cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Campus integrated project-based learning course in civil and environmental engineering

A hybrid project and service based learning course has been introduced in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Illinois. The primary objectives of the course are to develop engineering problem solving, professional, and business skills earlier in our CEE undergraduate curriculum by having student teams identify open-ended, ill-defined campus/community problems or opportunities, develop a feasible project scope, and propose sustainable solutions. The unique features of our course include (1) a blend of service and project learning with faculty instructors partnering with the campus engineering staff to assist with team project mentoring, campus data collection, local field trips, and case studies, (2) formal course assessments through pre and post-class survey and student focus group interviews, and (3) weekly instructor meetings that consist of faculty, teaching assistants, department administrators and engineering staff updating the course during the semester and planning major changes for the next course offering. In this paper, we describe the course organization and its curricular evolution along with evaluation data from student surveys and focus groups as well as the impact of routine instructor community of practice meetings.
Fluid Balance and Hydration for Human Performance

This chapter examines fluid balance for human performance. Topics reviewed in this chapter include the nature and function of water in human physiology as it pertains to maintaining daily fluid balance; the relationship of fluid balance to human performance when administered before, during, and after exercise; and the efficacy of carbohydrate and specially formulated drinks to promote improved fluid balance. While dehydration is rarely observed during lower-intensity exercise associated with physical activity while indoors and under controlled environmental conditions, increased preventive strategies are required at higher-intensity, longer exercise bouts and under more extreme conditions. The chapter concludes with recommendations to optimize fluid balance in recreational activities and sports.
Phase transitions in the Ramsey-Turán theory

phase transition at c p n logn. We extend this result to several other Ks’s and functions f(n), determining many more phase transitions. We shall formulate several open problems, in particular, whether variants of the Bollob as-Erd} os graph exist to give good lower bounds on RT(n;Ks;f(n)) for various pairs of s and f(n). Among others, we use Szemer edi’s Regularity Lemma and the Hypergraph Dependent Random Choice Lemma. We also present a short proof of the fact that Ks-free graphs with small independence number are sparse.
Property Rights Protection for Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries: An Econometric Analysis

Research and development in agricultural biotechnology is closely related to property rights protection. Scholars have urged that the increasing participation of the private sector in this area requires a higher degree of protection than in previous decades, where government and universities were the main providers of new seed varieties. Most developing countries have been pressured into improving their formal framework for property rights protection by implementing the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV) standards. Multinational companies in biotechnology and seeds pushed for new legislation and the adoption of international regulations as a condition for new investment in the farming sector. In this paper, we show that the adoption of any regulatory framework for intellectual property rights is not going to be effective if it is not accompanied by a general framework that fosters business investment. The empirical evidence presented in this paper shows that countries with better institutional framework have attracted more investors and traders into the local seed market.
Certain and Uncertain Futures in the Brain

A variety of brain imaging and single-cell results on anticipation in neural systems is reviewed. The broad categories of neural processes under consideration include (1) anticipation of intended movements, both what movements to perform and when to perform them; (2) anticipation of rewards and punishments; (3) certainty or uncertainty of anticipated outcomes. These literatures are mostly separate from each other and so a general network theory of anticipation and prediction in the brain has not yet emerged. Yet there are now many sophisticated neural network models available that unify perceptual, behavioral, and valuation data, and in the next generation these models can integrate the neural data on anticipation.
Antifungal Penetration into the Nail and New Topicals for Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is a common and difficult to treat infection, owing predominately to the limited penetration of topical drugs to the site of infection. Systemic drugs are not an option for all patients due to adverse events and drug-drug interactions. In this article, we review the nail penetration and clinical efficacy data of topical drugs, including older agents such as ciclopirox and amorolfine, as well as the newer agents, efinaconazole and tavaborole. Additionally, we describe some unresolved questions in the management of onychomycosis.
Teacher Technology Use: An Interplay of Learning Preference, Teaching Philosophy, and Perception of Technology

Teacher technology use is a key element in the successful teaching and learning of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses. However, even with the increasing availability and number of new technologies and hi-tech learning environments, teachers don’t always integrate technology into their teaching practice in a meaningful way. Over the three-year period of this case study, we followed the experiences of two high school teachers working in a depressed urban setting as they began using a newly constructed, innovative, high-tech STEM classroom. Using a grounded theory approach, we analyzed data from a series of semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. Three themes related to the teachers’ technology use emerged: personal learning preference, teaching philosophy, and perception of technology. We explore these themes, propose a model that illustrates their relationship, and suggest areas of future research. These findings will be beneficial to anyone seeking to facilitate the meaningful adoption and use of technology by teachers.
The effect of ACGME duty hour restrictions on operative continuity of care

