cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-Talk Between VEGF and BMP-6 Pathways Accelerates Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Deficiency in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) results in fracture non-unions. Therefore, it is indispensable to comprehend the combined effect of VEGF and BMPs on the osteogenic differentiation of osteoprogenitor mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are either naturally occurring at the fracture repair site or exogenously added to enhance the bone repair. We found that the combination of VEGF and BMP-6 enhanced COL1A2 expression, which correlated with upregulated expression of osterix, Dlx5, and Msx2 in human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). Cross-talk between VEGF and BMP-6 pathways upregulated activation of p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK) and inhibited activation of protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt), whereas phosphorylation of "mothers against decapentaplegic" homologs 1/5/8 (Smads 1/5/8) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2) was not affected. Consistent with these findings, p38 inhibitor SB203580, or siRNA knockdown of osterix, abrogated crosstalk between the VEGF and BMP-6 pathways and significantly reduced the observed upregulation of COL1A2. Nuclear translocation of the phosphorylated form of osterix was also inhibited by SB203580. Although crosstalk between the VEGF-BMP-6 pathways did not show an effect on the extent of mineralization, inhibition of any one of the three components that were upregulated through the cross-talk, i.e., osterix, Dlx5, and p38 activation, led to a complete inhibition of mineralization. Inhibition of PKB/Akt activation, which is attenuated through the cross-talk, significantly enhanced ALP gene expression. These observations imply that crosstalk between the VEGF and BMP-6 signaling pathways enhances osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.
The economics of routine childhood hepatitis A immunization in the United States: the impact of herd immunity.

OBJECTIVES. Because of the herd-immunity phenomenon, the benefits of immunization against hepatitis A extend beyond those received by those who are vaccinated. This analysis estimates the impact of herd immunity on the cost-effectiveness of routine hepatitis A immunization among US children. PATITENS AND METHODS. In an economic model, the costs and benefits of hepatitis A immunization were estimated for immunizing all US children at age 1 year over a 10-year period starting in 2005. The future burden of disease from hepatitis A was also estimated with this model, and the fraction that would be prevented by herd immunity was modeled by using a previously published analysis of the relationship between hepatitis A vaccination coverage and declines in hepatitis A incidence. RESULTS. Without accounting for herd-immunity effects, the costs of routine immunization would average $32000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained for the first 10 cohorts immunized starting with the 2005 birth cohort. Herd-immunity effects would be expected to produce substantial additional benefits, lowering the cost of the immunization program to $1000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained for the first 10 cohorts. Herd-immunity benefits would be greatest for the first few cohorts, more than doubling the benefits of immunization, and would decline over time. In a univariate sensitivity analysis, estimates were most sensitive to vaccination costs but remained below $20000 per quality-adjusted life-year under all of the assumptions. CONCLUSIONS. Herd-immunity effects more than double the savings from hepatitis A immunization during the first 10 years of the program. After accounting for these effects, immunization is close to cost-neutral on a cost-per-quality-adjusted-life-year basis.
Low-frequency spectrum of homeotropically aligned liquid crystals: optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy of 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl

Abstract The low-frequency spectrum of homeotropically aligned 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl in the smectic-A (Sm-A) phase was obtained by using optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. The absence of a narrow band at 9 cm−1, corresponding to a pseudo-lattice vibration propagating in a direction perpendicular to the smectic layers, suggests that the spectrum of homeotropically aligned Sm-A is due to orientational modes associated with rotation about the long axis of the molecule and translational modes associated with motion in the smectic layers. The spectrum is described by a bimodal lineshape function in which the lower and higher frequency components are attributed respectively to the translational and orientational modes.
Sources of Combustion Irreversibility

Abstract Approximately 1/3 of the useful energy of the fuel is destroyed during the combustion process used in electrical power generation. This study is an attempt to clarify and categorize the reasons for the exergy destruction taking place in combustion processes. The entropy production is separated into three subprocesses: (1) combined diffusion/fuel oxidation, (2) “internal thermal energy exchange” (heat transfer), and (3) the product constituent mixing process. Four plausible process paths are proposed and analyzed. The analyses are performed for two fuels: hydrogen and methane. The results disclose that the majority (about 3/4) of the exergy destruction occurs during the internal thermal energy exchange. The fuel oxidation, by itself, is relatively efficient, having an exergetic efficiency of typically 94% to 97%.
Turbulent near wake of a symmetrical body

F = Ivfl a y a y a y (21) References *van Leer, B., "Flux-Vector Splitting for the Euler Equations,'* Lecture Notes in Physics, Vol. 170, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1982, pp. 507-512. Anderson, W. K., Thomas, J. L., and van Leer, B., "A Comparison of Finite Volume Flux Vector Splittings for the Euler Equations," AIAA Paper 85-0122, Reno, NV, 1985. Thomas, J. L., van Leer, B., and Walters, R. W., "Implicit Flux-Split Schemes for the Euler Equations," AIAA Paper 85-1680, Cincinnati, OH, 1985.
TERMINATION OF ACQUIRED IMMUNOLOGICAL TOLERANCE TO PROTEIN ANTIGENS FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION WITH ALTERED PROTEIN ANTIGENS

