteric modulators greatly increase the richness of G protein-coupled receptor pharmacology. We have recently surveyed candidate CB1 NAMs in autaptic hippocampal neurons, a well-characterized neuronal model of endogenous cannabinoid signaling, and have now tested CBD in this model. We find that although CBD has no direct effect on excitatory transmission, it does inhibit two forms of endogenous cannabinoid-mediated retrograde synaptic plasticity: depolarization-induced suppression of excitation and metabotropic suppression of excitation, while not affecting signaling via GABA-B receptors. These results are consistent with the recently described NAM activity of CBD and suggest interesting possible mechanisms for CBD's therapeutic actions.
Gregarines Infecting Ischnura spp. in Louisiana, U.S.A., Including Description of Geneiorhynchus gradalis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Actinocephalidae: Actinocephalinae) from Ischnura ramburii (Odonata: Zygoptera) in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Geneiorhynchus gradalis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Actinocephalidae: Actinocephalinae) is described from adults of Ischnura ramburii (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Geneiorhynchus gradalis is placed generically by way of its hesperidiform oocysts being released via simple rupture, by the fact that the epimerite is hemispherical and bears many semifalciform spines, and because association occurs late, just prior to syzygy. This species is distinguished from other members of the genus by its distinct oocyst morphometrics (narrowly hesperidiform with distinct bipolar truncations) and by the fact that its epimerite is shallowly toroid, bearing a single anterior row of semifalciform spines and becoming filamentous in mature forms with an absent tumidus. Its diamerite is meager. Herein we describe the new taxon while providing new host and locality records for known actinocephalid gregarines in Louisiana.
Mindtrack: Using brain-computer interface to translate emotions into music

The present work describes Mindtrack, a Brain-Computer Musical Interface that uses real-time brainwave data to allow a user to expressively shape progressive music. In Mindtrack, the user wears an electroencephalogram (EEG) EMO-TIV Insight headset. The raw EEG data is converted into brain wave components, followed by high-level EEG characteristics (such as emotion) that are used to control the music's tempo and key sig-nature. Other musical parameters, such as harmony, rhythm and melody are specified by the user. Tempo and key are calculated according to the emotion detected from the EEG device. In Mindtrack, the brain is the sole instrument used to translate emotions to music. Mindtrack has the potential to increase the quality of life for persons with physical impairments who still desire to express themselves musically. Furthermore, Mindtrack can be used for music therapy, recreation, and rehabilitation.
Humana Inc.-- Managing in a Changing Industry

SUBJECT AREAS: Corporate restructuring; spinoffs; valuation. CASE SETTING: 1992, Health Care Industry. Intensifying competition and change in the U.S. health care industry force a large integrated health care provider to reassess its strategy of operating both hospitals and health insurance plans (HMOs). In an attempt to increase its stock price and operating performance, the company considers a number of restructuring strategies for separating the two businesses, including a corporate spinoff. Alternative options include issuing targeted stock, selling assets, establishing an ESOP, doing a leveraged buyout, and repurchasing stock. The case illustrates how a company under financial stress can use a corporate spinoff to increase its stock market value and effect real improvements in its business. The case also highlights the importance of choosing a financial restructuring strategy to fit the firm's underlying business or strategic problems. I have used the case in a second year elective MBA course on Corporate Restructuring, and in various executive programs taught at the School. The case could also easily be used in an undergraduate course in Finance, since the case is quite friendly on a technical level. Depending on his/her preference, the instructor can use the case to highlight different things, including policy issues in the U.S. healthcare industry, valuation of a company undergoing a corporate restructuring, and choice of restructuring method by a company that is undervalued or underperforming.
The Adrenal Glands in Critical Illness and Injury

Proper functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is necessary for normal homeostasis in children, especially under conditions of stress, such as in critical illness. Disturbances of this axis have been classified collectively under the heading of adrenal insufficiency. Although the majority of literature has focused on children with septic shock, more recent evidence suggests that adrenal insufficiency occurs in a much broader group of critically ill children. Its etiology in pediatric critical illness remains unclear but is most likely multi-factorial. Several studies have suggested possible diagnostic criteria for adrenal insufficiency in pediatric critical illness; however, to date none of these biochemical definitions have been validated by a therapeutic trial. Similarly, current management of this condition in critically ill children remains based primarily on an empiric, best practice approach. Future large scale studies are needed to determine the definitive management of this condition.
Cigarette Smoking and Parkinsonism