Resident work restrictions limit participation in operations that address problems created by a prior operation, because complications occur at any time. We compared resident and attending surgeon staffing of operative complications. We reviewed all complications that required a second operation reported at our Morbidity and Mortality Conference over 1 year, noting surgeons present, their postgraduate year level, and call shift. Comparisons were done using chi2. Of 142 cases, 39 involved a second operation. The same attending surgeon was present for both in 79 per cent of cases, whereas the same resident was present in only 44 per cent (P = 0.002). Postgraduate year 4 to 5 were less likely to be present for second operations than attendings (48% vs 87%, P = 0.011). Resident shift (day, night float, and weekend) was known in 32 cases. When the first operation occurred during day hours, attendings and residents were equally likely to be present at the second (55% and 45%, P = 0.16). When original operations took place during night float or weekend shifts, residents were less likely to be present (33%) than attendings (83%) at second operations (P = 0.036). Duty hour restrictions interfere with operative continuity of care. Reoperations should be exempted from duty hour restrictions.
Gastric pseudotumor after fundoplication.

Fundoplication of the lower esophagus results in a postoperative deformity that may simulate neoplasm in the gastric fundus. In a study of 34 patients who had undergone Nissen or Belsey procedures, pseudotumors which diminished in size during the early postoperative period and then remained constant were seen in 33 patients. Knowledge of this postoperative deformity together with appropriate clinical evaluation should prevent a mistaken diagnosis of gastric neoplasm in a patient who previously underwent fundoplication.
T-Cell Receptor Genes

To defend against disease, the immune system must be able to recognize a wide variety of foreign antigens with a specificity fine enough to distinguish these foreign antigens from self molecules. For T cells, the T-cell receptor (TcR), a heterodimer composed of an α and a β chain is responsible for the recognition of antigen. Each of the TcR chains is composed of two domains: a constant domain, which is membrane-proximal, and a membrane-distal variable domain, which is responsible for antigen—MHC recognition. The variable domain is encoded by up to three different types of gene segments, which are noncontiguous in the germline; variable (V), joining (J), and at least in the β chain, diversity (D) segments. During T-cell maturation, one of each type is randomly selected and brought together by somatic recombination to form a mature T-cell receptor gene. Thus, the diversity of the T-cell receptor depends on two factors: the number of different gene segments in the germline and the combinatorial diversity generated during the rearrangement process. The murine TcR Vβ gene family consists of ~16 Vβ subfamilies encoding a total of 20 Vβ gene segments (Barth et al., 1985; Behlke et al., 1985). During T-cell ontogeny, these V gene segments undergo somatic DNA rearrangements to Dβ—Jβ or -Jα gene segments, resulting in a complete V-(D)-J assembly in a fashion similar to the rearrangement process undergone by immunoglobulin genes (Kronenberg et al., 1986).
Hypertension and aging in rural Haiti: results from a preliminary survey.

Cross-sectional studies in the developed countries document strong relationships among age, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP). There is little information about these trends and their impact in underdeveloped countries with different socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics. We studied a convenience sample of 572 residents of rural Fontaine, Haiti: 193 males and 379 females (mean, s.d.) age 40.2 (17.1) years and performed intake questionnaires and BP measurements in participants’ homes. Income and educational achievement were very low but most-recommended lifestyle factors were very favorable: very high physical activity, low dietary fat, virtually no obesity (body mass index 21.8 (4.9)), and low smoking prevalence. Rough estimates of salt intake were high (~13 g per day) as was the overall prevalence of hypertension: 34.4% (23.4% in males, 40.2% in females). SBP and PP were related closely to age (r2=0.28, P<0.001 and r2=0.22, P<0.001); for each decade of age, SBP increased by 7.6 mm Hg. Diastolic BP peaked in the 6th decade (polynomial r2=0.22, P<0.001) and the nadir of PP occurred in the 3rd decade. We conclude that, despite a favorable profile of lifestyle characteristics and no obesity, the prevalence of hypertension and rate of increase in SBP and PP with age in Haiti are at least as high as those of developed countries.
A phase I study of pazopanib (PAZ) in combination with abexinostat (ABX) in patients (pts) with metastatic solid tumors.

