cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High curvature of the internal carotid artery is associated with the presence of intracranial aneurysms

Objective Aneurysm formation in locations not involving vascular bifurcations has not been thoroughly analyzed. This study evaluated the relationship between the degree of vessel curvature and the presence of intracranial sidewall aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods Catheter-based 3D-rotational angiographic volumes and demographic data were available for 130 ICAs. Mean and peak curvatures were evaluated for the intracranial ICA (50 mm caudal from ICA bifurcation) and for its distal segment (from ICA bifurcation to carotid siphon). Four ICA groups, statistically matched for age, were identified: non-aneurysmal women (n=33) and men (n=25), aneurysmal women (n=58) and men (n=14). Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to evaluate statistical performance. Results Aneurysmal ICAs had significantly higher mean curvatures than non-aneurysmal ICAs in both the intracranial (p Conclusions The presence of a sidewall aneurysm on the ICA is associated with high curvature in both genders. High curvature of the intracranial ICA, as well as of the distal segment, may indicate a higher risk for aneurysm formation. Non-aneurysmal ICAs are less curved in men than in women, which may explain the gender predisposition to aneurysm formation.
An Ockhamite Criticism of Church Semantics

Ockham's criticisms of earlier theories of universals depend on the fact that they are universals, that the supposed entities are essentially different in kind from particulars. Since modern theories which postulate the existence of senses or propositions as part of a semantic theory1 make no such claims about those entities it would seem that Ockham's views are irrelevant to dis putes over the value of those semantic theories. That is, for Frege, Church and others the senses or propositions postulated are not claimed to be univer sal in the traditional medieval sense,2 but are rather abstract objects which in the theory are treated as particulars exactly on a par with rocks, tables and numbers. However, if one considers Ockham's positive theory of language it becomes clear that his views are at odds with modern abstract semantic ac counts just as much as they were with the traditional universalist semantic accounts.3 For Ockham the universality of any expression is always and only un iversality of signification.4 The fact that a general term may refer to more than one object derives entirely from the acts of the individual mind:
Tooth Tables: Solution of a Dental Problem by Vector Algebra

(1982). Tooth Tables: Solution of a Dental Problem by Vector Algebra. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 55, No. 5, pp. 274-280.
Trastuzumab, but Not Pertuzumab, Dysregulates HER2 Signaling to Mediate Inhibition of Autophagy and Increase in Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Human Cardiomyocytes

Dysregulation of autophagy has been implicated in various cardiovascular diseases. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, binds to HER2 domain IV and is approved for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Trastuzumab therapy is associated with considerable cardiotoxicity, the mechanism of which remains unclear. HER2 signaling plays a pivotal role in cardiomyocyte development and survival and is essential for the prevention of cardiomyopathy. However, a direct link has not been confirmed between trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy and impaired HER2 signaling. Our data reveal a novel mechanism by which trastuzumab dysregulates HER2 signaling and impairs basal autophagic process in human primary cardiomyocytes. Specifically, trastuzumab treatment leads to the phosphorylation of HER1-Y845 and HER2-Y1248 and the activation of Erk. This in turn results in upregulation of mTOR signaling pathway and subsequently inhibition of autophagy in primary cardiomyocytes and C57BL/6 mice. Trastuzumab-induced downregulation of autophagy is further supported by the fact that trastuzumab treatment reduces protein levels of autophagosome-associated signaling molecules such as Atg 5-12, Atg 7, Atg 14, and Beclin 1. We further demonstrated that trastuzumab-mediated inhibition of autophagy resulted in the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiomyocytes. Pertuzumab, another anti-HER2 therapeutic mAb binding to HER2 domain II, fails to modulate HER2 signaling and is unable to inhibit autophagy and to increase ROS production in cardiomyocytes. This study provides novel mechanistic insights into trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity, which may assist in formulating novel approaches for clinical management of trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(6); 1321-31. ©2016 AACR.
Early Exposure to the Scientific Research Process through Collaboration with Chemistry Faculty and the Science Librarian

ABSTRACTThis article reports on the successes of a collaborative effort between science faculty and a science librarian at the University of Arkansas to help freshman chemistry students increase their information literacy skills and their exposure to science faculty members to the point that it motivated them to pursue scientific research projects early in their university studies. Follow-up study suggests that if students are exposed to different professors’ research and their requirements for undergraduate research in their freshman year, they are more likely to be engaged in research. Since attending the course, 40 percent of the survey respondents worked on a research project with a faculty member, and 42 percent of them were working on a research project. Half of the respondents felt that this course helped them in some way to get involved with the project they have worked on or are currently engaged in.
Implications of Transitioning from De Facto to Engineered Water Reuse for Power Plant Cooling