Acquired tolerance to BSA in rabbits was terminated following the injection of certain preparations of altered BSA. Injections of Freund's adjuvant containing BSA complexed to anti-BSA, heat-denatured BSA, acetyl-BSA, picryl-BSA, or arsanil-BSA failed to terminate the tolerant state. Except in an occasional tolerant rabbit, injections of these preparations failed to cause the production of precipitating antibody to the altered preparation. Similar results were obtained following injections of alum-precipitated preparations of pepsin-degraded BSA, acetyl-BSA, and picryl-BSA. Injections of Freund's adjuvant containing sulfanil-BSA terminated the tolerant state, but only small amounts of non-precipitating anti-BSA were produced. Injections of Freund's adjuvant containing picryl-acetyl-BSA terminated the tolerant state in two of six rabbits, but again, only small amounts of non-precipitating anti-BSA were produced. Injections of an alum-precipitated preparation of picryl-acetyl-BSA failed to terminate the tolerant state. On the other hand, injections of Freund's adjuvant containing arsanil-sulfanil-BSA terminated the tolerant state in eleven of eleven rabbits and caused the production of precipitating anti-BSA in all nine of the rabbits tested. The tolerant state was terminated also in six of six rabbits injected with an alum-precipitated preparation of arsanil-sulfanil-BSA. Only one of these rabbits produced precipitating anti-BSA. In addition, the injection of BGG-tolerant rabbits with arsanil-BGG, sulfanil-BGG, or arsanil-sulfanil-BGG terminated the tolerant state. These results were discussed in relation to both the clonal selection theory of antibody production and autoimmunity.
Intramolecular photochemical reactions of N-alkyl-5-phenyl-4-penten-1-amines

Abstract Irradiation of N-alkyl-5-phenyl-4-penten-1-amines results in the formation of intramolecular styrene-amine adducts and disproportionation products. Increasing the bulk of the N-alkyl group increases the regioselectivity of N-H transfer favoring the formation of piperidine vs. pyrrolidine products and favors disproportionation vs. cyclization.
The autonomy paradox: : The implications of mobile email devices for knowledge professionals

Our research examines how knowledge professionals use mobile email devices to get their work done and the implications of such use for their autonomy to control the location, timing, and performance of work. We found that knowledge professionals using mobile email devices to manage their communication were enacting a norm of continual connectivity and accessibility that produced a number of contradictory outcomes. Although individual use of mobile email devices offered these professionals flexibility, peace of mind, and control over interactions in the short term, it also intensified collective expectations of their availability, escalating their engagement and thus reducing their ability to disconnect from work. Choosing to use their mobile email devices to work anywhere/anytime—actions they framed as evidence of their personal autonomy—the professionals were ending up using it everywhere/all the time, thus diminishing their autonomy in practice. This autonomy paradox reflected professionals’ ongoing nav...
Effects of agriculture and timber harvest on carbon sequestration in the eastern US forests

[1] Forest carbon (C) sequestration in the eastern US will largely be driven by the interactive effects of disturbance due to land use change or management, climate, elevated CO2, and air pollution during the 21st century. In this study, we parameterized a process-based model (TEM-Hydro2) to quantify the effects of agriculture and timber harvest, climate, elevated CO2, and ozone on C sequestration during the 20th and the 21st century. We have not included the effects of natural disturbance such as fire, insect outbreaks, hurricanes, and tropical storms during the course of this study. Our site-specific comparisons suggest that C recovery of forests after anthropogenic disturbance depends on the time since disturbance and amount of C in different pools, including wood product pools with residence times ranging from 1 to 100 years. Our 20th century regional simulations show that recovery following anthropogenic disturbance and elevated CO2 increased net carbon exchange (NCE), or net gain in the sink strength, by 64 and 32%, respectively, while ozone decreased NCE by 18%. However, there was a net loss of C due to disturbance if accounting from 1700. The 21st century simulation using the SRES A2 emissions resulted in an increase in NCE by 79% following partial annual timber harvest and 31% due to CO2 fertilization, whereas climate and ozone decreased NCE by 12 and 8%, respectively. Our modeling results indicate that anthropogenic disturbance is an important factor to include for improving model accuracy in simulating C stocks and fluxes of eastern temperate forests.
Prostaglandin G/H synthase isoenzyme 2 expression in fibroblasts: regulation by dexamethasone, mitogens, and oncogenes.