2560 Background: PAZ is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR, PDGFR, and C-KIT approved for use in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS). ABX is a potent pan-HDAC inhibitor (HDAC...
Barriers and Facilitators to Local Food Market Development: A Contingency Perspective

Many government and community supported programs and initiatives have been developed recently in response to social, economic, political, and environmental conditions presumed to be caused by the globalized food system. These programs are focused on building local food economies as a means to rectify these conditions and to enhance local communities. While efforts to strengthen local food systems (LFS) are increasing in number, little is known about how well these initiatives are working and what factors contribute to or limit program impact. In this paper, we report on a comparative assessment of barriers and facilitators to the development of local food markets conducted from the perspective of 11 local food coordinators in the eastern region of North Carolina. Interviews with Cooperative Extension agents were analyzed based upon the contingency perspective to assess whether the development and success of local food markets depend on local conditions. Our findings suggest that local food markets are more or less successful given certain local conditions, but that local food markets are not being developed based upon assessment and analysis of local context. Further, institutional factors (e.g., food safety policy and institutional buyer attitudes) were found to have even more impact on local food market development than local conditions (e.g., urban proximity). The information presented in this report is intended to inform policymakers, planners, and administrators regarding environmental factors that should be considered when making decisions and plans to increase viability of LFS development.
The Tissue Culture Laboratory of Dr. George Otto Gey 60 yrs ago as recalled by a former student.

George Otto Gey was a pioneer in tissue culture, having introduced the roller drum, the HeLa cell line, and the use of human fetal cord serum and beef embryo extract. During his career (1920s–1960s), the field of tissue culture was in its infancy and not yet dependent upon commercial biological supply houses. While the early techniques of cell culture have been greatly improved upon, of historical interest may be personal observations of the Gey Tissue Culture Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Medical School, as recalled by a medical student working there in the 1950s. Dr. Gey served as a founding member and executive of the Tissue Culture Commission (TCC) and became the first president of the Tissue Culture Association (TCA).
A Feasibility Study Evaluating the Emotionally Expressive Robot SAM

This two-part feasibility study evaluated the functionality and acceptability of Socially Animated Machine (SAM), a humanoid robotic monkey developed to elicit social interaction in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Socially Animated Machine was designed with an approachable, animal-like appearance, while preserving the essential features of a human face. The intent was to design a robot that would be interesting and engaging to children with ASD, yet maintain the capability to model facial expressions that convey emotional subtlety. Study 1 evaluated the accuracy of SAM’s emotional facial expressions. Typically developing children ( $$N = 35$$ ) labeled and matched SAM’s expressions to photos of human expressions with moderate-to-substantial levels of agreement. Study 2 compared children’s level of social engagement across an interaction with SAM and an interaction with an adult experimenter. Children with ASD ( $$N = 13$$ ) spent significantly more time attending to the partner’s face while interacting with SAM. When asked to rate their interaction with SAM, children with ASD reported high levels of happiness and comfort and requested additional interactions. These results suggest that SAM may serve as a useful tool in interventions to improve social skills, including emotion recognition, in children with ASD.
Learning a dynamical system model for a spatiotemporal field using a mobile sensing robot

This paper considers the problem of learning dynamic spatiotemporal fields using measurements from a single sensing robot. We first introduce a widely used parametric dynamical model for the spatiotemporal field. We then propose a motion strategy that can be used by a single sensing robot to collect sensor measurements about the field. Our motion strategy is designed to collect sufficient information at repeated locations but different times along an arbitrarily chosen periodic trajectory. In conjunction with the measurements collected, we propose a new learning algorithm based on subspace identification to learn the parameters of the dynamical model. We prove that the parameters learned by our algorithm will converge to the true parameters as long as the periodic trajectory is uniformly observable and the number of measurements collected by the robot goes to infinity. The performance of our algorithm is demonstrated in numerical simulations.
Drugging Discontent: Psychoanalysis, Drives, and the Governmental University Medical Pharmaceutical Complex (GUMP)

In this chapter, I place this conflict between the new brain sciences and psychoanalysis in a very particular context in order to provide a pressing example of the destructive effects of neuroliberalism. My central claim is that governments, universities, medical doctors, and pharmaceutical companies are unintentionally working together to position medication as the only solution to most psychological and social problems, and this focus on the use of drugs not only represses psychoanalysis but also relies on the basic argument of the new brain sciences. Through the formation of what I will be calling the Governmental University Medical Pharmaceutical Complex (GUMP for short), an unintentional collusion has been produced that transforms science into a neoliberal market as a new form of social Darwinism is circulated. Moreover, to offer a counter-discourse to GUMP, I articulate how psychoanalysis represents a vital challenge to the drugging of discontent.
Real-time machine vision system for online detection of wooden breast myopathy in chicken fillets (Conference Presentation)