Thermoelectric power plants demand large quantities of cooling water, and can use alternative sources like treated wastewater (reclaimed water); however, such alternatives generate many uncertainties. De facto water reuse, or the incidental presence of wastewater effluent in a water source, is common at power plants, representing baseline conditions. In many cases, power plants would retrofit open-loop systems to cooling towers to use reclaimed water. To evaluate the feasibility of reclaimed water use, we compared hydrologic and economic conditions at power plants under three scenarios: quantified de facto reuse, de facto reuse with cooling tower retrofits, and modeled engineered reuse conditions. We created a genetic algorithm to estimate costs and model optimal conditions. To assess power plant performance, we evaluated reliability metrics for thermal variances and generation capacity loss as a function of water temperature. Applying our analysis to the greater Chicago area, we observed high de facto re...
Time-space localized seismic wave propagation:Dreamlet prestack depth migration

We propose a complete time-space localized seismic wavefield decomposition and propagation method─dreamlet migration.The time-space wavefield is projected to the time-frequency-space-wavenumber domain by the local cosine transform,and the wavefield is extrapolated to next depth by the local phase space dreamlet one-way propagator.The wavefield and propagator after decomposition are very sparse and most importantly,they stay in the real data domain,which means the process of propagation and imaging complete in the real data domain.In this paper,we derive the formulas of the wavefield decomposition and phase-space dreamlet one-way propagator.The dreamlet domain wave propagation is sparse matrix multiplication,and the valid time length of the receiver wavefield is shrinking as the depth increasing.Numerical examples and tests on the synthetic two dimensional SEG/EAGE salt model and SIGSBEE model demonstrate the validity of this method.Migration results show that this method has good imaging quality in laterally high contrast heterogeneous media.
Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy and Early Childhood Asthma

Background:Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. While folic acid supplementation around conception helps prevent neural tube defects, an animal model suggests that it may be a risk factor for respiratory diseases, although epidemiologic studies have had conflicting results. W
Evaluation of a rapid and automated enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay for detecting Escherichia coli serogroup O157 in cheese.

The Vitek Immunodiagnostic Assay System (VIDAS) for Escherichia coli 0157, a rapid and fully automated test, was evaluated for use in detecting the foodborne pathogen E.coli 0157 :H7 in soft, semisoft, and hard cheeses. Sixty-five cheese samples were artificially contaminated at low (2-4 colony-forming units [cfu]/25 g) and high (7-10 cfu/25 g) levels with one of 2 strains of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157 :H7. Contamination at high levels was detected in all cheeses by VIDAS, whereas in 5 cheeses (7.7%) inoculated at low levels, contamination was not detected. In 15 additional cheeses inoculated with cold-stressed cells, both VIDAS and the Bacteriological Analytical Manual cultural assay detected all high and low levels of contamination. No false positives or interference from product background fluorescence was encountered in any of the cheeses tested by VIDAS.
Policy leadership and re-election in the European Parliament

ABSTRACTWhat determines the re-election of incumbent members of the European Parliament (MEPs)? Using Heckman probit models with sample selection to predict re-election in 2014, this contribution considers the impact of policy leadership, formal leadership, professional dedication, and seniority, and investigates the conditional effect of ballot structures. It finds that formal leadership only has a positive effect for party leaders elected from open lists, while dedication and seniority do not impact incumbents’ electoral performance. Instead, policy leadership is most clearly associated with incumbents’ electoral fortunes, including an innovative new measure of MEPs’ ability to influence the votes of others. The results also suggest that party leaders, when creating electoral lists that are not subject to change by voters, seek to ensure that policy leaders are reelected, but that voters, when given the opportunity to change the rankings of candidates on electoral lists, favor MEPs with greater electora...
End-Stage Diastolic and Systolic Heart Failure: Evaluation and Timing of Heart Transplantation

End stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs in an estimated 3–15 % of patients and can present as either systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Risk factors for developing end stage disease include a family history of end stage disease, younger age at initial diagnosis, increased wall thickness and persistent arrhythmia. The classic form of adverse remodeling includes left ventricular cavity dilation with regression of hypertrophy and decrease in ejection fraction. Standard medical therapy for systolic heart failure and consideration of prophylactic defibrillator is indicated when LVEF is less than 50 %. Heart transplant is a viable option for patients with end stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, including those with systolic heart failure, diastolic heart failure or refractory arrhythmia. Strategies used to bridge patients to transplant include continuous inotropic infusion, left ventricular assist device, intra-aortic balloon pump, and in rare cases extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Survival after heart transplant for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is equal to or better than survival for patients who have other types of cardiomyopathies.
The Many Facets of Human Disturbances at the Tonkolili Chimpanzee Site