Abstract Mitogens increase prostaglandin synthesis in fibroblasts. In the present studies, transcriptional activation of the prostaglandin G/H synthase isoenzyme 2 (PGHS-2) gene is shown to be responsible for this induction. Transcription of the PGHS-2 gene maximally increased within 15 mm of stimulation, and elevated cellular PGHS-2 mUNA, protein, and prostaglandin synthase activity were detected shortly thereafter. Pulse-chase experiments showed induced isoenzyme 2 is short lived, with a half-life of 22 mm in chicken embryo fibroblasts. Neoplastic transformation of fibroblasts by a variety of oncogenes induced either or both PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 mRNAs in immortalized murine NIH3T3 cells. Some preference of oncogenes such as v- src to induce PGHS2 mRNA has been previously observed. However, in this study exceptions in which v- src did not induce PGHS-2 mRNA were noted. Analysis of independent cell lines transformed by v- fes showed this oncogene induced both PGHS-1 and PGHS-2. Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, selectively decreased both basal and induced levels of PGHS-2 mRNA. Simultaneous addition of the steroid with mitogen reduced mitogen-induced PGHS-2 mRNA levels by 80%. However, nuclear run-on experiments failed to detect any decrease in PGHS-2 mRNA transcription. This suggested dexamethasone rapidly caused PGHS-2 mRNA destabilization. Cycloheximide blocked PGHS-2 mRNA decrease. A fibroblast cell line, RS2, was identified that contained only isoenzyme 2 and possessed PGHS activity that was more highly mitogen-inducible than in any other cell line yet described. Mitogen-inducible activity in RS2 cells was inhibited by aspirin, indicating that PGHS-2, like PGHS-1, can be inactivated by this drug.
A COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENT APPROACH TO KINEMATICS PROBLEMS IN ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ANIMATION

The paper presents a novel method for solving the kinematics problems in real time for fast-moving robot manipulators, animation characters, and hexapod robots. The method uses certain properties of the kinematics map and is based on spatial decomposition, classification with fuzzy logic, and neural network representation of data that are performed during an off-line process. As a result of the preprocessing, the online time for computing the kinematics is extremely small making it possible to perform real-time operations. Examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the method.
metaViz: Visualizing Computationally Identified Metaphors in Political Blogs

This paper presents metaViz, an online application that uses computational metaphor identification to find conceptual metaphors in political blogs. The application presents those metaphors to users in an interactive, visual fashion, with the goal of fostering critical thinking and creativity. This paper describes the computational techniques and interface design of metaViz, and presents an evaluation of the tool based on a controlled experiment showing that metaViz is more effective at fostering critical thinking than blog reading alone. This research draws attention to the need for tools that facilitate blog reading while encouraging critical engagement with the text, helping to lay the groundwork for enabling new ways of reading and interacting with blogs.
Law and Development: 40 Years after Scholars in Self Estrangement - A Preliminary Review

Noting that 2014 is the 40th anniversary of the publication of Scholars in Self-Estrangement, the author looks at the field of law and development during these four decades. In a preliminary report, he reviews the critique outlined in Scholars and the claim that its publication killed the field it was designed to save. While acknowledging that the field had lost momentum by 1980 he argues that the decline occurred not because of the article but because the field lost the support of development agencies before it could establish a secure place in the academy. Noting that the field revived in the late 1980s-early 1990s, he observes that conditions for law and development scholarship are much better today and there is a proliferation of research much of which has avoided errors pointed to in Scholars. This proliferation has enriched the field but at the price of fragmentation: the field has split into a number of “sub-disciplines” that do not always communicate with one another. The article scans the field in the 21st Century, noting the influence of new ideas about development which stress experimentation and local variation in policy. These, combined with a better understanding of the embeddness of local legal systems and the limits of legal transplants demands more attention to local context and variation. Looking to the future, the author concludes that if law and development is to produce useable knowledge the separate aspects of the field should be better integrated, more attention paid to local variation and context in law and policy, research capacity in the Global South enhanced, and North-South communication improved.
Evidence of Mild Liver Dysfunction Identifies Stable Heart Failure Outpatients with Reversible Renal Dysfunction

Background: In decompensated heart failure (HF), reversible renal dysfunction (RD) is more frequently observed in patients with mild liver dysfunction likely due to the shared pathophysiologic factors involved. The objective of this study was to determine if these findings also apply to stable HF outpatients. Methods: Patients in the Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST) were studied. Improvement in renal function (IRF) was defined as a 20% improvement in the estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline to 3 months. Results: Elevated bilirubin (BIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly associated with signs of congestion or poor perfusion. IRF occurred in 12.0% of all patients and was more common in those with elevated BIL (OR = 1.5, p = 0.003), ALT (OR = 1.4, p = 0.01), and AST (OR = 1.4, p = 0.01). In a model containing all 3 liver parameters and baseline characteristics, including markers of congestion/poor perfusion, BIL (OR = 1.6, p = 0.001) and ALT (OR = 1.7, p Conclusions: Biochemical evidence of mild liver dysfunction is significantly associated with IRF in stable HF outpatients. Given the widespread availability and low cost of these markers, additional research is necessary to determine the utility of these parameters in identifying patients with reversible RD who may benefit from cardiorenal interventions.
Abstract 320: Apoptosis-Resistant CD34+ Cells Improve Collateral Circulation Post Femoral Artery Occlusion in Diabetic Mouse Model