The advancement of the broiler industry in meat processing efficiency and production yield is remarkable. However, the industry has also experienced an emerging meat quality defect, called wooden breast syndrome. The symptoms of wooden breast syndrome include hardened muscle, pale color, ridge-like bulging, connective tissue accumulation, and/or rubbery texture. This study is concerned with the latest research progress within USDA-ARS to develop real-time machine vision system for rapid online detection of wooden breast fillets in the broiler industry. Because the current industry method of wooden breast detection is through tactile evaluation and product handling by humans, a rapid and non-invasive sensing technique to detect meat products affected by wooden breast syndrome is invaluable to both the industry and the scientific community. The developed machine vision system was designed to detect breast fillets moving on a conveyor belt system and differentiate between normal and wooden breast fillets. The imaging system captures and analyzes the physical properties that are correlated with severity of wooden breast condition. The machine vision system consists of a digital CMOS camera, a lighting system, a computer, and software. Shape descriptors characterizing differences between contours of normal and affected breast fillets were developed. Preliminary results obtained with 45 fillets (15 normal, 15 moderate wooden breast, and 15 severe wooden breast) indicated 98 % overall accuracy with a 6.7% false positive rate for normal fillets. A discussion for its commercialization is ongoing with an industry partner.
The Canadian Check Sample Program on Pesticide Residue Analysis: Reliability and Performance

Abstract - A brief outline of the program design and our experience with the current check sample program on pesticide residue analysis is given. Prior to the analysis of samples two studies were carried out. The first was a gas Chromatograph detector study to achieve optimisation of instrument parameters for maximum sensitivity and linearity. The second study involved the analysis of solutions of pesticide standards to statistically evaluate laboratory repeatability and accuracy together with a comparison of 7 sub-programs. Analysis of samples revealed very little difficulty in the analysis of the more familiar organochlorine insecticides. Problems have arisen in the handling, distribution and analysis of the organophosphorous insecticides, e.g. oxon metabolites, carbamates and herbicides.
Determinacy in L(ℝ)

A two-player game is said to be determined if one of the two players has a winning strategy. Determinacy for a pointclass Γ is the assertion that all perfect information two-player games of length ω on natural numbers, with payoff in Γ, are determined. Determinacy may fail for games with payoff sets constructed using the axiom of choice, but turns out in contrast to be a key property of definable sets, from which many other properties and a rich structure theory can be derived. This paper presents proofs of determinacy for definable sets, starting with determinacy for the pointclass of analytic sets, continuing through projective sets, and ending with all sets in L(ℝ). Proofs of determinacy for these pointclasses involve large cardinal axioms at the level of measurable cardinals and Woodin cardinals. The paper presents some of the theory of these large cardinals, including the relevant definitions and all results that are needed for the determinacy proofs.
Intra-Operative Ventilation Strategies for Thoracic Surgery

Ventilatory strategies for one-lung ventilation (OLV) should take into account preventing both intra-operative hypoxemia and postoperative ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Although a lung-protective strategy utilizing low tidal volumes (6 mL/kg) and limited inflation pressures (<30 cm H2O) are clearly indicated for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, the evidence for the use of low tidal volumes for OLV is not as compelling. However, it seems prudent at this time to limit tidal volumes and inflation pressures during OLV, providing high breathing frequencies or PaCO2 are not required. With appropriate use of pressure and tidal volume alarms, either pressure- or volume-controlled ventilation may be used. Intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is common with OLV (utilizing a double-lumen endotracheal tube) and caution is warranted when high respiratory rates (short exhalation times) are utilized. The addition of external PEEP does not consistently improve oxygenation and has not been shown to reduce the incidence of VILI. An “open lung” maneuver utilizing several breaths of high inspiratory and expiratory pressures may improve oxygenation, but the hemodynamic consequences of the maneuver must be considered. No evidence-based specific recommendations can be made for OLV, but available evidence does help the anesthesiologist select the best strategy for an individual patient and surgery.
Automating Frame Analysis

Frame Analysis has come to play an increasingly stronger role in the study of social movements in Sociology and Political Science. While significant steps have been made in providing a theory of frames and framing, a systematic characterization of the frame concept is still largely lacking and there are no recognized criteria and methods that can be used to identify and marshal frame evidence reliably and in a time and cost effective manner. Consequently, current Frame Analysis work is still too reliant on manual annotation and subjective interpretation. The goal of this paper is to present an approach to the representation, acquisition and analysis of frame evidence which leverages Content Analysis, Information Extraction and Semantic Search methods to automate frame annotation and provide a systematic treatment of Frame Analysis.
Toward the construction of an exchange-correlation potential in electronic-structure calculations of two-particle states in solids

It is shown that the treatment of jellium within the two-particle picture, in which the states of an interacting many-electron system are expressed in terms of two-particle states, can be used to yield an exchange-correlation potential for two-state electronic strudture calculations in solids. This potential can be used in a generalization of the local-density approximation of density-functional theory to obtain the electronic structure of pair states. From these effective single particle states can be obtained in which the Coulomb interaction between electrons has been taken directly into account within a pair approximation.
‘Idiot with a Spoon’: Adorno, Petrini, and the Oppositional Politics of Slow Food