The Tonkolili Chimpanzee Project was founded in 2012 in an effort to study a small, but heavily dense population of chimpanzees living in an extreme anthropogenic landscape. The chimpanzees, who occupy a forest fragment interspersed with human villages, have a long history of interacting with the human communities. Communities report regular crop raids, as well as attacks by chimpanzees on humans and domestic animals; all which have resulted in chimpanzees being frequently killed by community members. Data on feeding ecology as well as a nest count census have revealed an unsustainable population density within the fragment—a possible foundational factor in these frequent human–chimpanzee interactions. The Tonkolili Chimpanzee Project has looked for ways to mitigate these conflicts while simultaneously studying the ecology of chimpanzees living in a situation that is becoming a growing reality for chimpanzees. Although anthropogenic effects on habitats are oftentimes painted with a broad brush, the Tonkolili chimpanzee population showcases how complex and multifaceted human impacts can be on chimpanzee ecology.
Energy and Global Production Networks

Global production networks (GPNs) refer to activities and organizational structures that transform labor, nature, and capital across disparate geographies into commodities and services. The framework is often used to understand economic development and the socio-ecological transformation of natural resources. This chapter describes elemental concepts utilized in the GPN literature such as those used in global commodity chain, global value chain, and supply chain research. It also details the goals, objectives, and debates within the literature. Three case studies related to energy and global production systems—solar photovoltaics, shale gas, and salmon aquaculture—are detailed illustrating what can be learned from the approach.
Maternal Stress-Mediated Gene Expression Changes in the Mouse Placenta: A Mosaic Hypothesis of Epigenesis

Chapter Summary For optimal growth, development, maturation, and survival of the embryo/fetus, successful development and function of the placenta is crucial. Evidence from both epidemiologic studies in humans and experimental investigation in laboratory animals has demonstrated that antenatal maternal stress (protein/caloric deficiency or excess, hypoxia, and other invidious influences) establishes the foundation in utero for disease in the adult offspring. Here we consider aspects of gene expression and the role of epigenetics in the murine placenta as a consequence of maternal stressors. The mouse, a species in which the genome has been sequenced, and in which studies can be performed in a controlled manner, is a valuable “model” for such studies. Although each individual maternal stress is characterized by up- or downregulation of specific placental genes, functional analysis reveals some patterns of expression common to the several forms of stress. Of critical importance, these stress-altered genes include those involved in DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNA alteration, cell cycle regulation, and related global pathways of relevance to epigenetics in the developmental origins of adult health and disease. We attempt to synthesize the data and information into a coherent whole, presenting a mosaic hypothesis of epigenetic mechanisms to account for the various responses and their manifestations.
Introduction: Categories and the Question of Being

Heidegger’s interpretation of Kant has long been seen as problematic. As an interpretation, it is far from mainstream, and this unusualness has led to harsh criticism. A central feature of the objections is the claim that Heidegger has wilfully forced Kant into seeming to be a mere precursor of Heidegger. This criticism was initiated most notably by Ernst Cassirer in his review of Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics: ‘Here Heidegger speaks no longer as a commentator, but as a usurper, who as it were enters with force of arms into the Kantian system in order to subjugate it and to make it serve his own problematic.’1
Radius of gyration—Organic compounds

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the results of the radius of gyration for organic compounds in tabular format. The tabulation is arranged by carbon number such as C, C2, and C3 to provide ease of use in quickly locating the data by using the chemical formula. The compound name and chemical abstracts registry number (CAS No) are also provided in columns. Values for the radius of gyration are given in the adjacent column. In preparing the tabulation, a literature search is conducted to identify data source publications. Both experimental values for the property under consideration and parameter values for estimation of the property are included in the source publications. The publications are screened, and copies of appropriate data are made. These data are keyed into the computer to provide a database of values for compounds. Upon completion of data collection, estimation of values for the remaining compounds is performed. The compilations of Daubert and Danner and Yaws are used extensively. The radius of gyration is a helpful indication of the size of a compound. It is ascertained from the moment of inertia and molecular weight. Applications and methods of calculation are described by Wikipedia.
Strategic Surge Pricing and Forecast Communication on On-Demand Service Platforms