Literature shows that EPCs contribute to increased collateral vessel formation following vaso-occlusion. However diabetes is associated with poor collateral vessel formation. We cultured human EPCs (defined as CD34+ cells) and exposed them to 5.5 mM (equivalent to 99 mg%, normal glucose, NG) and 20mM (equivalent to 360mg%, high glucose, HG) glucose, which resulted in significant EPC apoptosis within 48hrs. We noted HG exposure was associated with up-regulation of P53 and its downstream genes such as P21, PUMA and Caspase-3. We hypothesized that EPC apoptosis in HG is secondary to up-regulation of P53 and silencing or knocking out P53 may help neovascularization. We obtained mouse EPCs from P53 KO mice and observed that p53 null EPCs are more resistant to cell death in HG while retaining expression of essential endothelial genes. Next, we used Lenti and Adenovirus mediated siRNA methods to silence P53 in human EPCs (hEPCs) and P53 silenced hEPC showed better survival in HG. We developed unilateral femoral artery occlusion model to mimic peripheral vascular disease in streptozotocin induced type 1 diabetic or Leptin resistant type 2 diabetic mouse model. We delivered saline, P53 WT and P53 null mEPCs intra-muscularly around the femoral occlusion (n=10 in each group) and counted number of capillaries in a 20x microscopic field. We also quantified increased vessel formation by laser doppler assay of the ischemic and contralateral hind limbs upto 2 weeks, post EPC transplantation and conducted qRT-PCR and western blot of key endothelial genes such as eNOS, p-eNOS, VEGF-A, PECAM-1 and vWF from both quadriceps in all groups of mice. Results: The group that received P53null EPCs had the most favorable outcome. Preliminary results from transplantation of lenti p53 silenced human CD34+ cells also indicate increased vessel formation compared to non p53 silenced hCD34+ cell in NOD-SCID diabetic mice. Summary: Transplantation of P53 null EPCs in presence of hyperglycemia help improve collateral vessel formation post femoral artery occlusion compared to WT-EPC transplanted group. Conclusion: Our results indicate towards positive role of apoptosis resistant CD34+ cells in diabetic PVD by increasing collateral formation with significant clinical implications.
Intolerance, Religious Violence, and Political Legitimacy in Late Antiquity

This article proposes an alternative way to think about the violence that swept the Roman Empire in the wake of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Traditionally seen as the inevitable result of Christian intolerance, recent experience suggests that this violence can be better understood by casting a broader net and including political as well as theological issues. The result shows this violence to be the by-product of a struggle between emperors and bishops to control access to the divine. In an age of widespread belief in the active intervention of deity in human affairs, this "religious" prerogative was fraught with profound "secular" implications that make our distinction between "Church" and "State" meaningless. Martyrs play an important role in this process, but it is a symbolic one. Bishops use martyrs to control emperors. But, as a famous confrontation between Ambrose of Milan and the emperor Theodosius shows, bishops also relied on their new role as patrons of a large and volatile constituency. Their efforts were abetted by significant rethinking of the meaning of martyrdom and persecution that followed Julian the Apostate's ill-starred efforts to rein in Christianity without producing martyrs.
CANCER OF THE SIGMOID COLON

I have presented 317 patients with cancer of the sigmoid colon giving the reasons experimentally and technically that the no-touch isolation technic gives the best results for five-year survivals and I have discussed the technic employed.I have presented the survival rates with computer analysis tables for close inspection.I believe that these improved results are due to the no-touch isolation method of resection and I feel that with the evidence at hand, the old conventional manipulative resection technic for cancer of the colon should be abandoned in favor of the isolation technic, as described.
Renal Mass Biopsy

Over the past several years, the indication for renal mass biopsy has greatly expanded, and its use has increasingly proven to play an important role in management decisions. CT, US, and MRI imaging have all been used for guidance to obtain renal mass biopsies and have been proven to be safe and effective. The goal of this chapter is to review methodology, safety, complications, reliability, and current and expanding and indications for renal mass biopsy.
Technical and Economic Study on a New Cogeneration Unit with Absorption Heat Pump

A cogeneration set with the load of 300MW was selected as an example for analysis on the new cogeneration unit with the absorption heat pump,which recycles cold end heat for heating.The mathematical model was built by using Aspen software,then the thermal economy of unit and investment revenue were analyzed under the same maximum heat requirements,the results showed that the new cogeneration unit with absorption heat pump cause coal consumption rate decrease 15.8g/kWh,power generating capacity increased 18.01MW,and the investment payoff period is less than 4 years.Then the pushed steam for district heating was analyzed under maximum extraction conditions,the results showed that the new unit's coal consumption rate decreased 63.9g/kWh,heat supply increased 105.28MW,and the investment payoff period is less than 3 years.It is significant to disseminate and apply the new technology.
An experimental study on the anti-inflammatory and bacteria-inhibiting effects of liyan vaporous atomization