This essay examines the phenomenon of American celebrity chefs through the lens of Theodor Adorno’s critique of the culture industry. It asks whether the current popularity of celebrity chefs ironically parallels the popularity of fast food. Is the former just as much a part of the American neoliberal culture industry as the latter, urging Americans to look upon food as a commodifiable, entertaining industry rather than as a topic connected to social justice and our changing cultural landscape? Drawing on the work of food analysts such as Carlo Petrini, Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, David Kamp, and others, as well as the critical theory of Adorno, this essay insists that Petrini’s Slow Food mantra that food should be “good, clean, and fair” proves relevant to the American setting. It is especially “fair” that needs to be highlighted, the essay insists, for the glamour of celebrity chefs can too often blind us to the abusive socio-economic realities that accompany food. Yet this critique of celebrity chef culture is itself tempered by Adorno’s own writings, for food’s ability to challenge the mind/body dichotomy central to Western philosophy always brings us back to the “preponderance of the object.” Food is material, immediate, and sensuous, and can never be too easily coopted by ideas and ideologies. Thus the essay offers a critique grounded in the culture industry but qualified by Adorno’s “preponderant” object.
Quantitative 3-dimensional Computed Tomography (Q3DCT) analysis of odontoid fractures.

Abstract The primary aim of this paper is to introduce Quantitative 3-dimensional Computed Tomography (Q3DCT) for odontoid fractures to assess if fracture characteristics differ between the Anderson and d’Alonso subclasses. Secondarily, we assessed if high energy injury and older age influenced fracture morphology. This retrospective imaging study includes 66 patients who visited one of two level I trauma centers for an odontoid fracture. With the use of 3-Dimensional polygon mesh models we determined the total number of fragments, the volume of each fragment, the degree of displacement of the odontoid, and the fracture surface area. We found that type III fractures consisted of more fracture fragments (median:3, IQR:2–3) than type II odontoid fractures (median:2, IQR:2–3) (p
Differences in Responses on the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance on Medium Firm and Medium Density Foam in Healthy Controls and Patients with Vestibular Disorders.

Purpose: To determine whether foam density affects modified Romberg balance test performance. Materials and Methods: Controls and patients with vestibular disorders performed Romberg tests on medium and medium firm foam, with their eyes closed and the head still and moving in yaw and pitch. The trial duration and number of head movements were measured. Results: Subjects aged >60 years performed longer and with more head movements on medium firm foam than on medium foam. Older controls did not differ between medium firm and medium foam. Older patients had higher scores on head-still and head-yaw trials on medium firm foam versus medium foam but pitch trials did not differ. Females, controls, and patients had longer trial durations and more head movements on medium firm foam than on medium density foam; male controls did not differ by foam density. Male patients differed in yaw trials. Conclusion: Foam density affects scores. Clinical decision-making may be adversely affected if the clinician uses foam of a density that is not the same as that of the foam that was used in the studies that developed descriptive statistics, sensitivity, and specificity.
The Linear Algebra of Similarity

A dot-product similarity matrix is an alternative way to represent a multidimensional data set. In other words, one can convert an n × d data matrix D into an n × n similarity matrix S = DDT (which contains n2 pairwise dot products between points). One can use S instead of D for machine learning algorithms. The reason is that the similarity matrix contains almost the same information about the data as the original matrix. This equivalence is the genesis of a large class of methods in machine learning, referred to as kernel methods. This chapter builds the linear algebra framework required for understanding this important class of methods in machine learning. The real utility of such methods arises when the similarity matrix is chosen differently from the use of dot products (and the data matrix is sometimes not even available).
Control strategies to manage trade-offs during microbial production

When engineering microbes to overproduce a target molecule, engineers face multiple layers of trade-offs to allocate limited cellular resources between the target pathway and native cellular systems. These trade-offs arise from limited free ribosomes during translation, competition for metabolic precursors, as well as the negative relationship between production and growth rate. To achieve high production performance, microbes need to spontaneously make decisions in the dynamic and heterogeneous fermentation environment. In this review, we discuss recent advances in microbial control strategies that are used to manage these trade-offs and to improve microbial production. This review focuses on design principles and compares different implementations, with the hope to provide guidelines to future microbial engineering.
Valuing the Freedom of Speech and the Freedom to Compete in Defenses to Trademark and Related Claims in the United States