On-demand service platforms (e.g., Uber, Lyft) match consumers with independent workers nearby at short notice. To manage fluctuating supply and demand conditions across market locations (zones), many on-demand platforms provide market forecasts to workers and practice surge pricing, wherein the price in a particular zone is temporarily raised above the regular price. We jointly analyze the strategic role of surge pricing and forecast communication explicitly accounting for workers' incentives to move between zones and the platform's incentive to share forecasts truthfully. Conventional wisdom suggests that surge pricing is useful in zones where demand for workers exceeds their supply. However, we show that when the platform relies on independent workers to serve consumers across different zones, surge pricing is also useful in zones where supply exceeds demand. Because individual workers do not internalize the competitive externality that they impose on other workers, too few workers may move from a zone with excess supply to an adjacent zone requiring additional workers. Moreover, the platform may have an incentive to misreport market forecasts to exaggerate the need for workers to move. We show how and why distorting the price in a zone with excess supply through surge pricing can increase total platform profit across zones, by incentivizing more workers to move and by making forecast communication credible. Our analysis offers insights for effectively managing on-demand platforms through surge pricing and forecast sharing, and the resulting implications for consumers and workers.
Abstract TP456: Coated-platelets Levels After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Predict Post-discharge Short-term Cognitive Outcome

Introduction: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a determinant of short-term and long-term morbidity after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). DCI is likely due to neurohumoral activation and inflammati...
Biceps tissue bioimpedance changes from isotonic exercise-induced fatigue at different intensities

Electrical impedance measurements of biological tissues, also referred to as bioimpedance, quantify the passive electrical properties of these materials. The motivation behind collecting these measurements is to provide details regarding the electrochemical structures and processes within these tissues. Bioimpedance measures have recently been investigated as a method to monitor morphological and physiological changes that occur in skeletal muscle during contraction as well as result from fatigue. Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise intensity during a fatiguing protocol of the biceps brachii on the electrical impedance changes of biceps tissue due to an isotonic protocol. Approach: Resistance (R) and reactance (X) measurements were collected from the right and left biceps of 18 participants pre and post execution of a fatiguing protocol using an isotonic exercise to task failure at two intensities, either 60% (N = 10) or 75% (N = 8) of their assessed one-repetition maximum strength. Main Results: There were significant differences (p 0.05) of the R and X between groups at different intensities and no significant differences (p > 0.05) of changes between the left and right biceps in both groups. Significance: These results show that the level of exercise intensity did not significantly impact the changes in electrical impedance of the biceps tissue between the two intensity groups in this study when the same fatigue criteria are used, which is an important consideration when using EIM to monitor changes as a result of fatigue and exercise related injury.
Insulin Action in the Brain and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Over 24 million people in the U.S. have diabetes mellitus, and about 90% of these have the type 2 form of the disease. In addition, an estimated 40–60 million people have pre-type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance or the cluster of abnormalities referred to variably as the metabolic syndrome or syndrome X (Reaven 1988). In all of these disorders, a central component of the pathophysiology is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is also closely linked to other common health problems, including obesity, polycystic ovarian disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis (Biddinger and Kahn 2006). Recent data also indicate a link between insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (Craft 2007). Cross-sectional studies have suggested an association between type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline, especially in aspects of verbal memory (Strachan et al. 1997). Longitudinal studies have revealed that patients with type 2 diabetes have a 1.5-fold greater change over time in measures of cognitive function than those without diabetes (Cukierman et al. 2005). While some of this change may certainly be due to the increased prevalence of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients, there is increasing evidence that insulin resistance itself may affect CNS function and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In this review we will explore this relationship, focusing on experiments we have performed in mice.
Impact of tutor errors on student engagement in a dialog based intelligent tutoring system

Accurate classification of learner responses is a critical component of dialog based tutoring systems (DBT). Errors in identifying the intent and context of responses can have cascading effects on the ongoing interaction thereby affecting the learning experience and outcome. In this paper we attempt to quantify the impact of Tutor misclassifications on student behavior by analyzing differences across our hypothesized conditions namely, no-misclassification vs. misclassification using various dialog metrics. We find that not only are there significant changes in behavior across the two groups but that Tutor errors related to misunderstanding of Intent - although fewer in occurrence, appear to have a higher impact than a misclassification of a valid student answer. We also see some evidence of the effectiveness of scaffolds like FITBs in sustaining dialog thereby mitigating the effects of a Tutor error.
Stress Response: Sex Differences