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory and bacteria-inhibiting effects of Liyan Vaporous Atomization(LVA). Methods The anti-inflamatory effect of LVA was studied on the inflammation models prepared among mice with auricle swelling induced by dimethylbenzene and among rats with toe swelling induced by carrageenan respectively, while the bacteria-inbibiting effects of LVA were studied in vitro by cylinder plate method on 46 strains of bacteria commonly seen in clinic,Gram-negative of Gram-positive. Results Auricle swelling of mice and toe swelling of rats were all significantly reduced with the use of LVA in vivo and the 46 strains of bacteria were mostly inbibited in vitro at various degree by the use of this preparation. Conclusion LVA is effective for the treatment of inflammation and the inhibition of bacteria proliferation.
Cluster Analysis for Commonalities Between Words of Different Languages

The origin of Native American peoples (the Indians) has been a topic of research for many years. Although DNA research has begun to make some progress, there are several competing theories that have yet to be disproved. One of the areas that may reveal the possible relations between Native Americans and other people is through the study of their languages. In this paper, we present a clustering analysis of n = 815 commonly used words in eight different languages including five western languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian), an ancient language (Latin), an Asian language (Japanese), and the language of a Native American tribe (Ojibwa). Several similarity measures were established in our clustering analysis using both the word spellings and phonic equivalents (metaphones), in an attempt to discover any underlying relationships between these languages. The results tend to support one of the leading theories describing how Native American tribes, specifically the Ojibwa people, arrived in North America.
‘Contagious’ solidarity: reconfiguring care and citizenship in Greece's social clinics

In response to growing numbers of people unable to access national healthcare, networks of ‘social solidarity’ clinics/pharmacies have emerged throughout Greece. These clinics/pharmacies redistribute donated medicines, and they provide care through networks of volunteers. They thus seek to respond to the growing ‘contagion’ of austerity in Greece with what some describe as ‘contagious’ solidarity. Discourses regarding social health also permeate the clinics. Solidarity is often described as the ‘other face’ of the crisis, which has brought group participation into the centre of Greek citizenship. Research participants, however, also reflect ambivalently on their work, exposing solidarity's entanglement in austerity politics and neoliberal subjectivity.
Venous thromboembolism following minimally invasive surgery among women with endometrial cancer

Abstract Objective To determine the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among women undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for endometrial cancer. Methods Women undergoing robotic or laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma or complex hyperplasia with atypia were identified between January 2009 and 2014 in a community based health care system. Patient data including age, race, cancer stage, grade, procedure type, length of hospital stay, use of prophylaxis, and diagnosis of VTE were collected retrospectively. The primary outcome was the rate of VTE within 30days following surgery. Fischer's exact tests were performed to evaluate factors associated with VTE. Results During the study period, 1433 patients underwent MIS for endometrial cancer, with 20 excluded due to known thrombophilia, VTE history, or long-term anticoagulation. A total of 1413 patients were included (739 robotic and 674 laparoscopic cases). All women received mechanical prophylaxis per hospital policy and 61% had additional pharmacologic prophylaxis. The rate of VTE was 0.35% (5/1413), which did not differ among those who received pharmacologic compared to mechanical prophylaxis (0.23% [2/865] versus 0.55% [3/548] respectively, p =0.38). No factors were associated with increased risk of VTE due to the low event rate. Conclusion VTE in patients undergoing MIS for endometrial cancer was very low irrespective of the mode of prophylaxis received in this large cohort. National guidelines for VTE prophylaxis need to differentiate the low risk associated with MIS surgery from the risk associated with laparotomy for endometrial cancer. We recommend mechanical prophylaxis is sufficient for these women undergoing MIS.
Challenges Enrolling Children Into Traumatic Brain Injury Trials: An Observational Study

OBJECTIVES: In preparation for a clinical trial of therapeutic agents for children with moderate-to-severe blunt traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in emergency departments (EDs), we conducted this feasibility study to 1) determine the number and clinical characteristics of eligible children, 2) determine the timing of patient and guardian arrival to the ED, and 3) describe the heterogeneity of TBIs on computed tomography (CT) scans. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study at 16 EDs of children ≤ 18 years of age presenting with blunt head trauma and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 3-12. We documented the number of potentially eligible patients, timing of patient and guardian arrival, patient demographics and clinical characteristics, severity of injuries, and cranial CT findings. RESULTS: We enrolled 295 eligible children at the 16 sites over 6 consecutive months. Cardiac arrest and non-survivable injuries were the most common characteristics that would exclude patients from a future trial. Most children arrived within 2 hours of injury, but most guardians did not arrive until 2-3 hours after the injury. There was a substantial range in types of TBIs, with subdural hemorrhages being the most common. CONCLUSION: Enrolling children with moderate-to-severe TBI into time sensitive clinical trials will require large numbers of sites, meticulous preparation and coordination, and will prove challenging to obtain informed consent given the timing of patient and guardian arrival. The Federal Exception from Informed Consent for Emergency Research will be an important consideration for enrolling these children. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Language: en
Interactive Effect of Immigration-Related Factors with Legal and Discrimination Acculturative Stress in Predicting Depression Among Asian American Immigrants