This book chapter appears in the CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK ON INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE TRADEMARK LAW, edited by Jane C. Ginsburg and Irene Calboli (Cambridge Univ. Press 2020). The Chapter provides an overview of the defenses to trademark infringement, dilution, and false endorsement claims that serve the goals of free expression and fair competition. In particular, the Chapter covers the defenses of genericism, functionality, descriptive and nominative fair use, the Rogers test, statutory exemptions to dilution claims, and the questions of whether and how an independent First Amendment defense applies in light of recent Supreme Court decisions. In addition to providing a useful guide to each of these defenses in U.S. law, the Chapter makes several overarching observations about these speech and competition-related defenses. First, that the speech or competition values asserted by the defendants influence the likely success of the claims. Defenses are more successful when the uses are in creative or artistic works, convey relevant information to potential consumers (even in advertising), or are deemed a commercial necessity. Second, that the perceived “reasonableness” of the defendant’s use will determine the likely success of the asserted defense. This is true even when the particular defense does not explicitly include such a consideration. Finally, that these defenses serve as an important counterbalance to the broad scope of today’s trademark law, which has expanded dramatically over the last century, particularly in the last few decades with the addition of dilution claims to the federal regime. The defenses highlighted in this Chapter provide a powerful antidote to the potential for trademark and related laws to shut down speech and unduly limit competition. The First Amendment and its speech-protective penumbras incorporated into trademark law provide latitude to use others’ marks both in commercial and noncommercial speech, but this protection is not without limits. When a use exceeds what is appropriate under the circumstances, and is perceived as primarily profiting from another’s goodwill without a corresponding speech benefit, these defenses are unlikely to provide protective shade.
Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview.

Neurodegenerative diseases resulting from the progressive loss of structure and/or function of neurons contribute to different paralysis degrees and loss of cognition and sensation. The lack of successful curative therapies for neurodegenerative disorders leads to a considerable burden on society and a high economic impact. Over the past 20 years, regenerative cell therapy, also known as stem cell therapy, has provided an excellent opportunity to investigate potentially powerful innovative strategies for treating neurodegenerative diseases. This is due to stem cells’ capability to repair injured neuronal tissue by replacing the damaged or lost cells with differentiated cells, providing a conducive environment that is in favor of regeneration, or protecting the existing healthy neurons and glial cells from further damage. Thus, in this review, the various types of stem cells, the current knowledge of stem-cell-based therapies in neurodegenerative diseases, and the recent advances in this field are summarized. Indeed, a better understanding and further studies of stem cell technologies cause progress into realistic and efficacious treatments of neurodegenerative disorders.
Central pontine myelinolysis secondary to rapid correction of hyponatremia historical perspective with Doctor Robert Laureno.

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a neurological disorder characterized by damage to the myelin and oligodendrocytes in the pons. This review focuses on the history of CPM and the discovery of its association with the treatment of hyponatremia. The author reviewed original publications regarding CPM, hyponatremia, and the treatment of hyponatremia. The author interviewed Dr. Robert Laureno who was a pioneer in CPM research with his animal work in dogs. Animal models demonstrated the role of the rapid correction of hyponatremia as causative of pontine and extrapontine myelinolytic lesions. Nevertheless, the importance of the speed of correction was widely denied. There were years of debates and only slow changes in expert guidelines. CPM occurs as a consequence of a rapid rise in serum sodium in individuals with chronic hyponatremia. It is recommended to increase plasma sodium concentration by no more than 8 to 10 mmol/L per 24 h in chronic hyponatremia.
National trends in extremity fracture hospitalizations among older adults between 2003 and 2017.

BACKGROUND Fractures in late life are highly consequential for health, services use, and spending. Little is known about trends in extremity fracture hospitalizations among older adults in the United States. DESIGN Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. SETTING The 2003-2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a representative sample of U.S. community hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Hospitalized adults aged 65 and older with a diagnosis of upper or lower extremity fracture. MEASUREMENTS Incidence of extremity fracture hospitalization and mortality, using NIS discharge and trend weights, and population denominators derived from the U.S. Census Bureau. Incidence was reported separately for men and women by age, fracture diagnosis, and injury mechanism. Weighted linear regression was used to test for significant trends over time. RESULTS Incidence of extremity fracture hospitalizations declined in both women (15.7%, p trend < 0.001) and men (3.2%, p trend < 0.001) between 2003 and 2017. This trend was primarily attributed to a decline in low energy femur fractures which accounted for 65% of all fracture hospitalizations. Among older adults with an extremity fracture hospitalization, mortality declined from 5.1% in 2003 to 3.3% in 2017 in men, and from 2.6% to 1.9% in women (p trend < 0.001). High energy fractures were due to falls (53%), motor vehicle accidents (34%), and other high impact injuries (13%). Overall, 12% of extremity fracture hospitalizations were attributed to high-energy injuries: increases were observed among men ages 65-74 (20%; p trend < 0.001) and 75-84 (10%; p trend = 0.013), but not among women of any age. CONCLUSION Observed declines in the incidence of extremity fracture hospitalizations and related mortality are encouraging. However, increasing incidence of fracture hospitalization from high energy injuries among men suggests that older adults with complex injuries will be seen with more prevalence in the future.
Hope: A Literary History