Numerous studies have described sex differences in hormonal and behavioral responses to stressors. In laboratory animals, the hormonal reactivity to a stressor has been shown to be greater in females, whereas behavioral responses are more severe in males. Such observations are attributed to sex differences either in the inherent physiological regulation of stress reactivity and/or in higher order circuits related to coping strategies and stress perception. Sex steroids act during development and adulthood to contribute to these sex differences. In humans, gender differences in stress reactivity are more complex, but are also modulated by gonadal steroids. Females tend to show greater responses to social interaction stressors, while males have greater responses to those involving achievement.
Feasibility of a geriatric chemotherapy toxicity prediction tool in adults with advanced cancer: A pilot study at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

e18179Background: Adults with advanced cancer vary considerably in health status and functional reserve. Given the substantial risk of toxicity from systemic therapy, the challenge for medical onco...
Self-Efficacy and Future Goals in Education

As the inner resource that drives us to pursue activities, to put forth effort, and to avoid failure, motivation is key to overall well-being. Self-efficacy and future goals are important to understanding and reinforcing the motivation to learn, especially for students in classroom settings. Written by a leading expert on motivation, this book situates the topic within the broader context of educational psychology research and theory, and brings it to a wider audience. With chapters on the fundamentals of self-efficacy and future goals, their importance for student learning, and how to develop them in educational settings, this concise volume is designed for any education course that includes student motivation in the curriculum. It will be indispensible for student researchers and both pre- and in-service teachers alike.
Parenteral immunization with double-mutant heat labile toxin engages CD103+ dermal dendritic cells and redirects T cell immunity to the gut mucosa. (MUC5P.751)

The majority of infectious agents enter via mucosal compartments. Despite this, most current vaccines are administered by parenteral injection, which induce limited mucosal T cell responses. It is known that certain adjuvants can induce mucosal antibody responses regardless of route; however, there is minimal evidence that these injections direct antigen-specific effector T cells to the mucosa, where they are likely needed for relevant protection. In the current study we examine the potential of dmLT (double-mutant heat-labile toxin), a detoxified adjuvant derived from the mucosal human pathogen enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli , to drive antigen-specific T cells to the intestinal mucosa after parenteral immunization. By using a combination of antibodies and tetramers specific for a known peptide:MHCII, we can track intradermal delivery of dmLT plus antigen, with regards to antigen-presentation and the antigen-specific CD4 T cell response. We show this immunization results in T cell upregulation of the gut mucosal homing marker, α4β7 in local draining lymph nodes, mucosal lymph nodes, colon, and small intestine when compared to immunization with CpG plus the same antigen. We also observed an increased frequency of CD103+ dendritic cells in response to dmLT administration that were presenting the injected antigen. Lastly, we determined that dmLT imparts a balanced Th1/Th17 cytokine response and is capable of providing protection against oral Salmonella typhimurium challenge.
Pigment Content and EPR Characterization of the Photochemical Reaction Center of Photosystem II

The reaction center of Photosystem II (PS II) is comprised of the D1 and D2 polypeptides which bind some of the cofactors necessary for photochemical charge separation and secondary electron transfer. A complex of these polypeptides and cyt b559 has been isolated from PS II membranes, either with Triton X-100 [1], or a combination of LiClO4 and dodecylmaltoside [2]. A comparison between the two isolation methods revealed that the dodecylmaltoside complex (DM-complex) is more stable [2] and contains approximately 30% more pigment than the Triton X-100 complex (TX-complex) [3]. The DM-complex can be isolated with high yield, without significant loss of b559; therefore, the number of pigments can be estimated by comparing b559 contents in DM-complexes and in well-characterized PS II membranes [4] or reaction center complexes [5]. From such a comparison it was concluded that the DM-complex contains 10–12 Chl a, 2–3 Pheo a and 2 b559 molecules [3].
Nutrigenetics: Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Abstract Both the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs)—eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, EPA and DHA—and the principal long-chain n-6 FA (arachidonic acid, AA) play important roles in metabolism. As precursors to a wide variety of active biomolecules collectively termed “oxylipins,” higher/lower levels of these FAs impact important and disparate clinical outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and dry eye disease, to name but a few. Levels of the n-3 FAs are determined partly by biosynthesis from the plant-derived precursor alpha-linolenic acid and partly from direct dietary intake of EPA and DHA from seafood. AA levels, on the other hand, are primarily determined by metabolic conversion from the essential n-6 FA linoleic acid. The role that genetic factors play in determining the levels of these FAs is poorly understood. Here we focus on two specific questions: How much do genetic variations influence (1) baseline EPA, DHA, and AA levels in blood, and (2) the blood EPA and DHA response to n-3 supplementation? We have reasonably good evidence for a relatively strong effect of fatty acid desaturase (FADS) variants on AA levels (i.e., levels are lower with minor variants), but not of EPA and DHA levels. We have very little evidence regarding the genetic factors that influence the blood EPA and DHA response to fish oil supplementation. Given the marked heterogeneity in the latter that cannot be otherwise explained, continued research into this question is strongly encouraged.
A Second Look at Factors Associated with Employer Hiring Behavior Regarding People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