This study examined the impact of discrimination and legal acculturative stress on Major Depression Episode lifetime among Asian American immigrants. It further examined the role of immigration related-factors (age at immigration, reason for immigration, and years spent in the U.S.) on the relationship of acculturative stress and Major Depression Episode lifetime. The National Latino and Asian American Study 2002-2003 dataset was used. The study findings were: (1) high discrimination and legal acculturative stress were associated with Major Depression Episode lifetime; (2) age at immigration buffered the relationship of discrimination acculturative stress and Major Depression Episode lifetime as well as the relationship of legal acculturative stress and Major Depression Episode lifetime; and (3) years spent in the U.S. buffered the relationship of discrimination acculturative stress and Major Depression Episode lifetime only. These findings highlight the complex relationship of factors that impact the mental health of the Asian American immigrants.
Social supporters and drug use enablers: a dilemma for women in recovery.

Abstract The social networks of substance-using women consist of people who provide constructive social support, individuals who enable their drug use, and those who do both. Women's success in recovery may be attenuated because some of the people who are most likely to provide them with social support after drug treatment previously enabled their drug use. This article examines the social support systems of women offenders (N=100) who were mandated to four therapeutic communities in New York City. The women had an average of nine supporters (four males and five females). Although most of the women had partners who provided them with constructive social support, many of their partners also enabled their drug use. Some of the women indicated that their partners did not provide constructive support but were among their main enablers, while half of the women said that their partners actually encouraged them to stop using drugs. The majority of the women also received support from their parents, siblings, other kin, and friends. Some of these supporters also enabled their drug use while others encouraged them to stop using drugs and enter drug treatment.
Apparent effect of chronic Plasmodium infections on disease severity caused by experimental infections with Mycoplasma gallisepticum in house finches

An epidemic caused by a successful host jump of the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum from poultry to house finches in the 1990s has by now spread across most of North America. M. gallisepticum causes severe conjunctivitis in house finches. We experimentally show that M. gallisepticum transmission to birds with or without chronic Plasmodium infection does not differ. However, once infected with M. gallisepticum house finches chronically infected with Plasmodium develop more severe clinical disease than birds without such infection. We speculate as to possible effects of coinfection.
Peri-lunate and Lunate Dislocations

Peri-lunate and lunate dislocations are the result of traumatic disruption of the ligaments and capsular attachments that stabilize the carpus. They are commonly missed on initial presentation, and a delay in diagnosis can have a detrimental effect on patient outcome. A heightened alert must also exist for the concomitant diagnosis of acute carpal tunnel syndrome. Urgent stabilization of the wrist should be carried out, and the patient should be aware that this injury often results in stiffness and degenerative arthritis.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston v. Seger-Thomschitz

In Museum of Fine Arts, Boston v. Seger-Thomschitz, the heir of Jewish collector Oskar Reichel sued to recover a Kokoschka painting that Reichel sold in Vienna in 1939, which changed hands several times and was eventually donated to Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This chapter examines the adjudication of the case, which turned on a variety of state and federal legal questions relating to the application of the statute of limitations.
Increasing Burden of Total Hip Arthroplasty Revisions in Patients Between 45 and 64 Years of Age

Background:This study provides a comprehensive analysis of total hip arthroplasty (THA) revisions in the U.S. from 2007 to 2013.Methods:International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes were used to identify all THA revisions in the Nationwide Inpatient
The Coverage of Classroom Management in Teacher Evaluation Rubrics

Many teachers struggle with the classroom management skills necessary to support students with disabilities. Teacher evaluation is a potential method for supporting teachers’ use of classroom manag...
WOMEN'S INTEREST IN NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