Hope for us has a positive connotation. Yet it was criticized in classical antiquity as a distraction from the present moment, as the occasion for irrational and self-destructive thinking, and as a presumption against the gods. To what extent do arguments against hope today remain useful? If hope sounds to us like a good thing, that reaction stems from a progressive political tradition grounded in the French Revolution, aspects of Romantic literature and the influence of the Abrahamic faiths. Ranging both wide and deep, Adam Potkay examines the cases for and against hope found in literature from antiquity to the present. Drawing imaginatively on several fields and creatively juxtaposing poetry, drama, and novels alongside philosophy, theology and political theory, the author brings continually fresh insights to a subject of perennial interest. This is a bold and illuminating new treatment of a long-running literary debate as complex as it is compelling.
Impact of COVID-19 on Outpatient Antimicrobial Prescribing Patterns in New York City.

Background Antibiotic and antiviral agents may be prescribed in patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections because of in vitro evidence of cessation of viral replication, potential bacterial secondary or coinfection, and inability to distinguish COVID-19 infections from common bacterial infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial prescribing patterns in the outpatient setting during the initial peak of COVID-19 in New York City. Methods This single-center, retrospective chart review included patients at least 18 years old who were prescribed oral antimicrobial agents in outpatient primary care clinics between March and May 2020. Data were compared with prescribing patterns from March to May 2019. The primary outcome was the number of antimicrobial prescriptions per 1000 patient visits. Secondary outcomes included documented indication, incidence of confirmed infections, mortality, and/or hospital admission within 90 days. Descriptive statistics were used. Results The overall antimicrobial prescribing rate increased from 31.94 prescriptions per 1000 visits in 2019 to 57.48 prescriptions per 1000 visits in 2020. Agents that were more commonly prescribed during the initial peak of COVID-19 include cefpodoxime, hydroxychloroquine, doxycycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. COVID-19 represented 7 (6%) documented antimicrobial indications in 2020, with agents such as azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, doxycycline, cefpodoxime, and oseltamivir prescribed. Conclusions Overall antimicrobial prescribing rates in outpatient primary care clinics increased during the first peak of COVID-19 in an area with high infection burden. This increase may have been influenced by restricted patient evaluation, changes in patient management, and a decrease in overall patient visits.
p73--Guilt by Association?

It has been assumed that the new members of the p53 protein family, p63 and p73, would have the same job as p53, namely, forcing cells to die if they or their DNA is damaged. Now, as Morrison and Kinoshita explain in their Perspective, one particular form of p73 has been found to be a survival factor rather than a death factor for sympathetic neurons during development ( Pozniak et al .).
A sparse data fast Fourier transform (SDFFT) - algorithm and implementation

An algorithm that efficiently Fourier transforms sparse spatial data to sparse spectral data with controllable error is presented. Unlike the ordinary nonuniform fast Fourier transform (NUFFT), which becomes O(N/sup 2/) for sparse r-space and sparse k-space data, the sparse data fast Fourier transform (SDFFT) presented herein decreases the cost to O(N log N) while preserving the O(N log N) memory complexity. The algorithm can be readily employed in general signal processing applications where only part of the k-space is to be computed - regardless of whether it is a regular region like an angular section of the Ewald's sphere or it consists completely of arbitrary points. Among its applications in electromagnetics are back-projection tomography, diffraction tomography, synthetic aperture radar imaging, and the computation of far field patterns due to general aperture antennas and antenna arrays.
Using Generic Ballots to Predict State Legislative Elections

The Gallup Poll has used a generic ballot question since the 1950s to predict the national vote in Congressional elections. and a six decade record of mostly accurate projections makes this a useful measure for political scientists in understanding national elections. This paper examines how well a generic ballot question predicts the outcome of state legislative elections.
Chemistry of the genus Sequoia—II : Isolation of sequirins, new phenolic compounds from the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

Abstract New phenolic compounds, sequirins A, B, and C were isolated from the extractives of redwood heartwood. These compounds account for the durability and staining of redwood, and they are probably the precursors of polymers present in redwood.
Factor-Xa inactivation by antithrombin. 3. Evidence for biological stabilization of factor Xa by factor V-phospholipid complex.