Introduction:Although negative employer attitudes and reasons that employers do not hire people with disabilities have both been investigated, little research has focused on why employers do hire p...
Epicardial Adipose Tissue: Clinical Biomarker of Cardio-Metabolic Risk

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is part of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) that surrounds the heart and it is a quantifiable, modifiable, and multifaceted tissue that has both local and systemic effects. When EAT is enlarged, EAT contributes to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and plays a role in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this review, we will discuss the role of EAT in various facets of MetS, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance. We examine the association between EAT and liver steatosis. We also address the correlations of EAT with HIV therapy and with psoriasis. We discuss racial differences in baseline EAT thickness. We conclude that EAT measurement serves as a powerful potential diagnostic tool in assessing cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Measurement of EAT is made less costly, more convenient, and yet accurate and reliable by transthoracic echocardiography. Furthermore, modification of EAT thickness has therapeutic implications for ASCVD, T2DM, and MetS.
A process perspective on research and design issues in educational personalization

This article proposes that educational personalization may be usefully understood from a process perspective. It defines educational personalization as that which occurs within any planning or deci...
Error-related negativity (ERN) and ‘hot’ executive function in bilingual and monolingual preschoolers

Early regular experience with dual-language management is thought to shape executive function (EF) circuitry during development. However, previous investigations of bilingual children's EF have largely focused on behavioral measures, or on cognitive aspects of EF. The first part of this study compared monolingual and bilingual preschoolers’ performance on more purely cognitive and more affective versions of a card-sort task, and the second part investigated Error-related negativity (ERN) event-related potential (ERP) waveforms to understand error-awareness mechanisms underlying task performance. Behavioral results showed bilingual advantages in reaction times but not accuracy, and interaction effects of language background, level of challenge, and affective/motivational salience on reaction times. Electrophysiological results revealed smaller ERN peak amplitudes in bilinguals compared to monolinguals in frontal and frontocentral midline regions. Results highlight that bilingualism may shape motivational mechanisms and neural learning mechanisms such as error-detection, such that bilinguals may be less focused on their errors.
Relationship between Movement Quality, Functional Ambulation Status, and Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Children with Myelomeningocele

We investigated relationships among the Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (Peds NRS), modified Hoffer Scale, and spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with myelomeningocele (MMC). 21 chil...
Ozenoxacin (Xepi) for the Treatment of Impetigo.

Ozenoxacin is an effective and safe topical quinolone treatment for bullous and nonbullous impetigo in patients as young as two months. However, it is expensive and some patients may have limited access because it is only available through a physician or hospital.
A nonlinear time–frequency control based FOC for permanent magnet synchronous motors

PI control based field oriented control (FOC) scheme is the predominant method for the control of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) in applications requiring high performance. A novel nonlinear time–frequency control based FOC design for the fast, accurate, and robust control of PMSMs is presented. Featuring a single nonlinear time–frequency controller and a PI controller as the 2 primary components in the control configuration, the new scheme is evaluated against a classic PI control based FOC design for performances in response to rapid speed-switching and abrupt external torque variation. The scheme displays significantly smaller steady-state tracking errors undergoing speed shifting and no high frequency current oscillations or electromagnetic torque ripple in the motor, as does the PI based scheme. The tracking errors corresponding to changes in torque are free of distortion and oscillation that would otherwise indicate instability and inaccuracy. Precision positioning control is also realized through incorporating a P controller into the controller configuration. When the motor reference position is briskly flipped between 360° and 1°, the novel controller design is shown to perform well with a rotor position error that is less than 0.13°.
Soft HARQ for 5G Downlink

In this paper, we propose two multi-bit feedback methods for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). Both methods take into consideration of the coding gain of the forward error-correction codes. One method only considers the coding gain of the first transmission, which is named accumulated power (ACP) method. The other method considers the coding gain of both the first transmission and retransmissions, which is named accumulated error-correction performance (ACEP). Simulation results show that both methods achieve higher spectral efficiency and lower latency comparing with existed methods.
Management of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder in adults. The associated fractures carry a significant risk of disability, decreased quality of life, and mortality. This teaching script provides a framework for pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions that can effectively treat osteoporosis and reduce fracture risk. We highlight the controversy surrounding recommendations for duration of therapy as well as monitoring.
Long-term Outcomes of Children Operated for Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery.