One of the most consistent findings in the epidemiology of Parkinsonism is the apparent protective effect of cigarette smoking. At least 16 investigations have addressed this question; almost all of them have demonstrated smokers to have a lower risk than nonsmokers. In general, the results have been statistically significant, with estimated relative risks varying around 0.5 for those with a history of ever smoking compared to those who never smoked. This reduction in risk has been found among males and females, and at all ages. Several investigators have reported a pattern of decreasing risk with increasing amount smoked. Although many of the studies have limitations, in aggregate, the epidemiologic data strongly suggest that smoking could alter the risk of Parkinsonism.
Involuntary Commitment and Other Civil Liberties

Civil libertarians and patient’s rights advocates consistently argue against involuntary civil commitment because of the significant deprivation of liberties involved. Where does one draw the line, balancing individual liberties against protection of society? Did the public hospital system in New York City discharge Goldstein after four days because of concern for his civil rights? Or, did they have a long waiting list and prefer to provide treatment for more compliant, less violent individuals? Did it see Goldstein’s violence as a product of his mental illness or rather, as a personality disorder that could not be treated? These questions have no easy answers. Under what circumstances should people be hospitalized against their will if they have not committed a crime? Today it is agreed by most states that anyone who has a mental illness and is dangerous to him or herself or others, including being unable to care for him or herself would fit the definition. But, assessment and implementation of this standard is variable; many factors impacting upon it, not the least of which is the availability of resources. This chapter will look at some of the legal history behind involuntary commitment as well as some issues involved in the assessment of violent behavior.
Arthroscopic Latissimus Tendon Transfers for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears

Irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in the active population are a common cause of pain, loss of overhead hand positioning, and potentially pseudoparalysis in external rotation and forward elevation. After failure of conservative treatment, a wide variety of surgical techniques have been utilized for treatment including debridement and/or tenodesis, partial repair, superior capsular reconstruction, tendon transfers, as well as reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The latissimus transfer was proposed to augment the diminished external rotation forces and to restore mechanical shoulder balance. This technique has now been utilized for nearly 3 decades with notable improvements in patient reported pain and outcome measures as well as increases in range of motion and strength. Arthroscopic assisted latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (A-LDTT) was subsequently described as a minimally invasive means to reduce iatrogenic deltoid injury and allow precise subscapularis repairs, when necessary. Multiple studies with ≥2 year follow-up have showed similar clinical outcomes to the open technique. A-LDTT is an effective, safe, and reliable treatment option for patients with irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff repairs. This paper will describe our method and experience with the A-LDTT procedure.
Nutrition, diet, and hypertension.

This chapter provides an overview of epidemiologic and clinical evidence for established and suspected dietary risk factors for hypertension. The evidence that diet modification can prevent and lower blood pressure is strong, and recommendations are summarized in the chapter.. Due to various design limitations, inadequate statistical power and measurement issues, studies of single nutrients have generally been inconsistent, except for potassium. Results from the recent Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial and the DASH-Sodium trial, both of which demonstrated effective food-based approaches to blood pressure reduction, are also addressed in the chapter. However, when multiple nutrients or dietary factors are combined in the same intervention strategy as seen in the DASH study, blood pressure is significantly and effectively reduced. Nutrients may have additive or interactive effects when provided together in the diet. In addition to the DASH pattern, important dietary factors include sodium reduction, weight loss, and avoidance of excessive alcohol. The chapter concludes with a summary of qualitative and quantitative recommendations for prevention and control of high blood pressure through dietary means. Consistent efforts to educate and promote adherence to nutritional guidelines by dietetic and other health care professionals are also instrumental to the prevention and management of hypertension.
Performance of a Hospital Pathway for Patients With a New Single Brain Mass

WHAT WE FOUND:Length of stay and time to surgery were significantly reduced after implementation of this admission pathway. Readmission rate was not adversely affected by this change. The protocol ...
Investigating RNN Memory using Neuro-Evolution: Investigating Recurrent Neural Network Memory Structures using Neuro-Evolution