In the US approximately 4% of women of reproductive age use natural family planning (NFP) to avoid pregnancy. It is unclear whether this low number is related to a lack of available information womens lack of interest or other factors. The authors study examined womens interest in using NFP either to achieve pregnancy or to avoid it. A questionnaire was mailed to 1500 women aged 18-50 who were randomly selected from drivers license renewal records in Missouri for the year beginning July 1991 and ending June 1992. Of the 747 returned questionnaires 484 were from women who were still potentially fertile. Of these women 22.5% indicated that they would be likely or very likely to use NFP in the future to avoid pregnancy and 37.4% indicated that they would be likely or very likely to use NFP in the future to become pregnant. Only 2.8% were currently using a method of NFP. Past use of any method of NFP (including the outdated calendar rhythm method) to avoid pregnancy was associated with interest in future use of modern methods of NFP to avoid pregnancy. Past use of NFP to become pregnant and the possible desire for future pregnancy were associated with interest in future use of NFP to conceive. Many women who are not currently using NFP indicated that they are interested in doing so in the future either to avoid pregnancy or to conceive. Interest in future use of NFP is associated with but not limited to those who have previously used NFP. (authors)
Allosteric inhibition of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthetase by tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylpyruvate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract 1. 1. In Pseudomonas aerginosa the allosteric control of 3-deoxy- d -arabino- heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthetase, EC 4.1.2.15, by tyrosine has been known for some time. However, a more detailed analysis of the enzyme in crude extracts revealed sensitivity to inhibition by tryptophan and phenylpyruvate in addition to tyrosine. It is concluded that a single enzyme exists bearing three inhibitor specificities. Testing of various inhibitor combinations revealed no synergistic or antagonistic effects of aromatic metabolites. Combinations of the three inhibitors produced cummulative or less-than-cumulative effects. 2. 2. Tyrosine and phenylpyruvate were both capable of producing more than 90% inhibition at saturating concentrations of substrates, but tyrosine was about 18 times more potent than phenylpyruvate on a molar basis. although inhibition by tryptophan was limited to a maximum of 25–30%, relatively low concentrations were effective. It is concluded that inhibition by either tyrosine or tryptophan is competitive with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate and noncompetitive with respect to erythrose-4-P. On the other hand, phenylpyruvate inhibition appears to be competitive with respect to erythrose-4-P and noncompetitive with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate. 3. 3. Hence, one metabolite of each terminal branch of the aromatic amino acid pathway exhibits allosteric influence upon the activity of DAHP synthetase, an observation in accord with expectations for balanced participation of multiple end products in the regulation of a branched pathway. The quantitative effects actually realized in vivo would depend in complex fashion upon the intracellular concentrations of tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylpyruvate and upon the intracellular concentrations of erythrose-4-P and phosphoenolpyruvate. 4. 4. A variety of physiological experiments with wild type and mutant cells led to the conclusion that the synthesis of DAPH synthetase is not controlled by repression in P. aeruginosa.
Age-related changes in human ciliary muscle and lens: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

METHODS. A General Electric, 1.5-Tesla MR imager and a custom-designed eye imaging coil were used to collect high-resolution MR images from 25 subjects, 22 through 83 years of age. A nonmagnetic binocular stimulus apparatus was used to induce both relaxed accommodation (0.1 diopter [D]) and strong accommodative effort (8.0 D). Measurements of the ciliary muscle ring diameter (based on the inner apex), lens equatorial diameter, and lens thickness were derived from the MR images. RESULTS. Muscle contraction is present in all subjects and reduces only slightly with advancing age. A decrease in the diameter of the unaccommodated ciliary muscle ring was highly correlated with advancing age. Lens equatorial diameter does not correlate with age for either accommodative state. Although unaccommodated lens thickness (i.e., lens minor axis length) increases with age, the thickness of the lens under accommodative effort is only modestly age-dependent. CONCLUSIONS. Ciliary muscle contractile activity remains active in all subjects. A decrease in the unaccommodated ciliary muscle diameter, along with the previously noted increase in lens thickness (the "lens paradox"), demonstrates the greatest correlation with advancing age. These results support the theory that presbyopia is actually the loss in ability to disaccommodate due to increases in lens thickness, the inward movement of the ciliary ring, or both. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999;40:l 162-1169)
Response heterogeneity in fitness, mobility and cognition with exercise-training in MS

Background Exercise-training is a beneficial approach for improving function in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is unlikely that every participant who engages in an exercise-training intervention will demonstrate similar benefits. Identifying factors that may influence the accrual of specific exercise-training benefits can aid in the development of optimized rehabilitation interventions for improving specific outcomes in MS. Objective This study described possible response heterogeneity in physical fitness, mobility and cognitive outcomes with exercise-training and identified baseline performance, compliance and demographic/clinical outcomes as possible predictors of exercise-related changes in those outcomes. Methods Thirty-two persons with MS-related mobility disability completed 6-months of multimodal exercise-training. Physical fitness, mobility and cognitive processing speed (CPS) were measured before and after the 6 months. Results There was response heterogeneity in fitness, mobility and cognitive outcomes with multimodal exercise-training. Low baseline aerobic fitness, slow walking speed and slow CPS were associated with greater exercise-related improvements in those respective outcomes. Conclusions Those with MS-related mobility disability who have the lowest aerobic fitness, walking speed and CPS might benefit the most from multimodal exercise-training. This provides critical evidence for informing the development of a precision medicine framework for improving targeted outcomes with exercise-training in MS.
The limits of law in securing reproductive freedoms: midwife-assisted homebirth in the United States