Abstract: Background We examined the outcomes of children ( Methods We linked patients undergoing ALCAPA repair between 1982 and 2003 in the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium with the National Death Index and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, to examine their outcomes through 2019. Results We identified 228 children (median age 6.0 months) operated for ALCAPA. At time of repair, 38.6% had severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and 71.4% severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Repair included primarily coronary reimplantation (n=173) and Takeuchi procedure (n=34); concurrently, 18 underwent mitral valve (MV) surgery. In-hospital death occurred in 31 (13.6%) and was not associated with MR severity (p=0.846); however, among patients with moderate or severe MR, risk of death was 28% lower when undergoing MV surgery (p=0.033). After adjustment for other risk factors, only infant surgery reached statistical significance for in-hospital death (aOR=12.99; 95% CI: 1.61, 104.59, p=0.016). Among those discharged alive with long-term data available (n=155), the 30-year transplant-free survival reached 95.5% (95% CI: 92.3-98.8) and was not associated with degree of pre-operative MR or LV dysfunction. Coronary reimplantation was associated with better long-term survival compared to other surgical techniques (aOR=0.11; 95% CI 0.02-0.74, p=0.023). Conclusions Favorable long-term outcomes can be expected after coronary artery reimplantation for ALCAPA even in cases with severe LV dysfunction at presentation. MV surgery predicted decreased risk for in-hospital mortality in patients with moderate/severe MR, but MR severity predicted neither in-hospital nor longer-term outcomes.
Type I Interferon Induction and Exhaustion during Viral Infection: Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells and Emerging COVID-19 Findings

Type I Interferons (IFN-I) are a family of potent antiviral cytokines that act through the direct restriction of viral replication and by enhancing antiviral immunity. However, these powerful cytokines are a caged lion, as excessive and sustained IFN-I production can drive immunopathology during infection, and aberrant IFN-I production is a feature of several types of autoimmunity. As specialized producers of IFN-I plasmacytoid (p), dendritic cells (DCs) can secrete superb quantities and a wide breadth of IFN-I isoforms immediately after infection or stimulation, and are the focus of this review. Notably, a few days after viral infection pDCs tune down their capacity for IFN-I production, producing less cytokines in response to both the ongoing infection and unrelated secondary stimulations. This process, hereby referred to as “pDC exhaustion”, favors viral persistence and associates with reduced innate responses and increased susceptibility to secondary opportunistic infections. On the other hand, pDC exhaustion may be a compromise to avoid IFN-I driven immunopathology. In this review we reflect on the mechanisms that initially induce IFN-I and subsequently silence their production by pDCs during a viral infection. While these processes have been long studied across numerous viral infection models, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought their discussion back to the fore, and so we also discuss emerging results related to pDC-IFN-I production in the context of COVID-19.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) of childhood include high-grade mature B cell lymphoma [Burkitt lymphoma (BL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma (PMLBCL)], anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL). The prognosis for children with NHL is generally excellent, although there are some higher risk groups. In this regard, PMLBCL is generally associated with a poorer outcome than BL or DLBCL of comparable stage. The long-term event-free survival for children with ALCL is approximately 70 %. Novel biological agents, including those that target CD-30 or ALK, may hold promise for improving treatment results. Children with LL are treated with regimens derived from those used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recent biological study of LL may provide insights into revising treatment stratification. The challenge in pediatric NHL, a group that already has a relatively good prognosis, is to improve treatment outcome without increasing concerning late effects.
The Controversy around the Most Optimal Lead Anchoring Technique

Dear Editor, We appreciate Dr Colvin's thoughtful review and agree “that current anchoring devices suffer from unpredictable lead retention, possible lead fracture and discomfort due to being bulky.” As noted, our study was intended to analyze leads following maximal tension applied to suture loop anchors. The leads were subsequently examined under gross microscopy and tested for impedance changes. This was not a longitudinal study and interpretation of our results was therefore limited. Anecdotally, we recently explanted a lead in a patient who had a spinal cord stimulator system in place for over 1 year. At the time of implant, the lead was anchored with 2.0 silk loop anchors. Following explantation, the lead was …
A calcium-based theory of carcinogenesis.