Summary. The inactivation of the procoagulant activity of bovine factor Xa by antiproteinase present in antithrombin III preparation follows the pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to factor Xa. The rate of inactivation is devoid of the dimension of factor Xa concentration when antiproteinase in excess is held constant. In the presence of physiological concentrations of factor V, phospholipids and ionic calcium, the affinity of factor Xa for antithrombin III drastically decreases, and the half-life of the enzyme is very significantly prolonged. This biological stabilization of factor Xa requires the presence of all three substances: factor V, phospholipid and calcium. However, it is quantitatively dictated only by factor V concentrations. Calcium ions and phospholipid required for factor Xa protection from inactivation by antithrombin III have a rather low optimum concentration range, beyond which the original fast rate of inactivation tends to be restored. A direct interaction between antithrombin III and factor V or phospholipid was not found. Thus binding of factor V mediated by phospholipid and calcium ions, which brings about the increase in factor Xa proteolytic activity, also decreases the susceptibility of this enzyme to a biological inactivator in blood.
Infectious, autoimmune and allergic diseases and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents: A Children's Oncology Group study

An infectious origin for pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has long been suspected and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in a subset of cases. Increased HL incidence in children with congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, consistent associations between autoimmune diseases and adult HL, and genome-wide association and other genetic studies together suggest immune dysregulation is involved in lymphomagenesis. Here, healthy control children identified by random digit dialing were matched on sex, race/ethnicity, and age to HL cases diagnosed in 1989-2003 at 0-14 years at Children’s Oncology Group institutions. Parents of 517 cases and 784 controls completed telephone interviews, including items regarding medical histories. Tumor EBV status was determined for 355 cases. Using conditional logistic regression, we calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of HL. Cases were more likely to have had an infection >1 year prior to HL diagnosis (OR=1.69, 95% CI:0.98-2.91); case siblings were also more likely to have had a prior infection (OR=2.04, 95% CI:1.01-4.14). Parental history of autoimmunity associated with increased EBV+ HL risk (OR=2.97, 95% CI:1.34-6.58), while having a parent (OR=1.47, 95% CI:1.01-2.14) or sibling (OR=1.62, 95% CI:1.11-2.36) with an allergy was associated with EBV− HL. These results may indicate true increased risk for infections and increased risk with family history of autoimmune and allergic conditions that varies by tumor EBV status, or they may be attributable to inaccurate recall. In addition to employing biomarkers to confirm the role of immune-modulating conditions in pediatric HL, future studies should focus on family-based designs.
Spinel Metal Oxide-Alkali Carbonate-Based, Low-Temperature Thermochemical Cycles for Water Splitting and CO_2 Reduction

A manganese oxide-based, thermochemical cycle for water splitting below 1000 °C has recently been reported. The cycle involves the shuttling of Na+ into and out of manganese oxides via the consumption and formation of sodium carbonate, respectively. Here, we explore the combinations of three spinel metal oxides and three alkali carbonates in thermochemical cycles for water splitting and CO_2 reduction. Hydrogen evolution and CO_2 reduction reactions of metal oxides with a given alkali carbonate occur in the following order of decreasing activity: Fe_(3)O_4 > Mn_(3)O_4 > Co_(3)O_4, whereas the reactivity of a given metal oxide with alkali carbonates declines as Li_(2)CO_3 > Na_(2)CO_3 > K_(2)CO_3. While hydrogen evolution and CO_2 reduction reactions occur at a lower temperature on the combinations with the more reactive metal oxide and alkali carbonate, higher thermal reduction temperatures and more difficult alkali ion extractions are observed for the combinations of the more reactive metal oxides and alkali carbonates. Thus, for a thermochemical cycle to be closed at low temperatures, all three reactions of hydrogen evolution (CO_2 reduction), alkali ion extraction, and thermal reduction must proceed within the specified temperature range. Of the systems investigated here, only the Na_(2)CO_3/Mn_(3)O_4 combination satisfies these criteria with a maximum operating temperature (850 °C) below 1000 °C.
Differential effects of cadmium on the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 system in male and female rats.

Cadmium (Cd) produced a marked sex-related difference with respect to inhibition of the hepatic microsomal monooxygenase enzyme system in the rat. Following in vivo cadmium (2 mg/kg i.p.) treatment, significant decreases in the levels of cytochrome P-450, significant reductions in the magnitudes of spectral binding (aniline or ethylmorphine), and significant inhibitions of microsomal metabolism (aniline and ethylmorphine) were observed with microsomes isolated from male but not female rats. Of these parameters only aniline metabolism was significantly altered in females. Following the in vitro addition of Cd (10(-6) M to 10(-3) M) to hepatic microsomes isolated from untreated male or female rats, sex-related changes were also observed in these parameters. Significant, concentration-dependent reductions were observed in cytochrome P-450 levels of both sexes but the males showed greater sensitivity to the cadmium effect. With respect to binding spectra, cadmium addition produced a concentration dependent inhibition of aniline only in the male rat. Ethylmorphine binding was inhibited only at the higher cadmium concentrations in both sexes. With respect to drug metabolism, cadmium addition inhibited both aniline and ethylmorphine metabolism in male rats and only aniline metabolism in female rats. These results showed that there are sex-related differences in the interaction of the hepatic microsomal monooxygenase enzyme system with cadmium both after in vitro addition as well as in vivo treatment with the metal.