Recent years have seen increased activism on behalf of homebirth midwives, with grassroots movements in many states focused on gaining professional status for midwives, and legislation regulating a...
Shelley, Alcohol, and the “world we make”: Habit’s Patterns in The Cenci

This chapter argues that Percy Shelley derived his poetics from engagement with his age’s discourse surrounding alcohol habit. Tracing Shelley’s ideas on habit from his early writings on diet through his later tragedy, The Cenci, and his Defence of Poetry, Colman shows how Shelley framed salutary habits (including engagement with poetry) as those that might counteract toxic habits, which Shelley had earlier come to understand in light of the work on alcohol habit by Thomas Trotter, among others. Shelley had, in his early work, contended that alcohol habit could shape a terrible social world, and in The Cenci, the habitually drinking villain Count Cenci does shape such a terrible world. This chapter argues that The Cenci’s tragic heroine Beatrice represents radical habits and patterns that could defeat toxic, predatory habit.
Extended Deep Earth Water Model for predicting major element mantle metasomatism

Abstract Fluids in the deep crust and upper mantle appear to have played roles in the long-term evolution of the subcratonic lithospheric mantle and the stabilities of the continents, in the geochemical cycles of the elements from subduction zones to Earth’s surface environment, and in the formation of diamonds. Much evidence of the chemistry of deep fluids has accumulated from studies of fluid inclusions in diamonds and xenoliths. But the origins of the fluids and their behavior are still unclear. In part, this is due to the lack of a comprehensive theoretical model of aqueous, high-pressure fluids. Traditional models have used a C-O-H-type of model, which contains no major rock-forming elements or aqueous ions or metal-complexes. In the present study, we use experimentally measured solubility data for multicomponent K-free eclogite, K-free peridotite and K-bearing peridotite rocks at upper mantle conditions from the literature to construct aqueous speciation solubility models that enabled calibration of the thermodynamic properties of ions and metal-complex species involving the elements Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Al, Si, and C in an extended Deep Earth Water (DEW) model. New equilibrium constants were retrieved for the aqueous bisilicate anion, a silica trimer, silicate complexes of Ca, Fe, and Al, a silicate complex of Mg and bicarbonate, and formate complexes of Fe and Ca. The aqueous speciation and solubility model also took account of decreases in the activity of water and aqueous activity coefficients of neutral dissolved gases and included consideration of H 2 CO 3 0 . Based on the temperature and pressure dependences of the equilibrium constants, and supporting data covering a wide range of conditions, we then developed aqueous equation of state characterizations of the ions and metal-complex species. Overall, the results form a basis for modeling fluid-rock interactions under upper mantle conditions consistent with experimental solubility measurements.
Investigating Practical Linear Temporal Difference Learning

Off-policy reinforcement learning has many applications including: learning from demonstration, learning multiple goal seeking policies in parallel, and representing predictive knowledge. Recently there has been an proliferation of new policy-evaluation algorithms that fill a longstanding algorithmic void in reinforcement learning: combining robustness to off-policy sampling, function approximation, linear complexity, and temporal difference (TD) updates. This paper contains two main contributions. First, we derive two new hybrid TD policy-evaluation algorithms, which fill a gap in this collection of algorithms. Second, we perform an empirical comparison to elicit which of these new linear TD methods should be preferred in different situations, and make concrete suggestions about practical use.
Using smartphones for trainee performance assessment: A SIMPL case study.

Workplace-based assessments are used by raters to evaluate observed performance of trainees in actual clinical practice. These types of assessments are of growing interest, especially because observed performance is prioritized within the larger competency-based medical educational movement. Implementation of workplace-based assessments has, however, been challenging. This article describes the motivations and implications for workplace-based assessments that leverage smartphone technology. It does so in reference to an app called SIMPL (System for Improving and Measuring Procedural Learning) in order to highlight some of the challenges and benefits one might encounter during implementation of similar systems.
Spatiotemporal overlap of pesticide use and species richness hotspots in California

Abstract The consequences of agricultural pesticide use for ecological and environmental health are partially determined by the overlap of pesticide use, in space and time, with ecologically important regions. Yet, data limitations have largely inhibited understanding of where and when such overlap occurs. Combining detailed pesticide use data from the diverse agricultural regions of California with species richness data for several taxa including birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, we evaluate the location and persistence of pesticide use hotspots, and where and when they align with ecologically important areas. Hotspots of pesticide use were generally located in agricultural valleys, as anticipated, yet were surprisingly ephemeral. Between 0–5 % of species richness hotspots intersected annual pesticide use hotspots depending on the focal taxa. The level of overlap also varied over the growing season, peaking for most taxa in May through July. Considering the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in both pesticide use and biodiversity is important to focus monitoring and mitigation efforts to reduce the ecological impacts of pesticide use when and where they occur.