Most human cancers are initiated by chronic injuries that repeatedly kill cells and must, therefore, repeatedly raise cell calcium within nearby survivors. They may also raise calcium in distant cells via calcium waves. Here it is argued that these calcium increases initiate oncogenesis by breaking gap junctions and thus disorganizing tissues and by activating proto‐oncogenes. It is also argued that these calcium increases become self‐perpetuating in part through the development of an ability of cells to divide in reduced extracellular calcium, i.e., habituation to reduced extracellular calcium. I propose to test these calcium‐based theories by using aequorinated mice.
The effect of solidity on propeller normal force

Propeller normal force is a major contributor to pitch and yaw stability on propeller driven aircraft. While it is well known that propeller normal force is a function of the number of blades, there are no published data for the high numbers of blades that are used in the new designs such as the UDF. This paper presents the results of a test conducted in the NASA Langley 14- x 22-foot Subsonic Tunnel using a sting-mounted counter-rotation propeller and nacelle. The configurations tested were combinations of 0, 4, and 8 blades per hub. Tests were conducted for blade angle settings of 31.34, 36.34, and 41.34 deg over an angle-of-attack range from -10 to 90 deg and over a range of advance ratios from 0.8 to 1.4. The results show that propeller normal force varies with both solidity and angle of attack.
Decompositions of Rational Convex Polytopes

Publisher Summary This chapter describes decompositions of rational convex polytopes. Let P be a d-dimensional convex polytope (or d-polytope) in Rm whose vertices have rational coordinates. The chapter also discusses some theorems and its proofs.
Complications of Smallpox Vaccination, 1968 Surveillance in a Comprehensive Care Clinic

The records of all children who received smallpox vaccination in a large comprehensive care clinic were reviewed for complications. There were 944 vaccinations performed during 1968. Of these, 539 were primary vaccinations, 32 on children in the age group less than 1, and 517 on children in the age group 1 to 4. There were nine complications observed, all in children in the age group 1 to 4. Five of these complications were generalized erythematous urticarial eruptions, three were auto-inoculations, and one was a secondary bacterial infection at the site of vaccination.
The value of lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios in diabetes: a critical review.

Abstract The value of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio in the management of high-risk pregnancies has been widely accepted. A group for which major controversy still exists is the pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus. Some studies, such as our own, report great success with the use of the test in this disorder, while others have been unable to rely upon it. This problem prompted a closer look at our own data, with a specific analysis of the factors which may explain the discrepancies. Specifically, a subgroup of our population was selected by limiting the study to 93 patients in White Classes B through R whoseL/S ratio determinations were 2.0 or above within three days of delivery. A comparison was made of this group of patients with those of the most recent conflicting report, that of Mueller-Heubach and co-workers 8 at the Magee-Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh. The study populations appeared similar in the distribution of disease severity and gestational ages of those patients withL/S ratios over 2.0. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in those infants withL/S ratios over 2.0 was compared. The group in Pittsburgh reported an 18% incidence, while we have observed a 5% incidence in this population. The factors which may explain this difference include the definition of RDS, the inclusion of Class A patients in a series, and methodologic differences in the preparation of specimens for the determination of theL/S ratio. None of these factors can conclusively explain the disparity in these studies. However, when taken together they do appear to offer a plausible explanation for such differences. It appears essential to standardize both laboratory procedures and criteria for evaluation of neonatal outcome before comparing results.
Medical Treatment for Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Medication for EoE generally falls into acid suppression therapy, steroid medications, and additional therapies. The 2007 Consensus Guidelines for EoE define this condition as present only with the exclusion of other conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Exclusion of GERD is achieved by persistent clinicopathologic findings consistent with EoE despite negative pH probe testing or 8 weeks of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Topical esophageal swallowed corticosteroid treatment using either Fluticasone propionate or oval viscous Budesonide are the current standards of care for pharmacologic treatment of EoE. Fluticasone propionate is sprayed into the pharynx and swallowed to topically coat the esophagus with doses ranging from 220 mcg to 1760 mcg per day depending on patient’s age, degree of clinical symptoms, and the preference of the practitioner. Budesonide is administered in a slurry formulation that is made using Splenda®. The majority of EoE patients will respond histologically and symptomatically to chronic steroid administration, but intermittent dosing will likely lead to disease relapse. The advantage of using topical steroids as maintenance therapy is that their side effects are significantly less than systemic steroids, however long term side effects of either Fluticasone propionate or oval viscous Budesonide in pediatric EoE have not been well characterized. Biologic therapies directed against cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-13 implicated in the pathogenesis of EoE are sources of current active investigation. Future therapies for chronic EoE will seek to effectively induce sustained histologic remission, positively impact patient reported outcomes of symptoms as well as quality of life, and optimize growth with minimal side effects and medication toxicity profiles.