This paper presents a new algorithm, Evolutionary eXploration of Augmenting Memory Models (EXAMM), which is capable of evolving recurrent neural networks (RNNs) using a wide variety of memory structures, such as Delta-RNN, GRU, LSTM, MGU and UGRNN cells. EXAMM evolved RNNs to perform prediction of large-scale, real world time series data from the aviation and power industries. These data sets consist of very long time series (thousands of readings), each with a large number of potentially correlated and dependent parameters. Four different parameters were selected for prediction and EXAMM runs were performed using each memory cell type alone, each cell type with feed forward nodes, and with all possible memory cell types. Evolved RNN performance was measured using repeated k-fold cross validation, resulting in 1210 EXAMM runs which evolved 2,420,000 RNNs in 12,100 CPU hours on a high performance computing cluster. Generalization of the evolved RNNs was examined statistically, providing interesting findings that can help refine the RNN memory cell design as well as inform future neuro-evolution algorithms development.
A new formalism of Dose Surface Histograms for robust modeling of skin toxicity in radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose To present a new formalism for a robust computation of Dose-Surface Histograms (DSHs) to be exploited in the analysis of surface effects in radiation induced toxicity phenomena. Methods A new formal recipe for the DSH extraction is described. It is based on the computation of the Dose-Volume Histogram (DVH) on a 3D structure in the limit of vanishing thickness to approach the two-dimensional organ manifold. The theory is customized for the application to skin description. Results The derived formalism resulted in a redefinition of the generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) and, accordingly, in an extension of the scope of the classical Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) to a DSH-based toxicity modeling. Conclusions Our approach properly fits the intrinsic 3D nature of the DSH computation issue, and guarantees the rotational invariance and the robustness of the results. The proposed formalism can be easily implemented in treatment planning systems for dose optimization and potentially paves the way to a consistent analysis of radiation-induced morbidity endpoints related to surface effects in hollow organs.
Utility of Electrocardiogram and Chest X-Ray for Preoperative Evaluation in Benign Hysterectomy

Abstract Objective: The aims of this research were to evaluate concordance of practice patterns for preoperative electrocardiogram (EKG) and chest X-ray for benign hysterectomy with institutional a...
Early and Definitive Surgical Therapy for Colonic and Rectal Cancer

The term “prophylactic surgery” in regard to cancer is not applicable to many anatomical sites. However, it is increasingly clear that the detection and removal of adenomas substantially reduces the incidence of colonic and rectal cancer.
The Meaning of Maintenance: Software maintenance is more than just bug fixes.

Isn’t software maintenance a misnomer? I’ve never heard of anyone reviewing a piece of code every year, just to make sure it was still in good shape. It seems like software maintenance is really just a cover for bug fixing. When I think of maintenance I think of taking my car in for an oil change, not fixing a piece of code. Are there any people who actually review code after it has been running in a production environment?
Medical financial hardship reported by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cancer survivors compared with non-Hispanic whites.

BACKGROUND Although medical financial hardship (MFH) resulting from sequelae of cancer and treatment has been reported in other racial/ethnic populations, little is known about MFH among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) cancer survivors. METHODS One hundred fifty adult NHPI cancer survivors were identified from the 2014 NHPI National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Cancer survivors were those with a history of cancer (excluding nonmelanoma/unknown type of skin cancer). MFH was defined by 3 domains: 1) material (problem paying or unable to pay medical bills); 2) psychological (worrying about paying medical bills); and 3) behavioral (delaying or forgoing medical care for financial reasons). For comparison, 2098 non-Hispanic white (NHW) cancer survivors were identified from the 2014 NHIS. Logistic regressions were used to identify sociodemographic and health factors associated with experiencing MFH. Stratified analysis by age (<65 vs ≥65 years) and sensitivity analysis using propensity score-matched NHPI and NHW cancer survivors were conducted. Nationally representative estimates were generated using survey weights. RESULTS Among elderly cancer survivors, more NHPIs reported any MFH (59% vs 32%; P = .001), psychological MFH (36% vs 22%; P = .040), and behavioral MFH (27% vs 9%; P = .004) than NHWs. Among survivors aged <65 years, NHPIs reported less MFH (46% vs. 65%; P = .034). Even after propensity score matching, these patterns persisted. Female NHPIs and NHPIs with a college degree were significantly more likely to report MFH, especially material and psychological MFH. CONCLUSIONS A significantly higher proportion of elderly NHPI cancer survivors reported MFH, and this difference persisted even after propensity score matching, which warrants further investigation.